Wash-friendly schools for whom? Integrating the perception of different school stakeholders in Brazil

Bibliographic Data

ID4589236
AuthorsKasandra I H M Poague (0000-0002-5430-3141, University of Twente), Ana Paula Marques Ramos (0000-0001-6633-2903, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Andressa P Ramos, Caio B De S Lopes, Clarissa Vitória Silva Lopes (0000-0001-7693-6356, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Gabriel V L Gonçalves (0009-0004-4409-3234, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Marina B R Damasceno (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Justine I Blanford (0000-0003-0844-9390, University of Twente), J Alfredo Martínez (0000-0001-9634-3849, University of Twente), Carmen Anthonj (0000-0001-7549-0743, University of Twente)
Year2025
Volume367
Pages117753
Publication date2025-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117753
PMID39892041
OpenAlexW4406649356
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

Ensuring that schools are water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) friendly requires WASH to be visibly implemented, inclusive and sustainable, engaging the entire school community, including direct and indirect stakeholders (school staff, students and their families). However, students, staff, and parents are often overlooked in the design of WASH solutions. This study aims to contrast different school stakeholders' perspectives on WASH and evaluate the extent to which the Human Right to Water and Sanitation (HRtWS) and its normative contents are being realized in schools within the basic education system, covering students aged 0 to 18. For that purpose, a mixed-method study was conducted involving seven schools located in a small municipality in the southeast region of Brazil. Data collection methods included on-site observations in schools, in-depth interviews with school staff and parents/legal guardians of students, and a one-day art-based research workshop with students around drinking water, sanitation, solid waste management and COVID-19. Several inconsistencies were identified when comparing primary findings with the schools' information previously provided by the Brazilian Government, including differences in the number of schools and levels of education offered, water sources, absence of bathrooms, and waste burning instead of solid waste collection. A clear violation of all the normative contents of the HRtWS was observed, which, in turn, were triggering and exposing students to incidents of violence such as bullying and verbal abuse. There was a misalignment among stakeholders about which interventions implemented amidst the COVID-19 pandemic are still in place. Moreover, discrepancies among school stakeholders' perceptions of WASH suggest insufficient communication among actors. As a result of this research, a list of recommendations formulated by stakeholders and the involvement and alignment of all stakeholders are the first steps in successfully co-creating solutions

Data collection · Environmental education · Government (linguistics · Hygiene · Local government · Medical education · Municipal solid waste · Normative · Pedagogy · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public relations · Sanitation · Social science · Sociology · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Engineering · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Public Administration · Environmental Engineering