Assessment of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Conditions in Public Elementary Schools in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Michelle M. Pieters (), Natalie Fahsen, Christina Craig, Ramiro Quezada, Caroline Q. Pratt, Andrea Gomez, Travis W. Brown, Alexandra Kossik, Kelsey McDavid, Denisse Vega Ocasio, Matthew J. Lozier and Celia Cordón-Rosales
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Michelle M. Pieters: Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
Natalie Fahsen: Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
Christina Craig: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Ramiro Quezada: Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
Caroline Q. Pratt: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Andrea Gomez: Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
Travis W. Brown: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Alexandra Kossik: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Kelsey McDavid: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Denisse Vega Ocasio: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Matthew J. Lozier: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
Celia Cordón-Rosales: Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in schools are essential to reduce infectious disease transmission, including that of COVID-19. This study aimed to establish a baseline of WASH services in six public elementary schools in Guatemala, with a focus on hand hygiene. We used the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report indicators to assess the WASH infrastructure at each school. We collected water samples from easily accessible water points (pilas, or bathroom sinks) at each school to test for the presence of total coliforms and E. coli . In-depth interviews were carried out with teachers to understand hand hygiene practices and systems at school. Results indicate that all schools had water available at the time of the survey. All water samples at four schools tested positive for total coliforms and at one school, positive for E. coli . All schools had sanitation facilities, but services were limited. Only 43% of handwashing stations at schools had soap available. No school had disability-inclusive WASH services. Financial constraints and a lack of appropriate WASH infrastructure were the main barriers reported by teachers to meet hand hygiene needs at school. Appropriate access to WASH infrastructure and supplies could increase hand hygiene practices and improve learning conditions for students.

Keywords: COVID-19; hand hygiene; students; primary schools; WASH infrastructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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