Stanford researchers empowering kids to safeguard their health through better hygiene practices

Stanford researchers and others are trying to come out with infrastructure maintenance programs and innovative curricula that could help students maintain better sanitation and hygiene.

Stanford researchers along with others are working to find out infrastructure maintenance programs and innovative curricula to give a blue-print for better hygiene interventions and sanitation at school.

Anvesh Badamikar, a graduate researcher with Stanford’s Program on Water, Health & Development (WHD) when approached a rural school in India's UP, he noticed boys urinating on the building’s outer walls. Then he visited the site to understand the conditions of school bathroom facilities.

The idea is to empower students to practice better hygiene and sanitation behaviours through fun and friendly characters introduced in the curriculum to teach kids how to identify safe water sources, wash their hands and properly use latrines.

"Water- and sanitation-related illnesses kill more than 1,000 children under five every day and are the second leading cause of infant mortality, according to UNICEF. Good hygiene and access to clean water and sanitation are the solution, but it remains unclear how to most effectively change related behaviors. In India, the problem is acute," said the official statement of Stanford University.

Stanford’s Program on Water, Health & Development (WHD) Director Jenna Davis said, “I saw lots of learning and excitement among the students, followed by disappointment and shame because they were unable to practice the healthy behaviors they were being taught. That's because their schools didn't have working water points, toilets, and handwashing infrastructure, and the educational programs largely ignored the issue of an enabling environment.”

Researchers observed gender issues

Gender issues also presented some challenges. To tackle it, the curriculum highlights the significance of boys and girls having functional and separate toilet facilities at school and they should share responsibilities of washing, handling water, and maintaining cleanliness at school and home.

Gracie Hornsby, a graduate student in civil and environmental engineering who is writing her dissertation on the India project said, “I was sometimes nervous to talk about these taboo topics. This was partially for my own sake, but also because I was conscious of the emotional weight and shame school staff might experience. Instead, teachers seemed relieved that someone recognized they are closest to the problem and are the experts on the topic.”

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