Toilet Facilities Research Articles

Navigating Taxpayers Attitude: Exploring Support for Urban Sanitation Surcharge in Kumasi.

Urban sanitation challenges persist in Ghana, prompting Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to explore innovative funding mechanisms such as surcharges to fund sanitation services. This study assesses property owners' attitudes toward the imposition of sanitation surcharge for pro-poor sanitation improvement in the Kumasi Metropolis. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 property owners in the Kumasi metropolis. Structured questionnaires were utilized to solicit information from respondents using multi-stage sampling techniques. Findings indicated that 36.1% of respondents were willing to pay the sanitation surcharge, while 63.9% opposed its implementation in the Metropolis. Property ownership and support for a sanitation surcharge were associated with higher odds of willingness to pay. Participants paying property rates had decreased odds of supporting the sanitation surcharge. Factors associated with pro-poor spending support included age (61-80 years) [AOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.60-3.82] and willingness to pay sanitation surcharge [AOR = 11.07, 95%CI = 6.63-18.49]. Protective factors against supporting pro-poor spending included residing in medium-class communities [AOR = 0.25, 95%CI = 0.08-0.81], perceiving improvement in sanitation status [AOR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.21-0.81) and having a home toilet facility (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.36-0.95). The study revealed a nuanced landscape where concerns about fund utilization, perceived tax burdens, and trust in local institutions significantly shape public sentiment. To enhance public acceptance and participation, policymakers should prioritize transparent communication to build trust and convey the effective utilization of funds from the sanitation surcharge.

ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CONCEPT OF HALAL TOURISM IN WATU KANDANG TOURISM VILLAGE DESTINATIONS, TRENGGALEK DISTRICT

This research discusses the analysis of the potential for implementing the halal tourism concept at the Watu Kandang Tourism Village destination in Trenggalek Regency. Watu Kandang Tourism Village is a new tourist destination that focuses on ecotourism and offers direct interaction with nature and the lives of local people. This research aims to analyse the potential for implementing the halal tourism concept in the Watu Kandang Tourism Village based on halal tourism criteria according to the Global Muslim Travel Index. The research method used is qualitative, with data collection techniques through interviews, observation, and documentation. Data were analysed through data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The research results show that the Watu Kandang Tourism Village has good potential to be developed into a halal tourist destination. This can be seen from the criteria for halal tourism that are fully in place in the Watu Kendang tourist attraction. Apart from that, this tourism is supported by easy accessibility to the location, adequate worship and toilet facilities, a beautiful and safe environment, as well as food and drinks that guarantee halal. So according to the criteria above, Watu Kendang tourism is worthy of being used as a halal tourist destination in Indonesia.

TV DOCUMENTARY FILM JOURNAL NEGLASARI RIVER "RIVER OF A THOUSAND BENEFITS"

This documentary was made to document the activities of the community along the Neglasari riverbank which is considered unique and interesting in the midst of modern settlement development. Neglasari River is an irrigation river that is part of the Cisadane River. The existence of this river is very close to the activities and needs of the surrounding community. The main function of Neglasari River is as an irrigation river that flows vegetable and rice plantations along the riverbanks. Vegetable plantations are the main commodity of this area, so irrigation from the Neglasari river is vital to the sustainability of plantations and agriculture of the surrounding community. In addition to these benefits, the Neglasari river is also a resource that is widely used by the surrounding community to meet their daily needs, such as bathing, washing clothes, washing vegetables from the plantation harvest, playing facilities for children, and even washing motorized vehicles. These community activities are carried out not because they do not have water resources at home, even some residents' houses look quite livable with adequate toilet facilities. This is due to cultural factors that have long been practiced by the surrounding community. Since childhood they have used the river to fulfill their daily needs, and this is still maintained and carried out until now. he main factor of community activities in the river is still ongoing because they can interact with fellow residents, and are not bored if they have to take care of household chores at home alone.

