Barriers and opportunities for cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements in Kenya

Sheillah N Simiyu,Raphael M Kweyu,Prince Antwi-Agyei,Kwaku A Adjei

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09768-1

Abstract

BackgroundThe sharing of sanitation facilities is a common practice in low-income areas in sub-Saharan Africa. However, shared sanitation is currently categorized as a limited sanitation service, and may therefore not count towards meeting the global goals. These shared facilities are often the only option available for most residents in low-income settlements, and improving their cleanliness and overall management is key to reducing open defecation and risk of disease. This study sought to investigate barriers and opportunities for improved cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements of Kisumu city, Kenya.MethodsThirty-nine in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions were held with residents – mainly tenants and landlords – of a low-income settlement in Kisumu. Analysis followed a thematic approach to define the problem, specify the target behaviour and identify the changes needed.ResultsSanitation facilities were mainly pit latrines, typically shared among landlords and tenants. Participants singled out behavioural (poor use of the shared toilets) and social (lack of cooperation in cleaning) challenges that led to unclean shared toilets. Available opportunities for improvement included instituting clear cleaning plans, improving communication among users, and enhanced problem-solving mechanisms between landlords and tenants. These approaches could form the basis for designing intervention strategies for improving the cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities.ConclusionThe results highlight the need to focus on social aspects for improvement of cleanliness in shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements. Through a social approach, shared sanitation facilities can be managed appropriately to provide the millions of low-income residents in Kenya an opportunity to access sanitation. This study provides further evidence on approaches for improved management of shared sanitation facilities in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Joint Monitoring Program’s (JMP) recommendation for high quality shared facilities.

Highlights

The sharing of sanitation facilities is a common practice in low-income areas in sub-Saharan Africa
Landowners have constructed rental structures to accommodate the rising demand for rental housing. These housing structures are usually organised in compounds that comprise several single adjoining unit houses occupied by different households, most of whom are tenants
Characteristics of sharing Living arrangements and sharing All the sanitation facilities were pit latrines shared among households who lived in compounds occupied by tenants only, by tenants and landlords, or by tenants and caretakers

Summary

Introduction

The sharing of sanitation facilities is a common practice in low-income areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Shared sanitation is currently categorized as a limited sanitation service, and may not count towards meeting the global goals These shared facilities are often the only option available for most residents in low-income settlements, and improving their cleanliness and overall management is key to reducing open defecation and risk of disease. In Africa, approximately 62–70% of the urban population lives in low-income settlements [1] These settlements are faced with challenges such as inadequate water and sanitation services. Sanitation facilities that are shared by two or more households are classified as ‘limited’ sanitation service by the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) [2, 3] This classification is mainly due to increased health risks of exposure to faecal matter, and human rights concerns relating to dignity and safety [2, 3]. This classification implies that any improvements to shared facilities may not count towards meeting global sustainable development goals, which may result in investments and improvements not being directed towards users of the shared facilities [4]

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Conclusion