Drinking water and toilet sanitation of rural primary schools and middle schools in the northern，southern and central regions of Shaanxi during 2016-2018 / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To understand the environmental sanitation situation of rural schools in different geographical areas of Shaanxi, and to provide scientific basis for improving hygiene and sanitation in Chinese rural schools.@*Methods@#Each year during 2016 to 2018, 150 townships in 30 counties of rural areas were randomly selected in various districts and cities throughout the province. In each township one junior high school and one elementary school were randomly selected, and the data was obtained through resource access, interviews, and on-site observations. The data was statistically analyzed and evaluated according to the northern, central and southern regions.@*Results@#The differences of drinking ways among students in the schools were of statistical significance(χ2=25.89,P<0.01). The major drinking water method of students in the monitoring schools of the three regions all was providing boiled water, accounting for 56.16%, 65.88%, 50.39%, all of which have direct drinking unboiled water phenomenon; The water supply method of the self-provided centralized water supply school is mainly precipitation filtration in the central and southern regions, accounting for 38.46%, 53.21%, and untreated in the northern region(60.61%); The differences of the proportions of having sanitary toilets, detached toilets in schools, having toilets in teaching buildings, and having toilets in dormitory buildings in three regions were of statistical significance(χ2=32.04, 12.73, 20.78, 33.11, P<0.01) The proportion of schools with squat toilets in men’s toilets was greater than that of women’s(χ2=86.53, 44.77, 21.88, P<0.01). The differences of the proportion of schools with faucets available in toilets and within 5 meters around toilets, with sinks in or around the toilets, with sinks equipped with soap in or around the toilets were of statistical significance(χ2=90.02, 10.40, 41.96, P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#During 2016 to 2018, the environment sanitation of the three major rural primary and middle schools in Shaanxi Province needs to improve corresponding supporting facilities, and increase publicity to improve teachers and students’ awareness of health and safety.