The Influence of Marginalization on Cultural Attitudes and Trash Disposal Practices in Esfuerzo de Paraíso of the Dominican Republic: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Madison Sasman,Carrie B Dolan,Estelle Eyob,Daniel Villegas,Catherine Barrett

doi:10.3390/ijerph18062872

Abstract

The inadequate management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in fast-developing nations is a major public health problem. Trash collection is often inconsistent, leaving residents to use unsafe disposal methods such as incineration or unregulated dumping. The issue is especially pronounced in marginalized communities, where public service provision is scarce. Past research has identified factors that perpetuate harmful disposal practices. The current study expanded on previous work by exploring how individuals’ perceptions of political, spatial, and economic marginalization affected their agency with regards to waste management. Researchers focused on a marginalized community in the Dominican Republic known as Esfuerzo de Paraíso. There, they conducted semi-structured interviews to explore residents’ perceptions of marginalization at the individual, interpersonal, community, and institutional levels, and its effects on their agency. A qualitative coding process revealed that most community members were discontent with their trash disposal practices, but that long-standing marginalization left them feeling ill equipped to generate change at the individual level. Interviewees believed that change should be initiated at the community level and implemented with the support of institutional-level actors, namely the municipal government. Residents did not identify any non-governmental organizations as possible sources of help, which may suggest a limited view of institutional support networks.

Highlights

The inaccessibility of waste management services is a prominent concern for lowincome countries
We provide an overview of the study sample and descriptive findings derived from the on-site interviews, with the intended outcome of better understanding the trash disposal methods in marginalized communities and how varying spheres of influence impact community members’ actions
Access to a larger range of data would allow us to gather data that are more representative of the entire community. While these findings provide initial analysis on the various implications of waste disposal practices and their effect on community beliefs, the small number of participants has to be approached with caution in regards to generalizing findings

Summary

Introduction

The inaccessibility of waste management services is a prominent concern for lowincome countries. Many low-income countries (LICs) have inadequate waste management systems due to a lack of awareness, technology, finances, and policy governance [1]. LICs are constrained by a lack of economic, spatial, and educational resources. These countries have limited land to operate proper recycling and trash disposal practices, on top of limited funding for transportation and maintenance. Alternate waste management practices such as incineration and unregulated dumping are commonly used systems in these countries [2]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion