User-minded audit of peri-urban Kotoko community pour-flush latrine usage in Suame (Kumasi), Ghana (original) (raw)

Critical to excreta-related disease prevention and public health promotion is regular latrine use by all community members. This research explores usage pattern, general user behaviour and factors that influence latrine usage of the only community pour-flush latrine (CPFL) in Kotoko (Kumasi) through a user-minded latrine audit to inform user-friendly options design that would encourage usage. The audit was triangulated by interviews with two latrine attendants. As a multi-ethnic low-income high-density peri-urban community located near Kumasi city-centre (Kejetia), Kotoko consists of 2,230 inhabitants living in 67 households. The research findings showed that 58% of the CPFL users were females as against 42% males. Females however stayed in the facility twice longer at weekends than males, but the same length of time weekdays. Queues were generally non-existent, as an average of two people was in queue only at peak times of 06:00 – 08:30 hours. Analysis showed low latrine patronage of 25% of community population, with the observation that open defecation in the main concrete drain downstream and on the community refuse dump was common. Open defecation practice was partly attributable to restricted opening hours of 3:45 – 23:00 hours. Anal cleansing at the facility was mostly (77%) by newspaper, 21% used water, and 2% used toilet roll. Over half (56%) of the latrine monthly expenditure was on pit emptying, payment of cleaners and attendants, and pit emptying alone constituted 39% of the latrine monthly expenditure. The income generated was largely used for latrine management – pit emptying, payment of cleaners and attendants. With an average generated daily income of USD 22 and an annual profit of USD5254, the facility was financially sustainable provided the generated income would be available for operation and maintenance. It is recommended that extended opening times could be a useful policy to improve access and usage.

Sign up for access to the world's latest research.

checkGet notified about relevant papers

checkSave papers to use in your research

checkJoin the discussion with peers

checkTrack your impact