Water, sanitation and hygiene practices among selected public basic schools in Southern Ghana
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Date
2018-12
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Ghana Social Science Journal
Abstract
In this paper, we analyzed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
practices, and food supply systems of public basic schools in the Ga South
municipal and Shai-Osudoku district of the Greater Accra region of
Ghana. Data collected through structured interviews and observations
from 48 public basic schools are analyzed using descriptive statistics. We
also investigated the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and health
risks in water sources in a sample of the public basic schools using
Aquagenx’s Compartment Bag Test (CBT). We found that majority of the
public basic schools have access to WASH facilities and food supply;
however, their quality is poor. Specifically, we identified inadequate hand
washing facilities, poor microbial quality of water, littering of school
compound with plastic waste, vending sites for foods and drinks located
on dusty grounds, fairly low registration for vending permit or health
certificate by food sellers, and inadequate food safety mechanisms. We
conclude that there is a need to address WASH and food supply challenges
through “software” and “hardware” interventions in order to ensure
effective academic work in public basic schools in the Greater Accra
region of Ghana.
Description
Ghana Social Science Journal, 15(2), 90-117
Keywords
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Microbial Water Quality, Pathogenic Transmission Pathways