Anemia Prevalence and Risk Factors in Two of Ethiopia's Most Anemic Regions among Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations, including Ethiopia, anemia is a significant public health issue. Ethiopia has continued to bear the enormous burden of anemia infections. Over time, the prevalence of anemia has significantly increased in Ethiopia. In addition, there is a paucity of literature and regional variations in the pace of increment expansion. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and risk factors among women in Ethiopia's two most anemic regions. 2,519 women participated in a community-based cross-sectional study from January 18 to June 27, 2016. In order to determine the causes of anemia in women in two of Ethiopia's most anemic regions, an ordinal logistic regression model was taken into consideration. The applicability of the proportional odds test was evaluated using the chi-square test of the parallelism assumption. A p value of 0.05 or below was used to define crucial and statistically significant predictor variables. The overall prevalence rate of anemia was 56.8% (95% CI (54.8%-58.7%)). The chi-square test of the parallelism assumption indicated that the odds ratios were constant across all cut-off points of women's anemia levels at a 5% significance level (p value = 0.122). Of the severity of anemia levels among women, 48.2, 46.1, and 5.7% had mild, moderate, and severe anemia levels, respectively. In multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses, being born (lived) in the Somali region (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.90), having a parity of 4-5 (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.66), and having ≥6 children (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.7), being a contraceptive user (AOR = 3, 95% CI: 2.5, 3.6), being currently pregnant (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 2.3, 3.4), having no ANC follow-up (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6, 2.3), being married women (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9), and user of unimproved toilet facility (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.6) were significantly positively associated with anemia. Finally, the anemia burden was dangerously greater than the national average. The region, usage of contraceptives, being pregnant at the time, ANC follow-up, toilet facilities, parity, and marital status all had a substantial impact on anemia. Therefore, to lessen the prevalence of anemia in certain parts of Ethiopia, public health initiatives that improve maternal health service utilization are required, such as ANC follow-up to minimize parity.

Towards Smart Sanitation: A Comprehensive Survey of IoT, AI, and ML in Public Toilet Management

This research paper presents a comprehensive review of literature surveys about the implementation of diverse technological approaches, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), in the domain of public toilet monitoring systems. The study investigates the current landscape of monitoring technologies applied to public toilets, aiming to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with each technique. Through an in-depth analysis of various literature surveys, the paper synthesizes the state-of-the-art advancements in IoT, AI, and ML as applied to public toilets, offering a nuanced understanding of the potential impact on hygiene maintenance, resource optimization, and real-time monitoring. The findings of this review contribute valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of public toilet facilities.

IMPACTS OF FREE EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION ON CLASSROOM TEACHING STRATEGIES; A STUDY OF MOROGORO MUNICIPALITY

The purpose of the study was to explore impacts of free education implementation on classroom teaching strategies in Morogoro municipal council. The study was guided by three objectives which are to identify the teaching strategies which affected by the implementation of free secondary education in Morogoro municipality. To determine the challenges faced by teachers when using the identified teaching strategies during the time of implementing free secondary education in Morogoro municipality and To suggest the remedial measures to the challenges faced by teachers when employing classroom teaching strategies during the time of implementing free education in Morogoro municipality. The study employed mixed approach by integrating both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Method of data collection such as questionnaire and interview was used to collect data. The study findings revealed that, all teaching strategies affected by the implementation of free secondary education exclude one class, two instructors teaching strategies. These results indicate that, the introduction of free secondary education resulted into deteriorated school infrastructure since some of the key stakeholders of education such as parents/communities thought it is the responsibility of the Government. This tends to affect classroom teaching strategies since school infrastructures like laboratory, library, toilet facilities, canteen, classrooms, and computers can help students to enhance their motivation on learning. Due to this, deteriorated school infrastructure might a barrier that lead to the realization of education as a fundamental constitutional right. Shortage of classrooms affects classroom teaching strategies since teaching in an overcrowded classroom can cause many problems such as stress and frustration for teachers. In case of student’s shortage of classrooms, these results into problems like truancy, noise making, medical/health problems, fighting among others. The study recommended there is need for informed infrastructure if the large classes have to be managed and taught effectively by the classroom teaching strategies. The ministry of education to consider those teaching resources so as to enable teachers to be effectively employs teaching strategies. Policy makers are called upon to mage teachers in training and or in-service training that would make effectives. The educational managers are required to increase the number of teaching staffs so as to release the current teachers from heavy workload and overclouded class so that the teaching strategies to classroom.

