Assessment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools of Jammu District- A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Provision of safe sanitation services reduces transmission of fecooral diseases, school drop outs,under-nutrition which in turn are important for overall development of children. The study was conducted toevaluate the adequacy of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools of rural Jammu.Methodology: A Cross Sectional survey was conducted in 54 (public and private) schools in rural Jammu usingthe questionnaire approved by the Global Task Team for Monitoring WASH in Schools.Results: Piped water was the main source of water supply. Facilities for drinking water were available in allschools. 94.3% schools had 1-9 drinking water points. All schools were doing filtration/chlorination of water. 51%schools reported water and soap availability in girl’s toilets and group hand washing activities were conductedonce a week in 31.5% schools. Toilets were cleaned once per day in 80% of the schools. 88% schools had toiletswithin school premises. Menstrual hygiene materials were available in 42 schools.Conclusions: Environment and sanitation facilities at most of the surveyed schools were reasonably good but notfully satisfactory.