Barriers to latrine use for defecation among mothers of children less than 59 months

Abstract

Background: India has high concentration of its population who defecate outdoors or at least 620 million people who practice open defecation. This share has seen a slight decline in the past decade but with rapid population growth most Indians are being exposed to more human waste than ever before.Methods: This paper aims to study what is preventing the mothers of children 0-59 months in using latrine for defecation at all times through barrier analysis survey. It is a doer and non-doer study, a doer is defined as mothers of children 0-59 months of age who defecate in a latrine at all times  and a non-doer are mothers of children 0-59 months of age who do not defecate in a latrine at all times.Results: Mothers who use latrine felt that having a latrine close to their residence or a private latrine makes it easy for them to use latrine every time for defecation. Clean environment was considered as an advantage among those who use latrine every time. They feel it is safer from harm if a latrine is used every time for defecation. Mothers who did not use a latrine felt very difficult to remember to use a latrine each time for defecation. Also those who do not use latrine feel that no toilet or a land to build one makes it difficult for them in making use of a latrine every time for defecation.Conclusions: The determinants studied will help in carefully addressing the barriers through targeted activities to encourage and promote the use of latrine. Action-oriented programs like community led total sanitation (CLTS) for overall behaviour change, help mothers to grow increasingly confident about the use of latrine and in overcoming the hurdles in using latrine at all times and also avoid relapse into open defecation.