Child stunting prevalence determination at sector level in Rwanda using small area estimation

BackgroundStunting among children under 5 years of age remains a worldwide concern, with 148.1 million (22.3%) stunted in 2022. The recent 2019/2020 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey (RDHS) revealed that the prevalence of stunting in Rwanda among under five children was 33.5%. In Rwanda, there is no sufficient evidence on stunting status to guide prioritized interventions at the sector level, the lowest administrative unit for implementing development initiatives. This study aimed to provide reliable estimates of stunting prevalence in Rwanda at the sector level.MethodsIn this article, Small Area Estimation (SAE) techniques were used to provide sector level estimates of stunting prevalence in children under five in Rwanda. By plugging in relevant significant covariates in the generalized linear mixed model, model-based estimates are produced for all sectors with their corresponding Mean Square Error (MSE).ResultsThe findings showed that, overall, 40 out of 416 sectors had met the national target of having a stunting rate less than or equal to 19%, while 194 sectors were far from meeting this target, having a stunting rate higher than the national prevalence of 33.5% in the year 2020. The majority of the sectors with stunting prevalence that were higher than the national average of 33.5% were found in the Northern Province with 68 sectors out of 89 and in Western Province with 64 sectors out of 96. In contrast, the prevalence of stunting was lower in the City of Kigali where 14 out of 35 sectors had a stunting rate between 0 and 19%, and all sectors were below the national average. This study showed a substantial connection between stunting and factors such as household size, place of residence, the gender of the household head, and access to improved toilet facilities and clean water.ConclusionThe results of this study may guide and support informed policy decisions and promote localised and targeted interventions in Rwanda’s most severely affected sectors with a high stunting prevalence in Rwanda.

Iodized household salt utilization and associated factors among households in East Africa: a multilevel modelling analysis using recent national health surveys

IntroductionIodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) are a significant global public health issue that affects the physical and mental development of every age group, with children and nursing mothers being the most vulnerable. Approximately 50 million of approximately 2 billion people with iodine deficiency (ID) globally exhibit clinical symptoms. Identifying iodine levels using various techniques is important when considering treatment choices. Screening programs and early ID diagnostics are crucial for the follow-up of pregnant women, especially in iodine-deficient nations. There have been calls for universal salt iodization programs, but only approximately 71% of people have access to them. The problem is more common in developing nations; however, there is a shortage of literature on the individual-, family-, and community-level factors influencing iodized salt use in East Africa. This study aimed to investigate individual- and community-level factors of household iodized salt usage in East Africa.MethodsUsing Stata 17, this study used the most recent demographic and health survey datasets from twelve East African countries. The survey included a weighted sample of 154,980 households. To assess factors related to iodized salt use in the region, bivariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regressions were used. P values less than or equal to 0.2, and < 0.05 were used in the binary regression, and to deem variables statistically significant in the final model respectively.ResultsAbout 87.73% (95% CI = 87.56,87.89) households have utilized iodized household salt. Secondary and above education (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.17–1.30), household heads with ages of 25–35 years, 36–45 years (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.12,1.28), 36–45 years (AOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.09,1.24), and more than 45 years (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.11,1.25), lower and middle wealth (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.76,0.89) and (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.81,0.93), media exposure (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.07–1.14), female household leaders (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04–1.12), access to improved drinking water and better toilet facility (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 2.18–2.35) and (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.44,1.56), larger than five family members (AOR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93–0.99), high community level wealth (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27–1.87), and low community education(AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.33,0.49) were statistically associated with utilization of iodized household salt in East Africa respectively.ConclusionIn East Africa, household salt iodization is moderately good. To expand the use of iodized salt in the region, access to improved drinking water and toilet facilities, participating family leaders, using the opportunity of family planning services, media sources, and the improvement of the community’s socioeconomic level are all needed.

