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International consultations on targets and indicators for post-2015 WaSH identified non-household settings as a priority, but not all countries are monitoring them.

TitleMonitoring drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in non-household settings : priorities for policy and practice
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsCronk, R, Slaymaker, T, Bartram, J
Secondary TitleInternational journal of hygiene and environmental health
Volume218
Issue8
Pagination694 - 703
Date Published11/2015
Publication LanguageEnglish
Keywordshealth care, hospitals, labour, schools
Abstract

Inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) in non-household settings, such as schools, health care facilities, and workplaces impacts the health, education, welfare, and productivity of populations, particularly in low and middle-income countries. There is limited knowledge on the status of WaSH in such settings. To address this gap, we reviewed international standards, international and national actors, and monitoring initiatives; developed the first typology of non-household settings; and assessed the viability of monitoring. Based on setting characteristics, non-household settings include six types: schools, health care facilities, workplaces, temporary use settings, mass gatherings, and dislocated populations. To-date national governments and international actors have focused monitoring of non-household settings on schools and health care facilities with comparatively little attention given to other settings such as workplaces and markets. Nationally representative facility surveys and national management information systems are the primary monitoring mechanisms. Data suggest that WaSH coverage is generally poor and often lower than in corresponding household settings. Definitions, indicators, and data sources are underdeveloped and not always comparable between countries. While not all countries monitor non-household settings, examples are available from countries on most continents suggesting that systematic monitoring is achievable. Monitoring WaSH in schools and health care facilities is most viable. Monitoring WaSH in other non-household settings would be viable with: technical support from local and national actors in addition to international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF; national prioritization through policy and financing; and including WaSH indicators into monitoring initiatives to improve cost-effectiveness. International consultations on targets and indicators for global monitoring of WaSH post-2015 identified non-household settings as a priority. National and international monitoring systems will be important to better understand status, trends, to identify priorities and target resources accordingly, and to improve accountability for progressive improvements in WaSH in non-household settings.

Notes

Includes 60 ref. Paper presented at: Sixth European PhD students workshop: Water and health - Cannes 2014.

URLhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/273642897_Monitoring_Drinking_Water_Sanitation_and_Hygiene_in_Non-Household_Settings_Priorities_for_Policy_and_Practice
DOI10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.03.003
Short TitleInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

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