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WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa

Received: 16 December 2020     Accepted: 30 December 2020     Published: 26 April 2021
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Abstract

Effective learning in school is significantly influenced by water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. However, in most schools in developing countries, WASH is often inadequate. The study focused on the accessibility, availability, quality, and sufficiency of WASH in public schools. This cross-sectional study employed the use of an observational checklist where 29 self-administered questionnaires on WASH were administered to Headteachers of the selected schools. The study area was divided into six grids using ArcGIS 9.3©, and from each grid, five schools were selected. However, in the northeastern part of the municipality four sample schools were chosen, since that area had fewer schools. The bacteriological quality (fecal coliforms) of water from the schools was assessed for health safety. The R software and Microsoft Excel were used for data analysis. The study showed that 37.9% of schools had access to potable water but 27.5% of these sources were fecally contaminated. Though 93.1% of the schools had toilet facilities, 77.8% were shared by both teachers and students. The study further showed that 96.6% were gender-segregated, 59.3% lacked toilet bins whiles 41.4% practiced open defecation. Hygiene facilities were lacking as 75.9% of the schools lacked hand washing facilities and all the schools lacked menstrual hygiene facilities. Solid waste and toilet facilities were poorly managed, contributing to open defecation in the schools. Generally, WASH in most of the schools was not satisfactory since they lacked facilities, policies, funds, sensitization, and proper maintenance. The study recommends that WASH facilities should be improved by all stakeholders.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13
Page(s) 15-20
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Basic Schools, Health

References
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[2] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2011) Human Development Report 2011. [Online] http//www.gh.undp.org/content/dam/Ghana/docs/Doc/IncIgro/UNDP_GH_INCGRO_DHDR2011_Wa-Municipal-Assembly.pdf Accessed November 11, 2020.
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[13] Osumanu I. K, Kosoe E A, Ategeeng F (2019) Determinants of Open Defecation in the Wa Municipality of Ghana: Empirical Findings Highlighting Sociocultural and Economic Dynamics among Households. JEPH, 2019.
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[15] American Public Health Association (APHA) (1998) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th ed. Washington D.C, Pp. 4-145 to 4-146.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Samuel Kojo Abanyie, Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah, Nang Biyogue Douti, George Owusu, Charles Casmed Amadu, et al. (2021). WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 5(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13

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    ACS Style

    Samuel Kojo Abanyie; Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah; Nang Biyogue Douti; George Owusu; Charles Casmed Amadu, et al. WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2021, 5(1), 15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13

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    AMA Style

    Samuel Kojo Abanyie, Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah, Nang Biyogue Douti, George Owusu, Charles Casmed Amadu, et al. WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2021;5(1):15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13,
      author = {Samuel Kojo Abanyie and Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah and Nang Biyogue Douti and George Owusu and Charles Casmed Amadu and Barikisu Alhassan},
      title = {WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {15-20},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20210501.13},
      abstract = {Effective learning in school is significantly influenced by water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. However, in most schools in developing countries, WASH is often inadequate. The study focused on the accessibility, availability, quality, and sufficiency of WASH in public schools. This cross-sectional study employed the use of an observational checklist where 29 self-administered questionnaires on WASH were administered to Headteachers of the selected schools. The study area was divided into six grids using ArcGIS 9.3©, and from each grid, five schools were selected. However, in the northeastern part of the municipality four sample schools were chosen, since that area had fewer schools. The bacteriological quality (fecal coliforms) of water from the schools was assessed for health safety. The R software and Microsoft Excel were used for data analysis. The study showed that 37.9% of schools had access to potable water but 27.5% of these sources were fecally contaminated. Though 93.1% of the schools had toilet facilities, 77.8% were shared by both teachers and students. The study further showed that 96.6% were gender-segregated, 59.3% lacked toilet bins whiles 41.4% practiced open defecation. Hygiene facilities were lacking as 75.9% of the schools lacked hand washing facilities and all the schools lacked menstrual hygiene facilities. Solid waste and toilet facilities were poorly managed, contributing to open defecation in the schools. Generally, WASH in most of the schools was not satisfactory since they lacked facilities, policies, funds, sensitization, and proper maintenance. The study recommends that WASH facilities should be improved by all stakeholders.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - WASH in Selected Basic Schools and Possible Implications on Health and Academics: An Example of the Wa Municipality of Ghana, West Africa
    AU  - Samuel Kojo Abanyie
    AU  - Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah
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    AU  - George Owusu
    AU  - Charles Casmed Amadu
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    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
    SP  - 15
    EP  - 20
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-7993
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210501.13
    AB  - Effective learning in school is significantly influenced by water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. However, in most schools in developing countries, WASH is often inadequate. The study focused on the accessibility, availability, quality, and sufficiency of WASH in public schools. This cross-sectional study employed the use of an observational checklist where 29 self-administered questionnaires on WASH were administered to Headteachers of the selected schools. The study area was divided into six grids using ArcGIS 9.3©, and from each grid, five schools were selected. However, in the northeastern part of the municipality four sample schools were chosen, since that area had fewer schools. The bacteriological quality (fecal coliforms) of water from the schools was assessed for health safety. The R software and Microsoft Excel were used for data analysis. The study showed that 37.9% of schools had access to potable water but 27.5% of these sources were fecally contaminated. Though 93.1% of the schools had toilet facilities, 77.8% were shared by both teachers and students. The study further showed that 96.6% were gender-segregated, 59.3% lacked toilet bins whiles 41.4% practiced open defecation. Hygiene facilities were lacking as 75.9% of the schools lacked hand washing facilities and all the schools lacked menstrual hygiene facilities. Solid waste and toilet facilities were poorly managed, contributing to open defecation in the schools. Generally, WASH in most of the schools was not satisfactory since they lacked facilities, policies, funds, sensitization, and proper maintenance. The study recommends that WASH facilities should be improved by all stakeholders.
    VL  - 5
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Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Science, Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana

  • Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Environmental Science, Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana

  • Department of Environmental Science, Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana

  • Department of Earth Science, Lement KubindiwoTedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana

  • Ghana Scout Association, Wa, Ghana

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