The Built Environment’s Role in Supporting Dementia Inclusive Communities: A Case Study of Canterbury‐Bankstown City

AbstractBackgroundInclusive and enabling cities are fundamental to the wellbeing of people impacted by dementia. How we implement these ideals in multicultural communities through the built environment remains understudied. The experience of place must be considered in the context of dementia‐friendly community (DFC) models to fully enable people experiencing dementia to remain autonomous, integrated, and connected. This study aimed to explore how diverse individuals with dementia perceive the built environment and its impacts on everyday activities using a mixed methods approach.MethodThis study was set in Canterbury‐Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia where a high proportion of people impacted by dementia speak English, Arabic, and/or Vietnamese. Seventeen people experiencing dementia, their care partners, and former carers (English: n = 7; Arabic: n = 5; Vietnamese: n = 5) were recruited for a semi‐structured interview, and two of these dyads (English: n = 1; Vietnamese n = 1) audited a local shopping centre and hospital using the DFC‐environmental assessment tool (DFC‐EAT). Interviews and audits were conducted in‐language with bilingual researchers, who then transcribed the data into English for analysis. Similarities and differences were identified across the interview transcripts and audit data to identify issues with the existing built environment and improvement opportunities.ResultWe found that participants would limit or avoid going outdoors for everyday activities because of safety concerns (especially when using paths and carparks). Furthermore, overwhelming indoor experiences were characterised by unfamiliar designs and fittings (particularly with bathroom facilities), unsupported movement and way‐finding due to excessive or insufficient signage, poor lighting, and high noise. Participants recommended greater access to door‐to‐door transport that caters to people experiencing dementia, establishing quiet resting areas, and improving navigation through signage that uses standardised symbols (e.g., for toilet facilities).ConclusionPeople experiencing dementia and carers reported an array of issues concerning built environment design and accessibility features that excluded them from everyday activities. These findings were translated into an implementation plan that informed the City of Canterbury‐Bankstown Council’s community planning efforts and the shopping centre’s facility operations. Critical areas for improvement in the built environment would benefit from co‐design practices that are inclusive and representative of the community.

Intestinal helminth and the predisposing factors in Fufore LGA of Adamawa state

Background &amp; Objective: Helminths have plagued humans since the era of our earliest recorded history. A large part of the world's population are infected with one or more of helminthes infection (WHO, 2016). Helminthes are endemic and have been a major problem in rural settlements in Nigeria this is as a result of poor socio- economic status and lack of basic amenities such as pipe borne water and other sanitary facilities (Okon and Okun, 2001). They also have detrimental effects on animal survival (Silva et al., 2009) and these parasites have the potential of being transmitted to human (Batchelor et al., 2008). To provide information on the prevalence, intensity and predisposing factors of intestinal helminth among School-aged children in relation to their age and gender in Fufore. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth and the predisposing factors in Fofure LGA of Adamawa State between October and November 2022 where five Schools were sampled for the study. 300 Students between the ages 0-15 years were randomly selected and grouped into three age groups (0-5, 6-10, 11-15). 300 stool samples were obtained from the students and examined. Each were issued a structured questionnaire so as to obtain their demographic characteristics and to examine the possible risk factors associated with this infection. Result: out of the 300 Students examined, 17(5.7%) were positive for intestinal helminth and the Males (6.7%) had significantly higher prevalence (P &lt; 0.05) than the Females (4.4%). In respect to age, the age group 0-5 (11.5%) were significantly more infected (P &lt; 0.05) followed by the age group 6-10 (7.9%) than the extreme age group 11-15 (1.5%) examined. Three parasites namely Schistosoma mansoni, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichiuris trichiura were recovered. The most common of these parasites were Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris lumbricoides which occurred in high intensity in most of the positive samples. Interpretation and Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that, poverty, ignorance, socio-cultural practice, poor hygienic practices, inadequate sanitary/ toiletry facility to be the driving forces of this infection in the study area. Intervention needed to curtail the effect and further transmission of this infection include; massive treating and health education, provision of portable drinking water and provision of good sanitary/ toilet facility.

