Environmental Health Commons^™

A Qualitative Assessment Of Disability Friendly Water And Sanitation Facilities In Primary Schools, Rumphi, Malawi, Harlod Zaunda, Rochelle H. Holm, Ambumulire Itimu-Phiri, Mphatso Malota, Sian White

Faculty Scholarship

Students with disabilities commonly face barriers when accessing water and using sanitation and hygiene facilities at school. International frameworks have prompted governments to enact local policies that enshrine these rights, guarantee equitable access to education and mandate inclusive infrastructure. This research was designed to explore whether Malawi has translated good policies into practice. Data were gathered in Rumphi district, Malawi, through structured field observations in ten schools and interviews with students with a disability (n = 23), teachers (n = 11) and government stakeholders (n = 2). No school had facilities that fully meet the needs of students with disabilities, …