Background: Kinshasa’s peri-urban settings have a low rate of water access, which has significant consequences for the WASH infrastructures in schools and preventative measures against the spread of waterborne diseas...Background: Kinshasa’s peri-urban settings have a low rate of water access, which has significant consequences for the WASH infrastructures in schools and preventative measures against the spread of waterborne diseases and pathogens. This study aimed to assess the availability, functionality, and gender sensitivity of WASH infrastructures of Kinshasa’s peri-urban schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in three of the four educational provinces of Kinshasa, targeting 165 peri-urban schools. Data were collected using a questionnaire and an observation grid. Results: An overall proportion of 10.9% of schools possessed a water point, and therefore time-consuming water chores are a necessity in 89.1% of schools. Girl students provided 30% of the labor collecting water during punishments. A total of 98.2% of schools had functional latrines of which 3.6% were found hygienic, associated with water reserve next to the latrines (P = 0.040). Only 2.4% of schools displayed posters raising awareness of latrine hygiene, and 3.6% displayed posters on hand hygiene. The ratios of latrines units for girls were 58:1 for toilets and 115:1 for urinals, justifying open defecation and urination reported in 62.4% of schools. Also, 43% of schools had hand-washing facilities whose functionality was significantly associated with the presence of water points in the school’s inner courtyard (P = 0.032), with water (P P Conclusion: The majority of schools had limited drinking water services, which negatively impact the functionality and gender sensitivity of other WASH provisions. The current evidence as a public health concern would raise government and school authorities’ attention to address these environmental threats.展开更多
When the Malawian Government introduced free primary education in 1994, Joyce Mhango, then 13 years old, was in the same class as her brother in Mzimba, a small town in the north.
This study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) was carried out in two secondary schools in the Bamako district, “Chaine Grise” and “Cheick Modibo Diarra” located respectively on the right bank and the left bank ...This study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) was carried out in two secondary schools in the Bamako district, “Chaine Grise” and “Cheick Modibo Diarra” located respectively on the right bank and the left bank depending on the geographic position of the Niger river. This work took place over a period of 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. The objective of this study was to study menstrual hygiene management in school?setting for girls aged 16 to 18 in two secondary schools in Bamako. It was a transversal and qualitative description. The study population consists of girls aged 16 to 18 years enrolled in one of the selected secondary schools.?At the end of this study, we arrived at the following results:?*50% of the girls in our study have poor knowledge about menstruation;?*10% of girls miss school at least one day a month during menstruation;?*90% of girls use hygienic cotton to absorb menstrual blood;?*90% of the sources of supply for hygienic products are?mothers.?The unsanitary conditions of the toilets, lack of light and the non-separation of the toilets according to gender guidelines were found in 99% of the cases: *99% of girls say that the poor state of health infrastructures was one of the causes of genital infections linked to poor management of menstrual hygiene;?*lack of water in the toilets (99%). Through these results, we conclude that,?in our context,?menstruation remains a taboo and shameful subject for girls. In addition, some of their menstrual hygiene practices are a real danger to their health.展开更多
文摘Background: Kinshasa’s peri-urban settings have a low rate of water access, which has significant consequences for the WASH infrastructures in schools and preventative measures against the spread of waterborne diseases and pathogens. This study aimed to assess the availability, functionality, and gender sensitivity of WASH infrastructures of Kinshasa’s peri-urban schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in three of the four educational provinces of Kinshasa, targeting 165 peri-urban schools. Data were collected using a questionnaire and an observation grid. Results: An overall proportion of 10.9% of schools possessed a water point, and therefore time-consuming water chores are a necessity in 89.1% of schools. Girl students provided 30% of the labor collecting water during punishments. A total of 98.2% of schools had functional latrines of which 3.6% were found hygienic, associated with water reserve next to the latrines (P = 0.040). Only 2.4% of schools displayed posters raising awareness of latrine hygiene, and 3.6% displayed posters on hand hygiene. The ratios of latrines units for girls were 58:1 for toilets and 115:1 for urinals, justifying open defecation and urination reported in 62.4% of schools. Also, 43% of schools had hand-washing facilities whose functionality was significantly associated with the presence of water points in the school’s inner courtyard (P = 0.032), with water (P P Conclusion: The majority of schools had limited drinking water services, which negatively impact the functionality and gender sensitivity of other WASH provisions. The current evidence as a public health concern would raise government and school authorities’ attention to address these environmental threats.
文摘When the Malawian Government introduced free primary education in 1994, Joyce Mhango, then 13 years old, was in the same class as her brother in Mzimba, a small town in the north.
文摘This study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) was carried out in two secondary schools in the Bamako district, “Chaine Grise” and “Cheick Modibo Diarra” located respectively on the right bank and the left bank depending on the geographic position of the Niger river. This work took place over a period of 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. The objective of this study was to study menstrual hygiene management in school?setting for girls aged 16 to 18 in two secondary schools in Bamako. It was a transversal and qualitative description. The study population consists of girls aged 16 to 18 years enrolled in one of the selected secondary schools.?At the end of this study, we arrived at the following results:?*50% of the girls in our study have poor knowledge about menstruation;?*10% of girls miss school at least one day a month during menstruation;?*90% of girls use hygienic cotton to absorb menstrual blood;?*90% of the sources of supply for hygienic products are?mothers.?The unsanitary conditions of the toilets, lack of light and the non-separation of the toilets according to gender guidelines were found in 99% of the cases: *99% of girls say that the poor state of health infrastructures was one of the causes of genital infections linked to poor management of menstrual hygiene;?*lack of water in the toilets (99%). Through these results, we conclude that,?in our context,?menstruation remains a taboo and shameful subject for girls. In addition, some of their menstrual hygiene practices are a real danger to their health.
