Determinants of Open Defecation in the Wa Municipality of Ghana: Empirical Findings Highlighting Sociocultural and Economic Dynamics among Households

Abstract

This study examined sociocultural and economic factors determining open defecation in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. The study employed a mixed method approach involving questionnaire administration to 367 households systematically selected from 21 communities, observation, and eight key informant interviews. The mixed logit model was used to determine the factors that significantly influence open defecation. The findings revealed that 49.8% of households had no form of toilet facility at home and were either using communal/public toilets or practicing open defecation. Several sociocultural and economic reasons account for this. But for these households, having a toilet facility at home does not seem to be a priority. Six factors (education, household size, occupation, income, traditional norms, and beliefs and ownership of a toilet facility) were positively significant in determining open defecation. Fundamental to many of the significant factors is households’ capacity to finance construction of home toilets. In addition to finding new and innovative approaches to public education, the principle of credit financing, that incorporates community-led initiatives, may be considered in assisting households to construct home toilets.

Combating Open Defecation through Community-led Sanitation

“…Osumanu et al [30] have confirmed that open defecation leads to large disparities between rich and poor. Senyk [31] has reported that in countries like India, sewage treatment is done only by the lowest caste.…”

Risk factors of diarrhea of children under five in Malawi: based on Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015–2016

“…A study of open defecation in Ghana revealed that the lack of toilets at home affected the decision of open defecation. 38 Thus, it is necessary to adopt the suggestion related to the location of toilet facility on premises, taking into account the local environment. In addition, a study conducted in Addis Ababa in 2017 provided another important implications on the location of toilets, with a contrary finding such that proximity of sanitation facilities within 15 meters of homes increased acute diarrhea compared to facilities located more than 15 meters away.…”

The influence of culture on open defaecation in some basic schools in selected districts in Ghana: A preliminary study

“…The fact that traditional norms have been suggested to influence OD has been reported in previous studies. A similar study conducted in Northern Ghana found 57% of adults acknowledge that OD was an 'age long practice" compared to other reasons such as financial constraints (18.6%) and bad condition of public toilets (8.4%) [33]. Unlike the case of Osumanu et al's study which focused on adults, this study was conducted among the school aged children.…”

“…The case of taboo being associated with OD behaviour in this study was unexpected and cannot be explained as it did not come out as a major cultural factor during the reconnaissance visits and the FGDs. Nevertheless, other studies have found men to refuse to stop open defaecation because of toilet-associated taboos with in-laws and female grown-up children [33].…”