Faculty Collaboration Database

The role of psychological factors in predicting latrine ownership and consistent latrine use in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2018 Feb 08;18(1):229

Date

02/10/2018

Pubmed ID

29422034

Pubmed Central ID

PMC5806365

DOI

10.1186/s12889-018-5143-0

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85041507462 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inadequate sanitation is one of the leading causes of disease in poor and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify the psychological factors that predict latrine ownership and consistent latrine use in the rural Becho district of central Ethiopia.

METHOD: A quantitative, cross-sectional, community based study was conducted. A total of 1047 heads of household were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Ownership of latrine and consistent latrine use constituted the outcome variable of the study. Data were entered using Epi Info version 3.5.4 and were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

RESULTS: Of the 1047 households, 73% owned a traditional pit latrine. Among the psychological factors, attitude (AOR 1.70; 95% CI 1.21-2.37) and injunctive norm (AOR 6.18; 95% CI 4.46-10.44) were positively and significantly associated with latrine ownership. Among the demographic factors, having a family size of more than six (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.01-1.97, having a child attending school (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.17-3.02), and having a high school education (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.34-2.87) were significantly associated with latrine ownership. With respect to exposure to communication about sanitation (the cues to action), households that had a family member who took part in Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) triggering were three times more likely to be latrine owners than those who did not participate in CLTSH triggering (95% CI 1.92-4.78.) Results from adjusted logistic regression analysis of potential predictors of consistent latrine use showed that having a positive attitude (AOR 7.00; 95% CI 4.55-10.55), owning of a latrine that had superstructure (AOR 2.3 95% CI 1.47-3.48), having a clean latrine (AOR 1.69 95% CI 1.00-3.00), and having a latrine with a protected door (AOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.10-3.48) were significantly associated with consistent latrine use.

CONCLUSION: The study findings showed that attitude and injunctive norm are the psychological predictors of latrine ownership, and consistent latrine use was associated with attitude, cleanliness of the latrine, and its privacy. Hence, sanitation intervention needs to focus on changing societal norms, attitudes, and the promotion of latrine quality.

Author List

Alemu F, Kumie A, Medhin G, Gasana J

Author

Janvier Gasana MD, MPH, PhD Adjunct Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Attitude
Cross-Sectional Studies
Educational Status
Ethiopia
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Ownership
Psychology
Rural Population
Sanitation
Social Norms
Surveys and Questionnaires
Toilet Facilities