A Community based cross sectional study on use of sanitary latrines in a rural setup in Maharashtra
Journal Title: Healthline - Year 2013, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Background - Even after more than 60 years of independence, open air defecation is widely prevalent in rural India. Objectives: To find out the reasons for under utilization of community latrines in a rural set up of district Pune, Maharashtra, India and to recommend measures which would lead to increase in the utilization of the sanitary latrines. Methods: The present community based crosssectional study was carried out in a village of district Pune (Maharashtra) during MayJune 2011 among 282 subjects. A modified WHO questionnaire adapted to local conditions was used for data collection. Interpretation of data was done using percentages and proportions. Results: In spite of presence of community latrines, 67% of the population resorted to open air defecation. Inadequate water was the major reason for under utilization (48.6%) of community latrines followed by lack of awareness about the availability of these (19.5%). Only 14.5% were not aware of any harmful effect of open air defecation. 66.7% of them had the knowledge of night soil disposal. 77.6% were aware of the importance of hand washing with regards to prevention of disease. Women found open air defecation even more embarrassing and dangerous. Conclusion: The attitude to use these latrines is present in the surveyed population but people are not willing to take the responsibility of maintaining their cleanliness. Inadequate water supply stands out to be the most important reason for under utilization of these latrines. Reinforcement and guidance is required to solve the problem of under utilization of these latrines.
Authors and Affiliations
Anu Bhardwaj, Avinash Surana, Prassana Mithra, Abhishek Singh, Sanjeet Panesar, Pankaj Chikkara
Keywords
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