Peer-reviewed article
Flowing toward well-being: exploring the nexus of clean water access and sexual reproductive health among women and girls in rural Uganda.
Kagurusi P, Luyima M, Desmarquest S, Mugisa M, Obonyo N et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study in rural Uganda explores how access to clean water affects the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls. The research found that traditional gender norms and socioeconomic status shape the health challenges women face while collecting water, and that clean water access is important for managing menstrual and maternal health. The study recommends improving water access alongside menstrual hygiene products, health information, and involving women in water decision-making.
Key points
- Women and girls in rural Uganda bear primary responsibility for water collection due to gender norms, limiting their education, employment and social participation
- Clean water access is important for maintaining adequate menstrual and pre/post-natal health among women and girls
- Traditional gender norms and socioeconomic status significantly shape the sexual and reproductive health challenges women face
- Including women in decision-making about water sources improved accessibility and cleanliness
- Access to clean water, menstrual hygiene products, health information and women's inclusion in decision-making are interconnected needs
Limitations
The study uses phenomenological qualitative methods without a comparison group, so it cannot establish causal relationships or quantify the magnitude of impacts. The research is limited to one parish in Uganda and may not be generalizable to other rural or urban settings.
Abstract
Background Access to adequate clean water is crucial for public health, yet approximately one-third of the global population lacks access safe drinking water. Women and girls bear the primary responsibility for water collection due to entrenched gender norms, time spent fetching water, limiting opportunities for education, employment and social participation. Inadequate clean water access negatively impacts women's sexual reproductive health (SRH). While research has explored water access and gender roles, gaps remain in understanding the specific SRH challenges faced by women collecting water. Objective This research aimed to investigate in what ways clean water access affects the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) of women and girls in Jimo parish (in which district, which region of Uganda). Methods A phenomenological study design was used for research and employing qualitative methods of data collection. Results The results indicate that traditional gender norms and societal expectations, and soci0-economic status play a pivotal role in shaping the SRH challenges women and girls face while collecting water. Having access to clean water was found important for women and girls to maintain adequate menstrual and pre/post-natal health. Having women included in decision-making bettered the accessibility and cleanliness of the source. Conclusion Access to clean water, MHM products and information and inclusion of women in decision making, are suggested to play important role for women and girls SRH, water access and quality.