Open Defecation Research Articles

Assessment of food security, living condition, personal hygiene health determinants and relations among Almajiri students in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria

Almajiri are students’ is an ancient Islamic system of teaching. This paper assesses food security, personal hygiene, living condition, and violence in Almajiri. Survey using questionnaire and descriptive statistics, and x2 at p < 0.05 were used. Most schools were donated (66.7%), and minority (33.3%) were self-owned. Schools were built with zinc (33.3%), mud (33.3%), and modern tools (33.3%). There are urinals in all the schools (100.0%), overcrowding (100.0%), 66.7% have windows and doors, (33.3%) have no windows and doors. 66.% of the schools have mats for sitting, 33.3% have chairs. Risks found at schools are: open defecation (33.3%), and nearby water (66.7%). Majority of students stay for 4 months before returning home (66.7%), and significant portion of them return after graduation (33.3%). Pertaining personal hygiene 66.7% of the students’ wear shoes, 33.3% do not wear; 66.7% have cleaned clothes, 33.3% dirty clothes, there was no water at 66.7% of the schools, 33.3% have water. 66.7% wash hands after toilet, none wash hands before eating. On food security for Almajiri, 66.7% eat once, 33.3% eat twice daily. They eat Tuwo (33.3%), Gari (33.3%), and unspecified food (33.3%); source of food includes begging (33.3%), external labor (33.3%), and home (33.3%). Types of violence encountered are: weapon use (33.3%), fight (33.3%), and flogging (33.3%). Majority (66.7%) of students like western education, and (33.3%) replied no. All students are feeling their condition psychologically; some are at SS1 (33.3%), JSSI (33.3%), and (33.3%) never attend western school. Poor health determinants exist in Almajiri students in Sokoto.

Justice and sanitation governance: an enquiry into the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Rural programme in UP, India

Abstract The Swachh Bharat Mission-Rural (SBM-R) is a flagship programme aimed at ending open defecation in rural India. In this paper, we study institutions and processes using Amartya Sen's conception of justice. We review the outcomes by assessing agencies, actions and processes involved in the implementation of the SBM-R programme. The findings are analysed using the Sanitation Well-being Framework. Sanitation well-being is achieved when an individual is able to experience the sanitation life cycle stages of acceptance, construction, utilisation and maintenance of safe disposal, which are part of the framework. The capability factors grouped under personal, cultural, structural, environmental and service elements of the framework determine the sanitation environment facilitated by the state. Failure in experiencing one of the life stages leads to slippage in sanitation, where people resume open defecation, despite possessing toilets. The paper presents a review of literature on the political, technological and structural issues in programme implementation, followed by an analysis of 42 interviews and 12 focused group discussions of state and non-state actors conducted in rural Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh, India. We found that slippage is prevalent in the field site and identified 26 capability factors (expansion and constraints) that led to slippage in sanitation.

Socio-demographic and environmental determinants of under-5 stunting in Rwanda: Evidence from a multisectoral study.

Child stunting is an important household, socio-economic, environmental and nutritional stress indicator. Nationally, 33% of children under 5 in Rwanda are stunted necessitating the need to identify factors perpetuating stunting for targeted interventions. Our study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of under-5 stunting essential for designing appropriate policy and program responses for addressing stunting in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 6 and October 9, 2022, in five districts of Rwanda including, Kicukiro, Ngoma, Burera, Nyabihu and Nyanza. 2788 children and their caregivers were enrolled in the study and data on the individual level (child, caregiver/household characteristics), and community-level variables were collected. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of individual and community-level factors on stunting. The prevalence of stunting was 31.4% (95% CI: 29.5-33.1). Of this, 12.2% were severely stunted while 19.2% were moderately stunted. In addition, male gender, age above 11 months, child disability, more than six people in the household, having two children below the age of five, a child having diarrhea 1-2 weeks before the study, eating from own plate when feeding, toilet sharing, and open defecation increased the odds of childhood stunting. The full model accounted for 20% of the total variation in the odds of stunting. Socio-demographic and environmental factors are significant determinants of childhood stunting in Rwanda. Interventions to address under-five stunting should be tailored toward addressing individual factors at household levels to improve the nutritional status and early development of children.

