Acceptability of ecological sanitation in ward 14, Guruve district, Zimbabwe.

Author
Samuel Magomo
Title
Acceptability of ecological sanitation in ward 14, Guruve district, Zimbabwe.
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The provision of safe and sustainable sanitation is a critical public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to explore the acceptability of ecological sanitation (ecosan) in Ward 14, Guruve District, Zimbabwe, and to identify the factors influencing the preference for ecosan latrines in rural communities.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 292 households in Ward 14, Guruve District, Zimbabwe. A structured closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data on household demographics, knowledge of ecological sanitation, preference for different types of latrines, and factors that influence the preference for ecosan latrines. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of the preference for ecosan latrines.
Key findings: The study found that less than 25% of households in Ward 14, Guruve District, Zimbabwe did not prefer ecosan latrines. Lack of knowledge about ecosan and cultural beliefs were the main reasons for not preferring ecosan latrines. Factors that significantly influenced the preference for ecosan included the source of income, cost of construction materials, security, marital status, length of stay in the area (>10 years), knowledge about ecosan, built in difficult environments, and cost of construction materials.
Conclusions: Sanitation interventions in rural communities should be tailored to the specific needs and preferences of different households. Education and awareness-raising campaigns may be effective in promoting the adoption of ecosan latrines. Culturally appropriate, costeffective, and easy-to-maintain latrines should be selected for sustainability. Further, community participation and education are critical for the adoption of latrines. The health impacts of adopting a specified latrine option may be studied in future work
Date
JUNE 2024
Publisher
BUSE
Keywords
Key terms: ecosan; community participation; cost-effective; culturally acceptable; rural sanitation
Supervisor
NIL
Item sets
Department of Environmental Sciences
Department of Crop Sciences
Media
Samuel Magomo

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