THE PROPOSED BAN OF DISPOSABLE BABY DIAPERS IN ZIMBABWE: VIEWS FROM OLD SENGA RESIDENTS, IN THE CITY OF GWERU, ZIMBABWE

Abstract

The study aimed to establish the views of residents of Old Senga, City of Gweru, on the proposal by the government to ban disposable baby diapers in Zimbabwe. Soiled disposable baby diapers have become an environmental nuisance. The issue of whether diapers should be banned or not has generated a contentious debate in the country. This qualitative study was conducted in Old Senga, a high-density residential suburb of the City of Gweru, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire survey, interviews and observations were employed to gather information. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of participants. The study established that there were mixed feelings concerning the proposed ban on baby diapers. Proponents of the government’s intention felt that most nursing mothers were ignorant regarding how to dispose of soiled diapers. Opponents of the ban felt that nursing mothers should move with the times and use disposable diapers, as the use of cloth diapers was old-fashioned. The study concluded that disposable baby diapers were now a permanent feature, particularly in urban settings. The study, therefore, recommends that producers of diapers should include instructions on environmentally friendly disposal methods for soiled diapers. Mothers should be encouraged to dispose of soiled diapers in an environmentally friendly manner.