Antibiogram of selected bacteria isolated from urine polluted environment in Benue State Campus, Makurdi

Urine contaminated soil contains various potential hazardous components which create an environment for bacteria to adapt, multiply and share their resistant genes. This study aimed to determine the antibiogram of selected bacteria isolated from urine polluted environment. Urine contaminated soil were randomly sampled from four different sites in Benue State University, Makurdi metropolis. Standard microbiological cultures, biochemical tests, modified Kirby-Bauer techniques and Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) were used to isolate, identify, and determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the bacteria at a 0.5 scale Mcfarland’s standard (1.5x 108 cells/ml). Bacteria insolated include Bacillus sp. (25), E. coli (13), Klebsiella sp. (10), Staphylococcus sp. (8) Salmonella sp. (7). The colony and colony forming unit (CFU) of eastern wing campus (7.85 X 107) was slightly higher compared to western wing campus (7.05 x 107). Escherichia coli (100 %) was resistant to all the antibiotics (Imipinem, Oxacillin, Ciprofloxacin, and Gentamicin), Staphylococcus spp isolates obtained were resistant to all the antibiotics except 50 % that were susceptible to Gentamicin, while 50 % of Bacillus spp on the other hand was susceptible to Imipenem, all were susceptible to Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin (100 %); and all were however resistant to Oxacillin (100.00 %). Salmonella spp and Klebsiella spp showed similar pattern of susceptibility. All the isolates of the two organisms were susceptible to Imipenem, Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin (100 %). All the isolates were resistant to Oxacillin. All the selected bacteria showed resistance to at least one antibiotic (P˂0.05) Unavailability of good toilet systems has contributed to the open urination and environmental contamination. Provision of more and adequate toilet facilities within the university premises and good antibiotic misuse orientation should be giving priority to prevent excessive contamination of soil with urine and antibiotic resistance.

Determinants of anemia level among reproductive-age women in 29 Sub-Saharan African countries: A multilevel mixed-effects modelling with ordered logistic regression analysis.

Despite the implementation of different nutritional and non-nutritional interventions, 43% of reproductive-age women in Africa suffer from anemia. Recent evidence also shows that none of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are on the track to achieve the nutrition target of 50% anemia reduction by 2030. To date, information on the level of anemia and its determinants among reproductive-age women at the SSA level is limited. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anemia level and its determinants in SSA countries. We used a pooled data of 205,627 reproductive-age women from the recent demographic and health surveys of 29 SSA countries that were conducted between 2010-2021. A multilevel mixed-effects analysis with an ordered logistic regression model was fitted to identify determinants of anemia level and the deviance value was used to select the best-fitted model. First, bivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was done and the proportional odds assumption was checked for each explanatory variable using a Brant test. Finally, in a multivariable multilevel ordinal logistic regression model, a p-value<0.05 and AOR with the corresponding 95% CI were used to identify determinants of anemia level. All analyses were done using Stata version 17 software. The pooled prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in SSA was 40.5% [95% CI = 40.2%-40.7%], where 24.8% [95% CI: 24.6%-25.0%], 11.1% [95% CI = 10.9%-11.2%], and 0.8% [95% CI = 0.7%-0.8%] had mild, moderate, and severe anemia, respectively. The prevalence significantly varied from the lowest of 13% in Rwanda to the highest of 62% in Mali, and anemia was found as a severe public health problem (prevalence of ≥ 40%) in 18 countries. The regression result revealed that polygamous marriage, women and husband illiteracy, poor household wealth, shorter birth interval, non-attendance of antenatal care, underweight, unimproved toilet and water facilities, and low community-level women literacy were positively linked with high anemia level. Additionally, the likelihood of anemia was lower in women who were overweight and used modern contraception. Overall results showed that anemia among women of reproductive age is a severe public health problem in SSA countries, affecting more than four in ten women. Thus, enhancing access to maternal health services (antenatal care and contraception) and improved sanitation facilities would supplement the existing interventions targeted to reduce anemia. Moreover, strengthening women's education and policies regulating the prohibition of polygamous marriage are important to address the operational constraints.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated risk factors among primary school children in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Intestinal parasitic infections have become a global public health, and this burden is even higher among children in primary schools. Therefore, the study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in both public and private schools in Uyo urban was investigated. A cross sectional parasitological study consisting of 2000 school children 1000 each from five private and five public primary schools was carried out in Uyo metropolis. Structured questionnaire was used to obtained data on associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection. Microscopic examination of stool specimen of children by wet mount and formol either concentration technique was used for parasitological analysis of faecal samples. The results implicate poor toilet facilities, contamination of sources of drinking water, poor environmental sanitation and children attitude of playing bare footed and poor personal hygiene as the major risks factors. The overall prevalence of 952 (47.6%) was recorded with 342 (34.2%) from private school and prevalence of 610 (61.0%) from public school out of 1000 pupil examined from each group of schools. The most dominance parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (10.5%) Guardia intestinalis (8.9%) Ancyclostoma duodenales (8.9%) Entamoeba histolystica (10.5%) Trichuris trichuira (10.9), E coli (3.0%) Enterobius vermicularis (2.4%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2.1%). There was corresponding decrease in infection rate as the age increase. There is an urgent need for government and school authorities to create and maintain better sanitary and toilet facilities in school.

