Barriers to Safe Disposal of Human Excreta in Prampram

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Safe disposal of human excreta is a major Public Health concern since improper disposal of human excreta can lead to an outbreak of excreta related problems. Improving human excreta disposal, hygiene and water supply prevent at least 9.1% of the global disease burden and 6.3% of all the deaths. In Ghana, diseases such as cholera and dysentery have resurfaced; therefore a look at the barriers to safe disposal of human excreta can play an important role in reducing the menace. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to assess the physical, social and cultural barriers to safe disposal of human excreta in Prampram. METHOD: This was a cross- sectional study among 200 participants who were conveniently sampled from the four communities in Prampram. Quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was also collected using twelve in-depth interviews. RESULTS: The findings from the study showed that majority of the respondents (81%) had no toilet facilities in their places of residence. There was limited number of toilet facilities in the district. More than half of the toilet facilities were well ventilated. There were some beliefs such as ―children faeces are not harmful‖ and ―defecating at the beach is equivalent to a flush toilet‖ that promote unsafe disposal of human excreta. Also, payment for the use of toilet facilities, cost involved in the construction of toilet facilities as well as dislodgement of excreta contributed largely to unsafe disposal of human excreta. There was a significant relationship between levels of education and the use of toilet facility (χ2= 47.36, p<0.01), implying that people with low level of education tend to use the beach for human excreta disposal. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that safe disposal of human excreta in study area is inadequate due to limited access to toilet facilities, some beliefs and finance. Measures should therefore be put in place by all members of the community including stakeholders to help improve sanitation in Prampram.