Factors Associated with Levels of Latrine Completion and Consequent Latrine Use in Northern Ghana

Abraham Marshall Nunbogu, Miriam Harter and Hans-Joachim Mosler
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Abraham Marshall Nunbogu: Department of Environmental and Social Science Research, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Urberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
Miriam Harter: Department of Environmental and Social Science Research, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Urberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
Hans-Joachim Mosler: Department of Environmental and Social Science Research, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Urberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Open defecation is still a major health problem in developing countries. While enormous empirical research exists on latrine coverage, little is known about households’ latrine construction and usage behaviours. Using field observation and survey data collected from 1523 households in 132 communities in northern Ghana after 16 months of implementation of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), this paper assessed the factors associated with latrine completion and latrine use. The survey tool was structured to conform to the Risk, Attitude, Norms, Ability and Self-regulation (RANAS) model. In the analysis, we classified households into three based on their latrine completion level, and conducted descriptive statistics for statistical correlation in level of latrine construction and latrine use behaviour. The findings suggest that open defecation among households reduces as latrine construction approaches completion. Although the study did not find socio-demographic differences of household to be significantly associated with level of latrine completion, we found that social context is a significant determinant of households’ latrine completion decisions. The study therefore emphasises the need for continuous sensitisation and social marketing to ensure latrine completion by households at lower levels of construction, and the sustained use of latrines by households.

Keywords: open defecation; latrine completion; latrine use; behaviour change; RANAS; CLTS; Ghana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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