THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

The Lived Experiences of HUMSS

Students in Using School Toilets
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

The toilet is a human waste disposal and is an integral part of our daily life. It is
a sanitary facility that enables us to uphold hygienic conditions and stop the
spread of diseases. Public health, urban planning, and hygiene management all
depend on the availability and accessibility of restrooms. It is a crucial part of
the school buildings and has the responsibility of ensuring the well-being,
security, and comfort of the student body.
Safe disposal of human waste is essential to stop the spread of diseases that can
harm health. Sanitation is crucial, so we must clean and sanitize our spaces
before using them to prevent infections (WHO, 2022).
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

 In Nepal some schools experience health-related problems that affect students, such
as having modest WASH infrastructure, including separate restrooms for girls.
Students' health is negatively affected due to inadequate WASH facilities, unsafe
drinking water, lack of sanitation, and poor hygiene habits (Sharma et., al, 2022).
 In Africa, school restrooms are frequently overcrowded, damaged, unclean, or
lacking in washing facilities, according to complaints from instructors, families,
rights organizations, and the media (Shaylor et al. 2015)
 Peal et.,al. (2014), reported that the percentage of Manila's rural population that
has access to sanitary restrooms in schools is steadily increasing.
 Here in Sta. Cruz Senior High School, the school toilets have poor sanitation due to
a lack of discipline in maintaining the cleanliness of toilets. However, some students
assigned to clean the toilets remain to be irresponsible.
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

Few studies found that there is not much research that addresses the irritation
and risk associated with unclean and inappropriate sanitation in this school’s
restrooms, or there is not enough evidence to support them.

The main goal of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Grade 12 HUMSS
students using school toilets at Santa Cruz Davao del Sur, specifically their experiences,
challenges, overcoming the challenges and insights. Through this study, researchers
develop questions that fit and answer the title of the research. Specifically, these are:
: (1) What are the lived experiences of HUMSS students in using school toilets?

(2) What are the challenges of HUMSS students in using school toilets?

(3) How do HUMSS students overcome the challenges in using school toilets?

(4) What are the insights of HUMSS students in using school toilets?
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

Significance of the study:

• Students
• Teachers
• Administration and Staff
• Parents
• Future Researchers
 LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

Phenomenological 10 HUMSS Interviews & Purposive

Inquiry STUDENTS FGDs Sampling
(Cresswell, 2013) WHO USED (Thomas et al., (Palinkas et al.,
METHOD
SCHOOL 2003) 2015)
TOILETS

DATA
ANALYSIS
DATA
COLLECTION

DATA
SOURCE
DESIGN
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF PARTICIPANTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

DISCUSSION
• Unclean Toilet
• Unpleasan odor  This theme coincides with the work of
• Water Shortage VanMinh and Nguyen-Viet (2011), in
which better sanitation offers facilities
01
RESULT

with better accessibility and secure

excreta disposal, improving
Broken doors Maintenance of Lack of cleanliness through toilet wastewater
and no 04 Toiltes’ 02 Hygienic
padlock materials collecting and treatment systems.
Cleanliness

03  This statement was supported by the

study of Koottatep et.al,( 2018) which
Sanitary Napkins stated that toilet also contains
were scattered on the adequate ventilation, clean water,
floor soap, and a pleasant smell, as advised.
 THE CHALLENGES OF PARTICIPANTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

DISCUSSION
 This theme derived from the statements shared
•Lung irritation by the participants was supported by the study
•Uncomfortable of Flores., et.al (2011)stating that the evidence
bladder shows that surfaces or objects in public
restrooms are frequently contaminated with
01
bacteria or viruses, including those that are
Health resistant to antibiotics.
•Need to be
Risk and •Stomach pain
accompanied 04 02
 In addition, damaged toilet doors were a
Privacy •Needs to hold
•The smell can common problem, and students reported
pee
cause dizziness that this exceeded their privacy and was one
03
•Feeling of of the reasons they avoided using the
discomfort restroom or preferred to use the restroom in
•Disturbed from pairs, with one person standing in the door
classes to protect the privacy of the other
(Abrahams et al. 2006).
 THE COPING MECHANISM OF PARTICIPANTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

DISCUSSIONS
 After that they had already engaged in
• Regular cleaning too much challenges in using the school
• Store water toilets, the participants come up with a
01 solution that could help them to
Wearing of improve the situation of their toilets as
facemask in Usage of Proper tools it became very essential especially when
using the 04 Cleaning 02 and cleaning it comes to health-related issues.
Tools  The continuously increase of
toilet products
communicable diseases among students
03
is due to poor hygiene. To improve the
awareness and hygiene practices among
Avoiding the students can effectively reduce the
unpleasant smell spread of diseases (Abdullah, 2016).
 THE INSIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

DISCUSSION
 Promoting change and implementation of
Implementation of program in using school toilets is to ensure
program that students have access to clean and safe
toilet facilities, which are essential for
01 their health, well-being, and learning.
Promote
• School must provide
School Toilet- Lack of  In the sudy of O’Connor and Pritchard
cleaning materials 04 02
• Use Policies Accountability (2018), promoting behavioral change and
Assign students to
clean implementation of program to
03 handwashing with soap and improved use
of latrines by students would highlights
the importance of addressing the physical
• Accepting the culture to ensure proper use of school toilets.
• Educate those
irresponsible students
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

CONCLUSION
The lack of access to proper sanitation facilities in schools poses a significant
barrier for students in Sta. Cruz Senior High School to use the toilets.
Unclean toilets, lack of hygienic materials, and unpleasant smells are
associated with health risks and privacy concerns, leading to challenges in
maintaining cleanliness and sanitation. The lived experiences of students
reveal their discomfort, distraction, and health complications when using
school toilets. However, students employ coping mechanisms such as regular
cleaning, using proper tools and cleaning products, avoiding unpleasant
smells, wearing facemasks, and storing water. These insights highlight the
importance of implementing a program and promoting behavioral change to
improve toilet sanitation in schools.
 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

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 THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HUMSS STUDENTS IN USING SCHOOL TOILETS

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