Abstract
BackgroundEducation is one of the most important drivers behind helping people in developing countries lift themselves out of poverty. However, even when schooling is available absenteeism rates can be high. Recently interest has focussed on whether or not WASH interventions can help reduce absenteeism in developing countries. However, none has focused exclusively on the role of drinking water provision. We report a study of the association between absenteeism and provision of treated water in containers into schools.Methods and FindingsWe undertook a quasi-experimental longitudinal study of absenteeism rates in 8 schools, 4 of which received one 20 L container of treated drinking water per day. The water had been treated by filtration and ultraviolet disinfection. Weekly absenteeism rates were compared across all schools using negative binomial model in generalized estimating equations. There was a strong association with provision of free water and reduced absenteeism (Incidence rate ratio = 0.39 (95% Confidence Intervals 0.27–0.56)). However there was also a strong association with season (wet versus dry) and a significant interaction between receiving free water and season. In one of the intervention schools it was discovered that the water supplier was not fulfilling his contract and was not delivering sufficient water each week. In this school we showed a significant association between the number of water containers delivered each week and absenteeism (IRR = 0.98 95%CI 0.96–1.00).ConclusionThere appears to be a strong association between providing free safe drinking water and reduced absenteeism, though only in the dry season. The mechanism for this association is not clear but may in part be due to improved hydration leading to improved school experience for the children.
Highlights
The receipt of a good quality education is one of the most important factors in enabling children to fulfil potential in later life and reduce poverty [1]
There appears to be a strong association between providing free safe drinking water and reduced absenteeism, though only in the dry season
We report a quasi-experimental study of the impact of provision of treated water in containers to schools on recorded absenteeism
Summary
The receipt of a good quality education is one of the most important factors in enabling children to fulfil potential in later life and reduce poverty [1]. Important gains in child health may be associated even with future mothers improved access to primary education alone [3]. As pointed out by Abadzi [1], instructional time available to children in many developing countries is often markedly reduced. There are many reasons for this reduced educational contact time in low income countries, some of which are institutional such as teacher absenteeism, frequent school closures, etc [1]. Reducing student absenteeism is important to improving educational attainment and consequent poverty alleviation. Education is one of the most important drivers behind helping people in developing countries lift themselves out of poverty. We report a study of the association between absenteeism and provision of treated water in containers into schools
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