Assessment of knowledge practice gap regarding sanitary toilet - A hospital based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Lack of safe drinking water, the absence of basic sanitation and hygienic practices is associated with high morbidity and mortality from excreta-related diseases. Different sanitation programs were failed because people were poorly informed and not aware about the link of sanitation with health. Objective: (i) The objective of the study was to study the awareness about sanitary toilet among study participants and (ii) to assess the knowledge-practice gap among study participants for sanitary toilet use. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among peoples visiting medicine outpatient department. Pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used for an interview of 384 participants after taking written informed consent. The assessment of knowledge and practice was mainly focused on four subheads, i.e., toilet construction, toilet utilization, toilet cleaning, and sanitary measures during toilet use. Results: Among the study participants 89.58% were aware of the sanitary toilet while only 46.09% were aware about their advantages. 94.79% of participants were aware about different sanitary measures. 88.54% of participants had constructed sanitary toilet and 83.85% of participant’s utilized toilet. 92.7% of participants practice sanitary measures. Only 77.86% cleaned their toilets by disinfectant. Significant statistical difference was seen in knowledge and practice of construction of toilet, their utilization and cleaning. Conclusions: People have better knowledge of sanitary toilet but practices related to toilet construction, its utilization, cleaning, and sanitation were not universally followed among them, so this knowledge - practice gap regarding sanitary toilet can be minimized by giving attention toward practices which will altimetry contribute in the success of Swachh Bharat Mission.