Visible and invisible risks: Exploring washing and hygiene practices with women living on low income in Kenya

Robinson, Jude; Howland, Olivia

Abstract

Shifting environmental conditions and poor or insufficient hygiene facilitates the transmission of bacteria and viruses between and within species of animals; between humans; and between humans and animals. Taking a One Health perspective, we used interviews to explore with 20 women living on low income in Kenya: their gendered hygiene practices and daily contact with animals; how and why they access water and sanitation facilities for themselves, their families, and any livestock; and their understandings of (zoonotic) health risks and disease transmission within their local environments. The women described how they worked every day to keep bodies and homes clean by washing bodies, surfaces and clothes. Women's hygiene practices focussed on removing visible dirt partly because of concerns for health but also to support their families’ social standing in their community. While they were less aware of any ‘invisible’ risks to health through contact with animals or other hazards present in their daily living environments, most exercised care to source and manage water for drinking. Contaminated water was recognised as a risk to health suggesting that in this case, women accepted that there were ‘invisible risks’ to health, even in clear water, and took steps to mitigate them.

Citation

Robinson, J., & Howland, O. (2021). Visible and invisible risks: Exploring washing and hygiene practices with women living on low income in Kenya. Global Public Health, 17(6), 1002-1015. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1887314

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 25, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 26, 2021
• Publication Date: Feb 26, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 16, 2023
• Journal: Global Public Health
• Print ISSN: 1744-1692
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-1706
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1002-1015
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1887314
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/15712085
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2021.1887314
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rgph20; Received: 2020-06-28; Accepted: 2021-01-25; Published: 2021-02-26