Flowing toward well-being: exploring the nexus of clean water access and sexual reproductive health among women and girls in rural Uganda

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.