Barriers for upgrading of latrines in rural Ethiopia: disentangling a sanitation socio-technical lock-in

ABSTRACT Ethiopia achieved the fastest reduction in open defaecation worldwide over the two past decades. However, it was through the use of predominantly non-durable, unhygienic latrines. It questions the presumed effects of latrine adoption on public health and heightens a risk of return to open defaecation. Resources invested into sanitation in Ethiopia may be wasted if upgrading to latrines is not facilitated. This paper aims to understand factors hindering the improvement of latrines in Southern Ethiopia based on the structured interviews and direct observations among 504 rural households supplemented by qualitative interviews with local representatives. We examine the quality and past improvements of latrines, revealed plans and attitudes regarding the improvements, willingness to pay for hygienic latrine components, costs perceptions and infrastructural barriers. We identified a socio-technical lock-in characterised by the sustained use of unhygienic latrines without recognisable shifts up the sanitation ladder. It has been cemented by the demand-oriented sanitation strategy, poverty and infrastructural constraints. People are generally satisfied with unhygienic latrines, being convinced that their use is good for health. The satisfaction curbs the demand for latrine upgrading. The demand for latrine upgrading is further reduced by poverty and material constraints, preventing local supply of hygienic sanitation components to develop. Our findings show that market approaches alone will not solve the problem. Provision of subsidised sanitation products is required together with a campaign that would disintegrate the widespread belief that the use of any latrine is good for human health.

Soil-transmitted helminth infection among school-age children in Ogoja, Nigeria: implication for control.

The study aimedat assessing the prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminthiases among school-aged children in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. Fecal samples were collected from 504 participants and analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique and modified Baermann technique for identifying larvae of Strongyloides. A total of 232 (46.0%) samples were positive for soil-transmitted helminths. The overall prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis were 14.1%, 16.5%, 2.6%, and 12.9% respectively. The prevalence of infections were higher among males (46.6%) than females (45.4%). Overall, parasitic infection was higher in the 5-7-year age group (65.6%) than in the other age groups (p = 0.000). Infection intensities of A. lumbricoides (84.00 EPG) (p = 0.044) and T. trichiura (96.00 EPG) (p = 0.041) were higher in school-age children aged 14-16years. A. lumbricoides and hookworm co-infection (8.7%) was the most common mixed infection and was significantly higher in males than females. School-aged children who did not have prior knowledge about soil-transmitted helminth infections, the habit of drinking water without boiling, open defecation, use of pit latrine, and children who did not have toilet facilities in school were significantly associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases. There was a significant relationship between washing hands after using the toilet, the habit of putting on footwear outside the house, and soil-transmitted helminth infection. In addition to preventive chemotherapy, control measures should focus on health education, providing clean drinking water, proper disposal of human excreta and sewage, and environmental hygiene.

SHIFT OF THE HUMAN LEPTOSPIROSIS RISK FACTORS IN SOUTH ANDAMAN ISLAND, INDIA

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis, endemic in south Andaman with 12.9% prevalence rate for rural population. Objective: identify the changes in environmental and behavioral risk factors associated with leptospirosis, which will help in the prevention and control strategies design. Cross-sectional study design with Methods: a universal sampling of laboratory-positive cases of 385 and 360 controls. Multilogistic regression analysis with 21 signicant variabl Results: es revealed, that leptospirosis positivity is signicantly associated with the presence of cats (OR 3.774, P < 0.05, CI 316, 6.151), rodents (OR 2.041, P < 0.05, CI 1.270, 3.282) and cattle's (OR 6.350 P < 0.05, CI 3.789, 10.640) and animal handling, bathing in the pond and working in the eld and open defecation (OR 4.128, P < 0.05, CI 2.270, 7.508). Our results emphasize the importance of creating awareness about leptospi Conclusion: rosis, many identied risk factors can be easily controlled by proper sanitation, proper drainage system and easy access to personal protective equipment

Influence of Seasonal Hazards on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene-Related Behavior and Implications for Cholera Transmission in Bangladesh.

