Predictors of toilet ownership in South Africa

Abstract

Background: To date no study in South Africa (to our knowledge) has attempted to isolate the key socio-economic variables associated with toilet ownership. Objective: To contribute towards bridging knowledge-gap by identifying the key predictors of toilet ownership. Design: Cross-sectional national household sample survey. Setting: South African Health Inequalities Survey, 1994. Subjects: Three thousand seven hundred and ninety six respondents aged between 16 and 64 years. Interventions: Non-intervention qualitative response econometric study. Main outcome measures: Respondent ownership of a toilet in their house (or compound). Results: The study revealed that respondents' area of residence, health insurance coverage, income, age (in years), gender, level of education, health education, racial group, and employment status have statistically significant positive impact on the likelihood of toilet ownership. Conclusion: Any government policies geared at improving living conditions (incomes, education, health education, and employment opportunities) for the less-well-to-do in urban and rural areas would increase the likelihood of toilet ownership in South Africa.