Next Article in Journal
Community Resilience Learning Collaborative and Research Network (C-LEARN): Study Protocol with Participatory Planning for a Randomized, Comparative Effectiveness Trial
Next Article in Special Issue
Shadow Puppets and Neglected Diseases: Evaluating a Health Promotion Performance in Rural Indonesia
Previous Article in Journal
Association of Self-Perceived Oral Health and Function with Clinically Determined Oral Health Status among Adults Aged 35–54 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study
Previous Article in Special Issue
Where Children Play: Young Child Exposure to Environmental Hazards during Play in Public Areas in a Transitioning Internally Displaced Persons Community in Haiti
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 15
Issue 8
10.3390/ijerph15081682
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya

by
Kelly T. Alexander
1,2,*,
Garazi Zulaika
1,
Elizabeth Nyothach
3,
Clifford Oduor
3,
Linda Mason
1,
David Obor
3,
Alie Eleveld
4,
Kayla F. Laserson
3,5 and
Penelope A. Phillips-Howard
1
1
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L35QA, UK
2
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), 151 Ellis St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
3
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu 1578-40100, Kenya
4
Safe Water and AIDS Programme, Kisumu 3323-40100, Kenya
5
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(8), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081682
Submission received: 19 June 2018 / Revised: 1 August 2018 / Accepted: 4 August 2018 / Published: 7 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Related Disease)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Many females lack access to water, privacy and basic sanitation—felt acutely when menstruating. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in schools, such as access to latrines, water, and soap, are essential for the comfort, equity, and dignity of menstruating girls. Our study was nested within a cluster randomized controlled pilot feasibility study where nurses provided menstrual items to schoolgirls. We observed the WASH conditions of 30 schools from June 2012–October 2013 to see if there were any changes in conditions, to compare differences between study arms and to examine agreement between observed and teacher-reported conditions. Data came from study staff observed, and school teacher reported, WASH conditions. We developed scores for the condition of school facilities to report any changes in conditions and compare outcomes across study arms. Results demonstrated that soap availability for students increased significantly between baseline and follow-up while there was a significant decrease in the number of “acceptable” latrines. During the study follow-up period, individual WASH indicators supporting menstruating girls, such as locks on latrine doors or water availability in latrines did not significantly improve. Advances in WASH conditions for all students, and menstrual hygiene facilities for schoolgirls, needs further support, a defined budget, and regular monitoring of WASH facilities to maintain standards.
Keywords: water; sanitation; hygiene; menstruation; MHM (menstrual hygiene management); schools; rural; Kenya; girls water; sanitation; hygiene; menstruation; MHM (menstrual hygiene management); schools; rural; Kenya; girls

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Alexander, K.T.; Zulaika, G.; Nyothach, E.; Oduor, C.; Mason, L.; Obor, D.; Eleveld, A.; Laserson, K.F.; Phillips-Howard, P.A. Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081682

AMA Style

Alexander KT, Zulaika G, Nyothach E, Oduor C, Mason L, Obor D, Eleveld A, Laserson KF, Phillips-Howard PA. Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15(8):1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081682

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alexander, Kelly T., Garazi Zulaika, Elizabeth Nyothach, Clifford Oduor, Linda Mason, David Obor, Alie Eleveld, Kayla F. Laserson, and Penelope A. Phillips-Howard. 2018. "Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 8: 1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081682

APA Style

Alexander, K. T., Zulaika, G., Nyothach, E., Oduor, C., Mason, L., Obor, D., Eleveld, A., Laserson, K. F., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2018). Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081682

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop