Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – [September 9, 2024] – Splash, in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, is thrilled to announce the results of a study assessing the impact of Project WISE (WASH in Schools for Everyone) on child health and school attendance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This research, conducted through a cluster-randomized controlled trial, has been published in BMC Medicine and offers significant insights into the potential of school-based interventions to enhance the health and well-being of children in urban settings.

The study, led by author Sarah Bick, enrolled over 6,000 pupils aged 7–16 from 60 schools across Addis Ababa during the 2021–2022 academic year. Thirty schools received the Project WISE intervention, while the remaining thirty served as controls. The trial focused on measuring the effects of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives on illness and absenteeism.

“We found a 16% reduction in pupil-reported respiratory illness in the past week during follow-up, indicating the potential success of Project WISE at interrupting the transmission of respiratory pathogens by increasing handwashing with soap,” said Bick. “Additionally, we observed a slight improvement in menstrual care self-efficacy.”

We believe more research is needed to fully understand the impact of school WASH interventions on girls’ experiences.

The timing of the study, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, makes the findings particularly significant. Despite pandemic-related restrictions that limited the full implementation of Splash’s menstrual health program, the results still indicate a measurable improvement in student health.

“Given the challenges posed by the pandemic, these outcomes are especially encouraging,” said Splash’s Chief Impact Officer, Chris Nicoletti. “We are committed to delivering high-quality WASH solutions in urban schools and are eager to continue exploring the connections between school WASH programs, student health, and education.”

While the study highlighted a reduction in respiratory illness, it found no significant impact on diarrhea-related illness, possibly due to the absence of upgraded toilet facilities during the trial period. Splash believes that addressing this gap—through the provision of child-friendly, safe, and private sanitation spaces—will further enhance the effectiveness of its WASH initiatives, particularly for menstruating students.

Splash’s comprehensive WASH program aims to provide sustainable, long-term solutions, recognizing that as many as 50% of WASH projects fail within the first five years. The findings from this trial underscore the importance of continued investment in and research on school-based WASH interventions.

About Splash:

Splash is a global nonprofit organization focused on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions in urban schools. With a commitment to sustainable, scalable solutions, Splash aims to make safe water, sanitation, and hygiene accessible to every child.

For more information, please visit our website.

Media Contact:
Lily Young
Senior Marketing and Communications Manager
lily@splash.org