Beyond infrastructure: The link between water access and gender-based violence in Ghana

For many Canadians, turning on a tap or accessing a washroom is an unremarkable part of daily life. Yet water researchers increasingly recognize that access to water is closely tied to dignity, health, and social equity. New research led by Julius Jebuni suggests that, in some parts of the world, the consequences of water insecurity extend even further: into the realm of gender-based violence.

Published in Social Science & Medicine, the study by Waterloo Alumni Julius Jebuni, Elijah Bisung and Professor Susan Elliott, examines how women in rural Ghana experience violence while accessing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Drawing on interviews with women across northern Ghana, the research highlights how gendered social norms surrounding water collection can expose women to multiple forms of violence, while also discouraging them from reporting abuse or seeking support. Jebuni and Bisung, now at Queen's University, were both supervised by Water Institute member Susan Elliott during their time at the University of Waterloo, where this collaborative research took shape.

Drawing on interviews with women in Ghana's Upper West Region, the researchers found that the routine act of collecting water can expose women and girls to physical, psychosocial, sexual, and infrastructural forms of violence. Participants described risks encountered at home, in transit to water sources, while waiting in queues, and when seeking privacy for sanitation needs.

The study's title, “The fear of violence is always there”: Gender-based violence, water and sanitation insecurity in Ghana, comes directly from participants' accounts of daily life. The phrase captures a central finding, even when violence does not occur, the constant anticipation of it shapes how women navigate their communities, access essential services, and make decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Reflecting on one of his interviews, Jebuni recalled a conversation that stayed with him, “I had just finished an interview, and as usual, I asked whether there was anything else she would like to add. Holding her baby and smiling, she said, ‘I want you to help us.’ When I reminded her that I was only a researcher and that the interview was for research purposes, she replied, ‘I know, that is why I am asking for help. It will really benefit us if our voice is simply heard.’ That day, I left with her words on my mind. I have since pondered what a benefit it is to be heard, especially when powerful social norms dictate otherwise.”

At the heart of the research is the role of social norms. In many households, women and girls are expected to provide water for domestic needs, yet often have limited influence over decisions about water management and household resources. These norms determine not only who collects water, but also who bears the risks associated with doing so.

For water professionals and researchers, the findings offer an important reminder that water challenges are rarely solved through infrastructure alone. Whether addressing drinking water access in rural communities, affordability issues in cities, or long-term boil-water advisories in Indigenous communities, North American experience has demonstrated that water security is deeply influenced by social, cultural, and governance factors.

For Elliott, the findings also point to the need for action beyond the research itself. “Women and girls should not have to face violence when undertaking the daily tasks of water provision or searching for adequate sanitation facilities.  These research results are feeding into larger scale research programs partnered with community stakeholders and policy makers, designed to change policy, practice and the wellbeing of women and girls.”

“This gender-based violence issue needs a systems approach. I remember an older woman telling me how her water container was thrown away because she did not have the money to contribute to water maintenance fees. Because of cases like this, we cannot simply provide water infrastructure in a community and expect the issue to be solved. It is important to recognize that experiences of gender-based violence are not the same for every woman. With this awareness, I believe policy interventions can better reflect this complexity”, said Jebuni.

The authors argue that WASH interventions must move beyond providing infrastructure to incorporating gender-transformative and gender-based violence-sensitive approaches. Improving safety around water access points, expanding access to adequate sanitation facilities, and challenging harmful social norms are all critical to ensuring that access to water also means access to safety, dignity, and opportunity.

The full study is available in Social Science & Medicine:: Jebuni, J., Elliott, S.J., & Bisung, E. (2026). “The fear of violence is always there”: Gender-based violence, water and sanitation insecurity in Ghana. Read the full study.