Toilet facilities and student toilet-using behavior in rural primary schools / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To understand the current situation of toilet facilities among rural primary schools and toilet-using behavior among primary students,and to provide a reference for improving school environment.@*Methods@#Totally 149 students in 2 rural non-boarding primary schools in northern China were selected. and on-site observation and questionnaire survey were used to obtain the current situation of toilet hygiene, toilet time and toilet behavior, as well as feelings towards school toilet. The results of the survey were statistically analyzed by using SAS 9.4.@*Methods@#Both two schools were deep pit latrine, the number of pit in female toilets is lower than the requirements of the “Code for design of school”, and the urinal trough and the number of pit in male toilet meet the standard requirements. The average total time of toilet-using was (28.46±11.72)s for boys and (42.48±15.52)s for girls, the difference was of significant difference (t=-7.96, P<0.01). The average actual time of toilet-using is (24.27±9.13)s for boys and (24.69±9.40)s for girls, with no statistical difference. The result showed that school 2 was better than school 1 in the behavior of urinating frequency in toilet, queuing when using toilet, and the way to express needs of toilet-using in class(χ2=11.70,27.19,17.74,P<0.05); senior students use less toilets than lower grade students. The main complains for students in school toilet hygiene is its bad smell(χ2=5.28，13.18，P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Primary school students in northern China always take bathroom breaks in the morning, and the average time of toilet-using is different from that of adults. Senior students are more willing to express their toilet needs than lower grade students. Students are not satisfied with the hygiene of school toilets, and the toilet experience is poor.