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Ending Open Defecation in Rural Tanzania: Which Factors Facilitate Latrine Adoption?

Author

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  • Stephen Sara

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, 2100 M St., NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037, USA)

  • Jay Graham

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, 2100 M St., NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037, USA)

Abstract

Diarrheal diseases account for 7% of deaths in children under five years of age in Tanzania. Improving sanitation is an essential step towards reducing these deaths. This secondary analysis examined rural Tanzanian households’ sanitation behaviors and attitudes in order to identify barriers and drivers to latrine adoption. The analysis was conducted using results from a cross-sectional study of 1000 households in five rural districts of Tanzania. Motivating factors, perceptions, and constraints surrounding open defecation and latrine adoption were assessed using behavioral change theory. Results showed a significant association between use of improved sanitation and satisfaction with current sanitation facility ( OR: 5.91; CI: 2.95–11.85; p = 0.008 ). Livestock-keeping was strongly associated with practicing open defecation ( OR: 0.22; CI 0.063–0.75; p < 0.001 ). Of the 93 total households that practiced open defecation, 79 (85%) were dissatisfied with the practice, 62 (67%) had plans to build a latrine and 17 (18%) had started saving for a latrine. Among households that planned to build a latrine, health was the primary reason stated (60%). The inability to pay for upgrading sanitation infrastructure was commonly reported among the households. Future efforts should consider methods to reduce costs and ease payments for households to upgrade sanitation infrastructure. Messages to increase demand for latrine adoption in rural Tanzania should integrate themes of privacy, safety, prestige and health. Findings indicate a need for lower cost sanitation options and financing strategies to increase household ability to adopt sanitation facilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Sara & Jay Graham, 2014. "Ending Open Defecation in Rural Tanzania: Which Factors Facilitate Latrine Adoption?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:9:p:9854-9870:d:40491
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dean Spears, 2012. "How much international variation in child height can sanitation explain?," Working Papers 1438, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing..
    2. Kathrin Ziegelbauer & Benjamin Speich & Daniel Mäusezahl & Robert Bos & Jennifer Keiser & Jürg Utzinger, 2012. "Effect of Sanitation on Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pakhtigian, Emily L. & Dickinson, Katherine L. & Orgill-Meyer, Jennifer & Pattanayak, Subhrendu K., 2022. "Sustaining latrine use: Peers, policies, and sanitation behaviors," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 223-242.
    2. Carmen Anthonj & Lisa Fleming & Samuel Godfrey & Argaw Ambelu & Jane Bevan & Ryan Cronk & Jamie Bartram, 2018. "Health Risk Perceptions Are Associated with Domestic Use of Basic Water and Sanitation Services—Evidence from Rural Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Avishek Bhunia & Amalendu Sahoo & Uday Chatterjee, 2023. "Geostatistical analysis of quality of life (QoL) with particular emphasis on the basic amenities and services in urban West Bengal, India," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 807-843, September.
    4. Sheillah Simiyu & Mark Swilling & Richard Rheingans & Sandy Cairncross, 2017. "Estimating the Cost and Payment for Sanitation in the Informal Settlements of Kisumu, Kenya: A Cross Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Matthew Mamera & Johan J. van Tol & Makhosazana P. Aghoghovwia & Gabriel T. Mapetere, 2020. "Community Faecal Management Strategies and Perceptions on Sludge Use in Agriculture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-21, June.

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