Most cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh are seasonal, peaking in the dry and post-monsoon periods. Therefore, we investigated whether changes in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behavior in three populations in Bangladesh during the year could help explain why these two periods are particular to cholera transmission. The study used a mixed-method design, including a repeated cross-sectional study, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Through a repeated cross-sectional study, WASH-related variables were assessed during the dry, monsoon, and control seasons in 600 households from coastal Satkhira, inland Sirajganj, and the Dhaka slums. Seasonal behavioral changes were observed in all study areas. Dhaka and Satkhira had an increased mean distance to water sources during the dry and monsoon seasons (Dhaka: control season, 12 m [95% CI, 11-13]; dry season, 36 m [95% CI, 18-55]; and monsoon season, 180 m [95% CI, 118-243]; Satkhira: control season, 334 m [95% CI, 258-411]; dry season, 669 m [95% CI, 515-822]; and monsoon season, 2,437 m [95% CI, 1,665-3,209]). The participants attributed this to pollution of the usual water source. Perceived water quantity was lowest during the dry season in Dhaka and Sirajganj, and during the monsoon season in Satkhira. Handwashing with soap declined in all areas during the dry and monsoon seasons. Open defecation was frequent among children younger than 5 years, increasing during seasonal climate hazards. Results show that WASH-related behavior changed seasonally, increasing the risk of cholera transmission through multiple hygiene-related transmission pathways. Future research would benefit by ensuring that the length of studies covers all seasons throughout the year and also by looking in more detail at people's behavior and hygiene practices.

In-service Training of Urban Local Body Functionaries for Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

This paper is an empirical attempt to demonstrate the significance of capacity-building training which was conducted by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). The paper focuses on sanitation and solid-waste management (SWM), two issues which are directly under the purview of urban local bodies (ULBs). The objectives of the SBM-U 1.0 are to make all cities and towns open defecation free and garbage free by 2 October 2019. Towards this end, NIUA has conducted training-cum-exposure workshops in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 for ULBs. These comprise orientation, technical sessions as well as field visits. The pedagogy of these workshops is based on experiential learning theory (ELT), with suitable innovations, employed for educating through first-hand experience. An evaluation of the efficacy of the ELT model was carried out through a research questionnaire filled out by the participants during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 of selected states and was analysed for the understanding and implementation of service-level processing parameters in their states.

Hubungan Karakteristik Penduduk dengan Perilaku Buang Air Besar Sembarangan (BABS) di Desa Silo Lama Tahun 2022

One of the public health problems that is still a global problem is the habit of open defecation. The habit of open defecation (BABS) is one example of a very bad and unhealthy habit. The purpose of this study was to determine the description and relationship between the dependent and independent variables. This research is a quantitative research with a cross sectional research design. The total population in this study were all residents of the Silo Lama village, Silau Laut sub-district with a total of 1264 families and the sample in the study was 125 families in Silo Lama Village, Silau Laut District. Procedures for collecting data were interviews and questionnaires, data analysis was carried out univariate and bivariate with the help of the SPSS program. The results showed that age and open defecation behavior did not have a relationship with p = 0.695 (> 0.05), and the variables associated with open defecation were education, knowledge, attitudes, and habits. It is better if the community in Silo Lama village, Silau Laut sub-district, should conduct a village consultation regarding open defecation in order to obtain a solution that will be carried out to deal with these health problems.

Sanitation citizenship: state expectations and community practices of shared toilet use and maintenance in urban India

Although India declared itself “open defecation free” in 2019, critics charge that its national urban sanitation campaign, Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U), has failed. SBM-U provided community toilets in informal settlements where household latrines were unviable, delegating their upkeep to local governments and users. Initially, these community toilets were used. However, the failure to maintain and repair them resulted in a reversion to open defecation, forcing the state to reconsider its decision to withdraw after construction. We use the SBM-U to develop a framework of “sanitation citizenship”, which emerges through sanitation infrastructure’s use and disuse, and emerges over its life course. We trace how mutual expectations and everyday practices of citizenship by the state and users aligned and fractured during the construction, maintenance and repair phases of community toilets. We argue that the changing material condition of infrastructure is critical to negotiations over mutual obligations and definitions of the citizenship contract.