ANALISIS KEPUASAN PENGUNJUNG DAN POTENSI PENGEMBANGAN PADA OBJEK WISATA PANTAI MUTUN DI KABUPATEN PESAWARAN

This study aims to analyze the level of visitors’ satisfaction at Mutun Beach, the tourist attributes that need to be improved and maintained by Mutun Beach, and to find out the driving and inhibiting factors development of Mutun Beach. The method used in this research was a survey method. The samples in this study were 4 Mutun employees and 77 visitors, which were taken using purposive sampling and accidental sampling methods. Data collection was carried out in January - February 2023. The data analysis methods used were Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), Importance Performance Analysis (IPA), and descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicated that the level of visitor satisfaction is in the "Satisfied" category with a CSI value of 74.77%. Based on the IPA method, tourism attributes that need to be improved are the condition of game facilities such as banana boats, rubber boats and water booms, the safety of water boom, and the condition of toilet and prayer room facilities. Tourism attributes that need to be maintained are the attractiveness of the beach, cleanliness, comfortable atmosphere, calm sea water, various and condition of infrastructure and game facilities, and good service. Factors that are driving the development of Mutun Beach are high tourist attractiveness, easy accessibility, complete facilities, good service and management, and government’s role. The inhibiting factors are limited promotion, competitors or other beaches around Mutun, and limited funds and human resources.Key words: CSI, development potential, IPA, visitor satisfaction

Experimental evaluation of fresh human feces biogas and compost potential: Evidence for circular economy from waste streams in Ethiopia

Biogas toilets are one of the most resource-efficient sanitation technologies. The technology has dual purposes of generating energy and stabilizing waste-producing biofertilizers. In Ethiopia, knowledge of human feces' energy potential is limited to optimize the development of biogas toilet facilities. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the biogas and biofertilizer potential of human feces in Jimma City, Ethiopia, which may contribute to the development of sustainable sanitation technologies. The study was lab-based experimental design. In the lab-scale batch experiment, fresh human excreta samples were collected using a urine diversion raised toilet. Using ultimate and proximate laboratory analyses, the theoretical yield of biogas was predicted. Then a series of anaerobic digestion batch experiments were conducted to determine the practical energy yield. The bio-fertilizer potential of human feces was determined by analyzing the nutrient contents of human feces. The findings of this study showed that the bio-methane yield from the experimental results has a mean of 0.393 m3 kg−1, which is 14.16 MJ kg−1. The bio-methane meter cube per capita per head per year were 28.71 (28.03–29.27) from the experimental result and 45.26 for the theoretical yield of methane. In this study, the bio-fertilizer potential of human feces was evaluated using nutrient analysis, specifically the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Accordingly, human feces contain potassium (2.29 mg kg−1), phosphorus (1.12 mg kg−1), and nitrogen (3.71 mg kg−1). This finding suggests the bio-methane potential of human feces can be used for energy recovery and alternative sanitation options, providing a positive remedy for the sanitation crisis in urban settings.

