Abstract
Abstract Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are vital indicators to healthy living and safe environments for child development. The aim of the study was to determine WASH status and practices in ECD centres located in low socio-economic areas of Nelson Mandela Bay during 2017. This cross-sectional study elicited responses from 46 ECD centres which had a total of 3,254 children and 172 caregivers. A structured questionnaire and visual observation were used. Using core WASH in schools' indicators (WinS) showed that despite improved water sources being available in 91% of the facilities, WinS for hygiene was poor. The study observed that 57% of the respondents had improved toilets accommodating both genders. In 29% of ECD centres, 6–10 children make use of a ‘pottie’ while in 9% of the cases, more than 20 children make use of one ‘pottie’. The use of the bucket system was noted in 22% of the ECD centres. In 79% of the ECD centres, children wash their hands in a communal plastic bowl. Only 11% of the study population washed hands hygienically under a running tap or tippy tap. WASH conditions in the ECD centres in the study area require urgent attention and further investigation for practical solutions. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.
Highlights
Liana Steenkamp HIV&AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, P.O
The Department of Social Development (DSD) provides a subsidy in the form of financial support for registered ECD centres, most centres utilized in this study were not registered
Most of the centres (32, 76%) in the current study indicated their dependence on school fees and financial assistance received from parents, which is erratic due to the prevalence of unemployment and subsequent poverty in the study area
Summary
Liana Steenkamp HIV&AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa. Margaret Williams Department of Nursing Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa. Jessica Ronaasen Department of Social Welfare, NMU, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa. Ilse Truter Drug Utilization Research Unit (DURU), Department of Pharmacy, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative. Sanitation and hygiene (WASH) refers to the provision of safe water for basic human needs such as drinking, washing and domestic activities. Implementation of WASH standards are crucial to human development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
