Availability and functionality of the hygiene and sanitation facilities in public primary schools in Benin

Introduction: Poor access to hygiene and sanitation and the consumption of unsafe water threaten the health of schoolchildren and affect their ability to learn. The objective of this study is to evaluate the availability and working order of water, hygiene, and sanitation facilities in public primary schools in the municipalities of Ze and Lalo in southern Benin. Method: A cross-sectional study to examine the water, hygiene, and sanitation facilities in schools was followed by interviews with the teaching staff. We included 95 public primary schools and 171 teachers in the municipality of Ze, and 87 public primary schools and 236 teachers in Lalo. The data were analyzed descriptively with SPSS 19.0 software and the results were analyzed for SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). Results: In Ze, 53 % of schools do not have a water source; and in Lalo, 46 % of schools do not have one. All Ze schools (100 %) have at least one latrines facility while 23 % of schools in Lalo do not have one. In Ze, 68 % of the schools do not have hand-washing facilities and in Lalo this proportion is 53 %. Those that exist are not all functional due to lack of water and/or soap. In some schools, there are hygiene committees and courses on hygiene and sanitation. Conclusion: The hygiene and sanitation infrastructure in the public primary schools of the municipalities surveyed is inadequate, and the facilities observed were of poor quality. To preserve schoolchildren from the risk of diseases due to fecal content in water, the public authorities must significantly improve access to water, hygiene, and sanitation infrastructure.