We found that sanitation practices encompassed more than defacation and urination & included carrying water , washing , bathing , menstrual managment , and changing clothes.During the course of these actions , women encountered 3 broad types of stress causers-environmental , social & sexual-the intesity of which were modified by the woman’s life stage , lining environment and access to sanitation facilities.Environmental barriers , social factors and fears of sexual violence all contributed to sanitation related psychological stress.Though women responded with small changes to sanitation practices, they were unable to significantly modify their circumstances, notably by achieving adequate privacy for sanitation- related behaviors. A better understanding of the range of causes of stress and adaptive behaviors is needed to inform context specific gender sensitive sanitation interventions.
sanitation/stress 