Teachers’ perceptions of children’s access to toilets in urban ECDE institutions, and the psychosocial consequences

ABSTRACT

Access to clean and functional toilet is quintessential in meeting children's physiological and psychosocial needs in a learning environment. However, little is known on experiences of children's access to quality toilets while in preschool institutions within urban settings of sub-Saharan Africa countries. This paper draws from a study that explored experiences of vulnerable children in early childhood development education (ECDE) institutions in underserved and informal urban settings of Kenya and South Africa. 11 urban ECDE centres were purposively selected and 17 teachers were recruited as key informants. Data was collected using an adapted infrastructural checklist, observation and conversational interviews. Findings indicated that a majority of toilets in ECDE centres were inadequate, inappropriate, poorly maintained, or had structural weaknesses which affected children's experiences of access and use of the facilities. Scheduled toilet visits as a control measure and toilet avoidance potentially exposed them to psychosocial and health risks. Insights into children's toilet facilities, managing their access in institutions located within informal and low resourced areas, and investment policies that target preschool children’ sanitary facilities are given. Suggestions are made for interventions for children's positive toilet experiences in poor urban areas.

KEYWORDS:

• ECDE
• children
• toilets access
• health
• hygiene practices

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the contribution of all the participants in this study. The author also acknowledges Lebogang Ramalepe and Mildren Lang'o for their assistance in data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The term ‘ECDE’ in the Kenyan context has since changed and is currently referred to as ‘pre-primary 1 for reception classes for the 4–5-year-old and pre-primary 2 for transition class to primary schooling for the 5–6-year-old.