Global practices, geographic variation, and determinants of child feces disposal in 42 low- and middle-income countries: An analysis of standardized cross-sectional national surveys from 2016 – 2020

Mugel, Stephen G.; Clasen, Thomas; Bauza, Valerie

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114024

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The findings from the multilevel logistic regression model show that the predictors such as mother’s age, education, mass media exposure, religion, social group, wealth quintiles, water connectivity, and improved sanitation facility at household, residence, and region are significantly associated with the unsafe disposal of child stool. These results align with micro-level studies in India [ 1 , 17 , 18 ] and large-scale studies conducted in Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa [ 11 – 13 , 15 , 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The present study consisted of a set of predictors based on existing studies in different settings [ 11 , 12 ], including the women’s age (15–19 years, 20–24 years, 25–29 years, ≥30 years), women’s education (no education, primary, secondary, higher), religious affiliation (Hindu, Muslim, Christian, others), social groups (general [GEN], scheduled caste [SC], scheduled tribe [ST], other backward class [OBC]), place of residence (urban, rural), household wealth quintiles (poorest, poorer, middle, richer, richest), mass media exposure (no, partial, high), drinking water facility at premises (yes, no), sanitation facility (improved, unimproved, open defecation/no facility), geographical location (north, central, east, northeast, west, south). A detailed description of predictor variables is given in S1 Table .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research reveals that over half of households with young children followed unsafe disposal of stool in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [ 11 , 12 ]. Among LMICs, India stands as an illustrative example where safe disposal of child stool and the use of child-friendly latrines remains uncommon, despite notable strides in overall sanitation progress [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These investigations primarily centered on sub-Saharan African countries, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, using the data from the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) [12][13][14][15]. Research has underscored the significance of factors such as caregiver's educational level, religious affiliation, exposure to mass media, household wealth quintile, place of residence, household sanitation facilities and practices, and regional disparities as pivotal in influencing unsafe disposal of child stool [11][12][13]16]. Few studies have also illuminated the qualitative dimensions, including behaviors, attitudes, and awareness, as key determinants of child stool disposal management [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model

Rahaman,

Roy,

Chouhan

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Disposal of children’s stools is often neglected in Indian sanitation programs, putting them at higher risk of diseases transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, the current study aims to identify the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the unsafe disposal of child stool in India and to estimate the geographical variation in unsafe disposal. Methods The study used 78,074 births under two years from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (2019–21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with the chi-square test, and a four-level hierarchical logistic regression model were applied to accomplish the study objectives. Results Findings revealed a 61.3% prevalence of unsafe stool disposal nationwide, significantly varying between rural (45%) and urban (67%) areas. Multilevel logistic regression highlighted that mother’s education, wealth quintile, and sanitation facility were significant predictors of unsafe disposal of child stools. Random intercept statistics revealed a substantial geographical unit-level variance in unsafe stool practice in India. Conclusion The study emphasizes the widespread unsafe disposal of child stool among Indian mothers with young children below two years, and the study underscores a range of contributing factors, including education, media exposure, prosperity, water availability, and sanitation. It also accentuates the significance of the geographical variance in the unsafe disposal of child stool in India, particularly at the household level, followed by the community level. Hence, the findings underscore the importance of focused interventions, including targeted household-level poverty alleviation programs, initiatives to enhance sanitation and water facilities, and community-level public health awareness programs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model

Rahaman,

Roy,

Chouhan

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The selection of these variables was based on their availability in the DHS dataset and their association with the hygienic disposal of a child's stool. 9,22,28,[37][38][39] The individual-level variables included maternal age (15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49), employment status (working or not working), educational level (no education, primary, secondary or higher), partner's educational level (no education, primary, secondary or higher), religious affiliation (Christianity, Islam, Traditionalist or other), marital status (married, cohabiting or widowed/divorced) and exposure to mass media (either exposed or unexposed). The household-level variables included wealth (poorest, poorer, middle, richer or richest), source of water facility (either improved or unimproved), type of toilet facility (either improved or unimproved), place of residence (urban or rural) and sub-region (Western SSA, Eastern SSA, Central SSA or Southern SSA).…”

Section: Explanatory Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hygienic Disposal of Children’s Stools Practices Among Women of Children With Diarrhoea in Sub-Saharan Africa

Essuman,

Storph,

Ahinkorah

et al. 2023

Environ�Health�Insights

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Diarrhoea stools contain infectious agents and pose a public health threat to children and members of the entire family when exposed to them. Therefore, their hygienic disposal is essential. Empirical data are needed to stir the needed public health interventions to encourage or enforce proper disposal practices to curb associated clinical issues. This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of hygienic stool disposal practices by mothers of children with diarrhoea in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data of 16 sub-Saharan African countries from 2015 to 2021 involving 22 590 mother-child pairs were analysed. Multilevel binary logistic analysis was conducted to assess the individual- and household-level factors associated with the hygienic disposal of stool practices by mothers of children with diarrhoea. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) at a statistical significance of P < .05. Results: The overall prevalence of hygienic disposal of children’s stools among women of children with diarrhoea was 49.01% (95% CI: 48.40-49.62) and ranged from 15.70% in Liberia to 86.6% in Rwanda. The practice of hygienic disposal of stools of children with diarrhoea was likely to increase among mothers who are working (AOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09-1.30), those with partners with primary level of education (AOR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06-1.31), Muslims (AOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.49-1.91) and widowed/divorced (AOR: 8.94, 95% CI: 3.55-22.53). Again, mothers in the richer (AOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.08-1.39) wealth index had increased odds of disposing of stools hygienically compared to those in the poorest wealth index. Women who were 20 years and above, to who belonged to Traditional Religions (AOR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43-0.74), and those with unimproved sources of water (AOR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82-0.98) and toilet facilities (AOR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.58-0.69) were less likely to dispose of child’s diarrhoea stool hygienically than their counterparts. Conclusion: The study reveals that the unhygienic disposal of the stool of children with diarrhoea is prevalent in SSA and requires a concerted effort to curb it. Sanitation practices such as educating mothers about hygienic disposal of children’s stool and improving water and sanitation facilities are crucial in lowering the high prevalence of unhygienic disposal of the diarrhoeic stool of children. Additional country-level research is needed to assess children’s defecation behaviours and the disposal of diarrhoeic stools using different methodologies.

show abstract

Disposable diaper usage, disposal practices and quantity estimation in rural areas

Nell,

Schenck,

Joubert

et al. 2024

Environmental Challenges

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Global practices, geographic variation, and determinants of child feces disposal in 42 low- and middle-income countries: An analysis of standardized cross-sectional national surveys from 2016 – 2020

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model

Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model

Hygienic Disposal of Children’s Stools Practices Among Women of Children With Diarrhoea in Sub-Saharan Africa

Disposable diaper usage, disposal practices and quantity estimation in rural areas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About