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Hygiene promotion for men: Challenges and experiences from Nepal
01.10.2010
Men have an important role to play in family and community health improvement. However, most hygiene promotion programmes focus on women only. Specific examples on how men are targeted are difficult to find. We feel this is an omission as in order to reduce the main risky hygiene practices, effective hygiene promotion must involve every member of the community: women, children and men. Involving men and encouraging their responsibility in hygiene and sanitation improvements is important because men often have a key role in decision making and they often control finances. Men who are well informed on the benefits of hygiene improvement for their family are more likely to support their wives and children to change their own behaviours. This paper describes the benefits and lessons learned by NEWAH, a national NGO based in Nepal, who took up the challenge to focus hygiene promotion on men. -
The usage of urinals in Kenyan schools
01.07.2012
This study focused on the usage of urinals in Kenyan schools and the potential impact of constructing urinals to improve access to school sanitation facilities. Our objectives were: to assess the latrine use patterns for sanitation infrastructure at Kenyan primary schools and to determine the optimal pupil: latrine ratio where adequate urinals are provided. Calculations were based on observation and pupil report. Boys' urinals are relatively inexpensive to construct and maintain, may be longer lasting, require little in the way of behaviour change, and can accommodate a large number of boys at one time. Construction of boys' urinals in order to provide additional latrines for girls may be the most cost-effective, equitable solution in both the short and long term and may offset the cost of more expensive facilities for girls. Access to urinals will help alleviate congestion at latrines, improve conditions, reduce maintenance costs, and sustain latrines longer.