Integrity Journal of Education and Training

This study sought to describe and establish correlation between female students’ perceived self-esteem and availability of sanitary facilities among public secondary schools in Monduli District through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. Using survey design, data were collected through questionnaire whereby purposive and simple random sampling determined 320 female students from 8 schools to participate. Validity and reliability of above 0.7 Cronbach’s alpha were established through expert judgment and statistical analysis respectively. The study concluded that amount of water supply is adequate and constant in schools although water taps for hand washing were nonexistent. School toilets did not have doors and locks for privacy. They were not clean and neat and there were no disposal bins for menstrual pads in the toilets. Further, there is limited access to soaps and sanitation facilities for hand washing. However, students perceived existence of good sanitation and hygienic condition in their schools and considered themselves to be self-esteemed. There is a significant positive relationship between self-esteem and sanitation and hygiene and between quality of toilets and availability of water. Therefore, there is need for schools to fix water taps for hand washing in order to enhance sanitation and hygiene condition and improve health of female students. There is also need for schools to fix doors and locks in school toilets for privacy and safety, disposal bins for used menstrual pads and soaps and sanitation facilities for effective hand washing.