Association Among Household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Status and Typhoid Risk in Urban Slums: Prospective Cohort Study in Bangladesh.

Typhoid fever, or enteric fever, is a highly fatal infectious disease that affects over 9 million people worldwide each year, resulting in more than 110,000 deaths. Reduction in the burden of typhoid in low-income countries is crucial for public health and requires the implementation of feasible water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, especially in densely populated urban slums. In this study, conducted in Mirpur, Bangladesh, we aimed to assess the association between household WASH status and typhoid risk in a training subpopulation of a large prospective cohort (n=98,087), and to evaluate the performance of a machine learning algorithm in creating a composite WASH variable. Further, we investigated the protection associated with living in households with improved WASH facilities and in clusters with increasing prevalence of such facilities during a 2-year follow-up period. We used a machine learning algorithm to create a dichotomous composite variable ("Better" and "Not Better") based on 3 WASH variables: private toilet facility, safe drinking water source, and presence of water filter. The algorithm was trained using data from the training subpopulation and then validated in a distinct subpopulation (n=65,286) to assess its sensitivity and specificity. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the protective effect of living in "Better" WASH households and in clusters with increasing levels of "Better" WASH prevalence. We found that residence in households with improved WASH facilities was associated with a 38% reduction in typhoid risk (adjusted hazard ratio=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.78; P<.001). This reduction was particularly pronounced in individuals younger than 10 years at the first census participation, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.49 (95% CI 0.36-0.66; P<.001). Furthermore, we observed an inverse relationship between the prevalence of "Better" WASH facilities in clusters and the incidence of typhoid, although this association was not statistically significant in the multivariable model. Specifically, the adjusted hazard of typhoid decreased by 0.996 (95% CI 0.986-1.006) for each percent increase in the prevalence of "Better" WASH in the cluster (P=.39). Our findings demonstrate that existing variations in household WASH are associated with differences in the risk of typhoid in densely populated urban slums. This suggests that attainable improvements in WASH facilities can contribute to enhanced typhoid control, especially in settings where major infrastructural improvements are challenging. These findings underscore the importance of implementing and promoting comprehensive WASH interventions in low-income countries as a means to reduce the burden of typhoid and improve public health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Families in Multi-Problem Situations in India: Exploration From the Fifth Round of the National Family Health Survey

Family is the cornerstone of many concepts in the social sciences, especially in demography and sociology. It is generally regarded as a major social institution and is positioned as the locus of much of an individual’s life-course decisions. This study’s aim was to investigate families in multi-problem situations and their determinants in India. National Family Health Survey round fifth was used. A total of 19,763 samples of families were analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression. More than half of Indian families are facing multiple problems. In India, 23.2% of families suffer from three and more problems. Those families with one problem have more domestic violence (25.6%) among women. The use of tobacco (36.4%) and alcohol (35.7%) among men is more in families having two problems. Families facing three problems have more women consuming tobacco (31.8%), more men consuming alcohol (31.4%), and more underweight and alcohol-consuming women (30.2% and 30.9%) in the family. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that more than two problems were associated with the men’s age groups, wealth index, status of shared toilet facilities, educational level of men and women, and caste. Findings suggest the importance of addressing multiple problems in Indian families. Inclusion of education, sanitation, violence, use of alcohol and tobacco, malnutrition among women, and children management strategies services needs to be taken into consideration by the program and policymakers.

Comparison Of Sewage And Solid Waste Disposal Methods Among Households In Urban And Rural Local Government Areas Of Anambra State

