Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Emergencies: A Curriculum Open Access

Abstract

     In the wake of natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies, nearly half of the affected population’s morbidity and mortality can be attributed to poor water and sanitation access and improper hygienic behavior (WASH).  Effective and efficient WASH interventions provide life-saving basic needs to communities displaced or disrupted by emergencies.  The Rollins School of Public Health offers graduate certificates in both WASH and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies, but there is no focused course which provides fundamental knowledge on the important intersection of these global health issues.  The workforce of humanitarians and emergency responders also faces a shortage of technical experts, including from the WASH sector.  A curriculum gap analysis and literature review were performed to inform the development of a syllabus and set of educational modules for an intended ‘WASH in Emergencies’ course.  This course is intended to be offered through the Global Health department of the Rollins School of Public Health.  Offering this course will contribute to a well-rounded education for students seeking to enter either the emergency response or WASH professional fields.  A ‘WASH in Emergencies’ course is needed to fill the gap in both the current curriculum at the Rollins School of Public Health, and the workforce gap of future emergency WASH responders.      

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

I. Preface .................................................................................................................1 

List of Acronyms .................................................................................................1

II. Introduction ..........................................................................................................2

Background and Rationale ....................................................................................2

Problem Statement ............................................................................................. 2

Purpose Statement  ............................................................................................  4

Objectives ..........................................................................................................4

III. Methods ................................................................................................................5

Justification for Course and Content Development ....................................................5

Pedagogy ........................................................................................................... 6

IV. Curriculum Gap Analysis ....................................................................................... 8

Introduction.........................................................................................................8

Description of Competencies for the Rollins School of Public Health..............................9

Review of relevant Courses from the BSHE Department...........................................10 

Review of relevant Courses from the EH Department...............................................12 

Review of relevant Courses from the GH Department...............................................14

Review of WASH and CHE Certificate Programs.......................................................16

Gap Analysis Conclusion.......................................................................................17

V. Review of Relevant Literature...............................................................................19

Coordinating and Funding WASH in Emergency Efforts .............................................19

WASH Related Illness and Outbreaks in Emergencies ...............................................22

Applications and Approaches for WASH in Emergencies ............................................23

Unique Issues for At-Risk Populations ....................................................................31

Response in Urban Settings..................................................................................34

Sustainability: Transition from Response to Development ....................................... 36

Evidence and Gaps Regarding the Effectiveness of WASH Interventions......................37

Concluding Remarks on Literature Review .............................................................39

VI. Results and Conclusion.........................................................................................42

Course Structure and Additional Subtopics..............................................................42

Syllabus and Module Development ....................................................................... 44

Course Prerequisites .......................................................................................... 45

VII. Annexes .............................................................................................................. 47

Annex 1: Summary Table of Curriculum Gap Analysis ............................................. 47

Annex 2: Useful Guidelines, Manuals, and Toolkits ................................................. 48

Annex 3: Syllabus and Schedule .......................................................................... 49

Annex 4: Module Outlines ................................................................................... 55

Annex 5: Introduction Lecture Outline ...................................................................61

VIII.   Literature Cited  ...............................................................................................65 

 

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health
Keyword	WASH, water, sanitation, hygiene, emergency response, complex humanitarian emergencies
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	McGriff, Joanne, Emory University
Committee Members	Martin, Lara, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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