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 to
evaluate 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 using
the 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 all
schools. 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 conducted
once a week in 31.5% schools. Toilets were cleaned once per day in 80% of the schools. 88% schools had toilets
within 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 not
fully satisfactory.