Spatiotemporal variation in risk of Shigella infection in childhood: a global risk mapping and prediction model using individual participant data

Diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of childhood illness and death globally, and Shigella is a major aetiological contributor for which a vaccine might soon be available. The primary objective of this study was to model the spatiotemporal variation in paediatric Shigella infection and map its predicted prevalence across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Individual participant data for Shigella positivity in stool samples were sourced from multiple LMIC-based studies of children aged 59 months or younger. Covariates included household-level and participant-level factors ascertained by study investigators and environmental and hydrometeorological variables extracted from various data products at georeferenced child locations. Multivariate models were fitted and prevalence predictions obtained by syndrome and age stratum. 20 studies from 23 countries (including locations in Central America and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and south and southeast Asia) contributed 66 563 sample results. Age, symptom status, and study design contributed most to model performance followed by temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and soil moisture. Probability of Shigella infection exceeded 20% when both precipitation and soil moisture were above average and had a 43% peak in uncomplicated diarrhoea cases at 33°C temperatures, above which it decreased. Compared with unimproved sanitation, improved sanitation decreased the odds of Shigella infection by 19% (odds ratio [OR]=0·81 [95% CI 0·76-0·86]) and open defecation decreased them by 18% (OR=0·82 [0·76-0·88]). The distribution of Shigella is more sensitive to climatological factors, such as temperature, than previously recognised. Conditions in much of sub-Saharan Africa are particularly propitious for Shigella transmission, although hotspots also occur in South America and Central America, the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, and the island of New Guinea. These findings can inform prioritisation of populations for future vaccine trials and campaigns. NASA, National Institutes of Health-The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sosialisasi Sanitasi Total Berbasis Masyarakat Di Desa Sukasari Dan Panunggulan Kecamatan Tunjung Teja Kabupaten Serang

Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM) is very important and must be practiced, realized or actualized in the daily life of all community members. This is due to behavioral factors that contribute 30-35% to health status, so various ways are needed to make unhealthy behavior healthy, one of which is through the Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM) program. The low level of clean and healthy living behavior in the school environment is partly due to the low level of public awareness in implementing clean and healthy living behaviors, such as open defecation so that our country's ODF (open defecation free/stop open defecation) rate is the 2nd lowest after India. , also community members never wash their hands with soap when they are going to eat, prepare unhealthy food and drink, throw trash in the wrong place, let alone take the initiative to build a garbage bank, and allow water to stagnate inside and in the yard. Socialization of clean and healthy living behavior is only implemented in the form of an appeal for behavior change so that people's lives are healthier and the Healthy District/City Program will be implemented. Moreover, Serang Regency, Pandeglang Regency and Lebak Regency are still lagging behind in Banten in the Healthy District/City Program. The three regencies have never received a basic-level Healthy District/City Award (Papada Award) because the ODF level is very low (below 7%). Thus, information is urgently needed regarding the importance of clean and healthy living behavior and realizing STBM at the village level.

Trends and impacts of demographic disparity on JMP ladders for drinking water and sanitation services: further analysis of the Ethiopian demographic and health surveys

Access to water and sanitation are a major issues for many countries, especially for low- and middle-income nations like Ethiopia. The study aims to identify trends in the use of drinking water and sanitation services using Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) ladders and to assess the impact of demographic factors on that use. A time trend analysis for water and sanitation services was carried out using JMP ladders using household data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Likewise, factors affecting the coverage of water and sanitation service ladders were also determined using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. According to a recent survey, the basic drinking water service trend increased significantly from 18% in 2000 to 57% in 2019 by 217%. In contrast, surface water use declined from 31% in 2000 to 12% in 2019 by 61%. Despite the overall coverage of basic sanitation services grew by 900% (or nine times) from 1% in 2000 to 10% in 2019, the coverage of basic sanitation services decreased by 25% from 8% in 2011 to 6% in 2016. Furthermore, the practice of open defecation decreased by 67% from 81% in 2000 to 27% in 2019. In this study, the availability of drinking water and sanitation services are influenced by many demographic factors. The wealth quantile was used as an example since it has a major impact on the water and sanitation service ladders. Similarly, the age of households’ heads difference significantly affects sanitation but has little effect on water service. The essential trend of water and sanitation services increased significantly. Several factors influencing the progression of water and sanitation service ladders have been discovered. As a result, households should replace the unimproved sanitation facilities with improved sanitation facilities and encourage hand-washing habits to reduce health risks associated with poor sanitation. Furthermore, the effect of demographic factors should be considered in the development of strategies to increase access to drinking water and sanitation services.

ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG URBAN SLUM RESIDENTS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS, ENUGU STATE

Environmental pollution and hazards have contributed alarming risks to human life over many years. It calls for public attention in which Agenda 21 was rooted with emphasis on environmental awareness, formal education, and training as a process by which societies can reach their fullest potential in the prevention of such risks. Building strong mechanisms for environmental awareness can go a long way to minimize environmental challenges of the urban poor particularly in slums. Rapid urbanization growth has caused accelerating rate of urban poverty and the process of urbanization has many relationships with slum formation. Still in Nigeria, just as in other developing nations of the world, slums exist in most cities and urban centers like Enugu metropolis. The main environmental problem in the selected slum areas shows manifestations in hazardous locations; lack of basic services; substandard housing/building structures; overcrowding; unhealthy living conditions (open defecation, open sewers, uncontrolled dumping of waste), high level of criminal activities, bad roads and polluted environment. The negative impact of the slums on the environment makes it necessary to pay more attention to the analysis of human environmental behavior and its social interaction. As a result of these, residents’ awareness and appreciation of their environment provides a foundation for a healthy relationship to the environment. The study centres on the evaluation of the environmental awareness among urban slum dwellers in Enugu Metropolis. A simple random sampling technique was employed to arrive at the sample size of 398 households. Physical observations and photographs were also used in collecting the data which were analyzed using the software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The hypothesis was tested using One-Way-ANOVA and the result shows that p<0.05 level (F (8.280)= 3.172. P=0.001). Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative which signifies that there is a significant difference in the level of environmental awareness in the study area. However, media and education, both had marked effects on dissemination of environmental awareness. Improved environmental conditions with increased environmental awareness on proper waste disposal and pollution control can reduce the environmental hazards in slum residential areas in Enugu metropolis were recommended.

The Function of Irrigate in Rural Development

Pristine water isn't a opulence. It is a basic human right. Rural India has more than 700 million public residing in about 1.42 million habitations spread over15 assorted ecological regions. Meeting the drinking water requests a large population can be an scary task. The non-uniformity in level of awareness, socioeconomic growth, education, poverty, practices and rituals and water convenience add to the difficulty of the task. In malice of an estimated total of Rs. 1,105 billion spent on provide safe drinking water since the First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951, lack of safe and secure drinking water continues to be a key obstacle and a national economic burden. Access to safe water is essential for lives and livelihoods. In India, a mid-term appraisal reveals that the country has already met its MDG (Millennium growth to water substructure, Goal) in conditions although in expanding in the similar access subsector of cleanliness development is falling far short of the mark. Most basic comments show that water supply exposure is not as good as the figures show while national cleanliness continues to be poor even after about six decades of efforts to eradicate open defecation. It argues that economic, technical, institutional as well as social factors restrain access to safe drinking water and correct sanitation in India for both the municipal and rural poor, and that treatment figures do not reflect this limited access. It finds that, increasingly, communities are being necessary to manage their own water and cleanliness schemes, not just in rural areas but in urban ones as well.

Structural and relational oppression of women: the association between open defecation and partner violence in Bangladesh

As indicated by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 80 per cent of women in Bangladesh experience partner violence (BBS, 2015). Given this prevalence, it is essential to assess factors, transcending the personal, that precipitate such violence. Using the lens of structural violence and supporting studies showing that violence of one form engenders another, we posit that a lack of sanitation that leads to open defecation also contributes to an increased likelihood of partner violence. This study uses data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007 to explicate the association between open defecation and partner violence among women in Bangladesh. Results show that in our sample of 4466 women, almost 9 per cent reported open defecation, 18.4 per cent reported physical violence, and 10.2 per cent reported sexual violence. In the multivariate analyses, the adjusted prevalence ratios indicate that open defecation is significantly associated with sexual violence by partners (APR=1.30, p<0.05) but not physical violence. Implications are discussed.

