title: High School Students' Experiences in School Toilets or Restrooms.
abstract: Previous research about school toilets is based on studies of children in elementary school. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences when using the school toilets reported by students aged 16-18 years. Qualitative interviews with 21 students were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. The data revealed that the toilets were considered insecure, dirty, and unpleasant. Additionally, students refrained from drinking during school hours and remained in constant movement or jumped up and down to withhold urine and stool. This was illustrated in the following categories: assessing the toilet environment, coping with the situation, and feeling exposed Hence, there is an urgent need to improve the school toilet environment in order to respect the rights of all students to void or defecate when necessary, a process which will require involvement of students, teachers, and other school staff as well as the School Health Service.
authors.affiliation: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden Department of Pediatrics, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norling
authors.affiliation: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden Department of Urology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stenzelius
authors.affiliation: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden Department of Pediatrics, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.affiliation: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden anne.wennick@mah.se.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wennick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000072296:Bathroom Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012499:Sanitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden
keywords: bowel habits; constipation; defecation; elimination; environment; lower urinary tract symptoms; overdistended bladder; school toilet; student