Improper sewage and solid waste disposal lead to environmental pollution and increased risk of communicable diseases. This study compared the sanitation and solid waste disposal facilities utilized in selected rural and urban local government areas of Anambra State, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1310 households and data was collected from household heads or a designated adult representative using of quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (KII) data collection methods. The independent variables in this study are the sociodemographic variables and the geographical location of the respondents while the dependent variables are the toilet facilities and solid waste disposal methods. Data from the questionnaire was analyzed using the SPSS version 23 and the hypotheses were tested with the inferential statistics of Chi square at 0.05 level of significance. Most respondents lie between the age group of 31-50 years. Most of the respondents in both the urban (84.4%) and rural(65.0%) areas had secondary education and above but a higher proportion in the urban compared to rural have tertiary education(41.9% versus 22.1%). The difference in educational status was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). There were more business men (46.6%) and civil servants (38.8%) in the urban area than the rural area. Most rural respondents were farmers(41.5%). Many urban household use toilet with sewer connection 152(11.7%) while pit latrine with slab is the most commonly used toilet facility 242 (18.6%). Burning was more commonly used by the rural households (n = 266, 20.5%). Open dumping of refuse and disposal into gullies and water ways were commonly done by the urban households. The gaps that exist between rural and urban areas of Anambra state may present serious health risk and environmental degradation .This issues can be addressed through health education, building more sanitary infrastructure to include the rural areas and enforcing sanitation laws.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Dynamics of usage of menstrual hygiene and unhygienic methods among young women in India: a spatial analysis

BackgroundMenstruation, especially the menstrual cycle, is a vital sign for female adolescent health and maintaining menstrual hygiene is of utmost importance for menstruating girls and women. However, menstrual hygiene and management are issues that have not received adequate attention. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore spatial patterns of menstrual hygiene practices in India and to identify their socioeconomic and demographic determinants among women aged 15–24 years.MethodsThe study utilized data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted during 2019–21 in India. The analysis was limited to 241,180 women aged 15–24 years. The statistical methods range from multinomial logistic regression, spatial autocorrelation in terms of Moran’s I statistics, to spatial regression in order to understand the spatial dependence and clustering in different methods of menstrual practices across the districts of India.ResultsAlmost half of the respondents (49.8 percent) reported using hygienic methods of bloodstain protection, while 22.7 percent still relied on unhygienic methods and 27.5 percent reported using both hygienic and unhygienic methods during their menstruation. Factors like age, place of residence, caste, religion, education, wealth index and toilet facility were found to be significantly associated with the use of unhygienic and both methods. It was also observed that the percentage of women practicing hygienic methods was predominantly higher in the Southern region. On the other hand, states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar appeared to be hotspots for unhygienic menstrual practices. The univariate Moran’s I value for unhygienic and both methods were 0.722 and 0.596, respectively, depicting high spatial autocorrelation across districts in India. In spatial regression, rural residence, illiteracy, poverty, and no toilet facility were found to be statistically significant predictors of the use of unhygienic method and both methods.ConclusionYoung women should be educated about the importance of menstrual hygiene practices and the physiological consequences of unhygienic practices. Furthermore, interventions should target socio-economically disadvantaged women to increase the use of sanitary napkins.

An exploratory investigation into the status of water, sanitation and hygiene (wash) of schools in Enugu State, Nigeria

The status of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities was investigated in sixty schools in seven local government areas of Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of sixty schools comprising of twenty-four (24) private schools, twenty (20) government schools and Sixteen (16) mission schools were investigated in this study. Using questionnaire and on-the-spot assessment, WASH facilities in the selected schools were subjected to in-depth scrutiny. The highest number of schools that do not have a water source within the school premises are government schools (10), followed by private schools (7) and then mission schools (2). About seventy-one percent (71%) of the schools investigated rely on self-help water supply sources such as water vendors, rainwater harvesting and private boreholes. Fifty-seven (57) or 95% of the sixty (60) schools of all the schools have toilet facilities ranging from improved pit latrine (10%), flush toilet (31.7%) and pour flush toilet (53.3%). With respect to toilet cleaning, 33%, 17% and 50% of private, government and mission school clean their toilets every day. Fifty-five percent (55%) of all schools always provide handwashing facilities while 13.3% never provide handwashing facilities. Based on school category, the distribution of schools that provide handwashing facilities are as follows: private schools – 54.2%, government schools – 40% and mission schools – 75%. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.85) between availability of toilet facilities and provision of handwashing facilities. There was also a significant correlation (r = 0.555) between the provision of handwashing facilities and the provision of soap.