Active Trachoma Prevalence and Related Variables among Children in a Pastoralist Community in Southern Ethiopia in 2021: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

An estimated 30% of trachoma burden is borne by Ethiopia. Data on the prevalence of active trachoma and related factors in a pastoralist population are currently lacking. Additionally, no research has been conducted in the Oromia, Guji Zone of the Liben District. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 children 1-9 years old in the pastoralist community of the Liben District from March 1 to April 30, 2021. A multistage systematic sampling method was applied to choose the sample. A structured questionnaire and WHO's trachoma grading scheme were used to identify active trachoma. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to determine associated factors. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to decide the level of significance: 157 (29.2%) (95% CI: 24.9, 33.1) of children had clinical signs of active trachoma, 103 (66%) had trachomatous follicles, 41 (26%) had trachomatous intense, and 13 (8%) had both. There was an independent relationship between active trachoma and open defecation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.24, 6.09), defecating outside close to a house (AOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.07, 6.08), not having a latrine (AOR: 3.70; 95% CI: 1.60, 8.60), children who did not wash their faces with soap (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.07), and being in a widowed household (AOR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.57, 6.63). The study's findings revealed that about one-third of the children had clinical signs of trachoma. Research indicates that trachoma is a major concern for children in rural communities. Therefore, attention to trachoma control with antibiotics, facial hygiene, and environmental sanitation is strongly encouraged.

Knowledge and Practices Related to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene among Household Residents in Selected Districts, Abyan Governorate

Introduction: Yemen is among the most water-stressed countries in the world, due to a naturally dry climate, regional drought in recent years, and falling groundwater levels due to unsustainable drilling. This work aimed to assess the current knowledge and practices on water, hygiene, and sanitation in conflict-affected communities and internally displaced people in selected districts of Abyan governorate - Yemen. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional house-to-house survey was conducted in 2019 in three rural districts in Abyan governorate, Yemen. A total of 446 households were randomly selected and a structured interview questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents through face-to-face interviews. Data were checked, cleaned, and entered to the SPSS version 22 for analysis. Results: The participants had inadequate knowledge and practices on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Only less than a quarter of the participants received any related education. The surveyed households had poor socioeconomic conditions such as poverty and illiteracy. Both water quantity and quality were inadequate, open defecation still exists, and open dumping of solid waste is common. Conclusion: This study calls for an urgent solution to address the challenges regarding inadequate quantity and quality of water in the surveyed areas. Moreover, it is of paramount importance to address the socio-economic vulnerabilities such as poverty, and illiteracy, and to maintain medium- and long-term solutions for water provision and environmental sanitation. For effective implementation of these solutions, education tailored to the context and the need of the population should be designed.

Factors affecting sanitation coverage in three income levels and potential toward achieving SDG 6.2

Abstract An equitable sanitation coverage promotes sustainability, economic prosperity, and public health protection. This study examined factors affecting sanitation coverage and the potential of selected countries across three income levels (Low-Income, Lower-Middle, and Upper-Middle Income Countries) to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 by developing a Sanitation Coverage Index (SCI). Nine developing countries were selected based on the following sets of criteria: income level, population, and geographical region. Twenty years (2000–2020) of sanitation coverage data were extracted from the JMP database and visualized. The SCI was developed using the service level criteria and examined the local drivers of poor sanitation coverage. Findings show that all countries studied made good progress and have commendable current status, except Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Nigeria has the highest open defecation coverage and may not meet the 2030 target. The SCI result shows that Turkey, Ukraine, and China have excellent coverage (scoring: 44, 43, and 40). Brazil, Bangladesh, and DPR Korea have satisfactory performances (36, 31, and 31), while Nigeria, Rwanda, and Ethiopia recorded unsatisfactory progress (28, 27, and 16). The strongest factors influencing poor coverage include population, high socioeconomic inequalities, and socio-political challenges. Therefore, the institutionalization of minimum acceptable standards, adequate sensitization, and funding could improve sanitation coverage in the countries assessed.

Understanding sanitation dynamics in Bihar, India: Evidence from the field survey.

Although a good number of individual household latrines have been constructed in Bihar during the past few years, still, a huge task remains to be completed. The paper is based on the study of "concurrent monitoring of LSBA/SBM [G] in select districts of Bihar". The aim is to understand different dimensions of the sanitation situation in Bihar. The objective is to suggest policy based on the findings. This study is based on primary data collected at the household level and public institutions in six districts of Bihar. The analysis reveals that except a few categories, socioeconomic indicators such as religion, economic condition, or educational attainments have no significant impact on having a latrine at the household level. The variations in the construction of latrines among different districts emphasize that the public program needs to be implemented more effectively. It is also found that women are more vulnerable in a situation of open defecation. The challenge is to encourage people for the sustained use of the constructed latrines. This puts emphasis on changing the behavioral pattern of the people. This requires organizing a continuous awareness generation program with the aim to change the behavior.