Determinants of disposal of child faeces in latrines in urban slums of Odisha, India: a cross-sectional study. (21st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Majorin, Fiona; Nagel, Corey L; Torondel, Belen; Routray, Parimita; Rout, Manaswini; Clasen, Thomas F
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Volume 113:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 272
• Publication Date: 2019-01-21
• Subjects: child faeces -- cross-sectional study -- India -- sanitation -- WASH; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/try142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9203

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Even among households that have access to improved sanitation, children's faeces often do not end up in a latrine, the international criterion for safe disposal of child faeces. Methods: We collected data on possible determinants of safe child faeces disposal in a cross-sectional study of 851 children <5 y of age from 694 households in 42 slums in two cities in Odisha, India. Caregivers were asked about defecation and faeces disposal practices for all the children <5 y of age in the household. Results: Only a quarter (25.5%) of the 851 children's faeces were reported to be disposed of in a latrine. Even fewer (22.3%) of the 694 households reported that the faeces of all children <5 y of age in the home ended up in the latrine the last time the child defecated. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with being a safe disposal household were education and religion of the primary caregiver, number of children <5 y of age in the household, wealth, type and location of the latrine used by the household, household members >5 y of age using the latrine for defecation and mobility of children <5 y of age in the household. Conclusions: Few households reported disposing of all of their children's faeces in a latrine. Improving latrine access and specific behaviour change interventions may improve this practice.