Sanitation practices among internal migrant population: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Poor sanitation and hygiene are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite all the global efforts 68% population still lacks the basic sanitation facilities. The internal migrant population is a vulnerable group that even lags behind the general population in basic sanitation. This study was aimed to assess sanitation practices among the internal migrant population.Methods: This community based cross sectional study was conducted in a rural village of north-west Delhi from June 2019 to November 2019. People migrated from other parts of the country and residing in the study area for minimum last six months, were included in the study. Data were collected using pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered study tool, and analysed using SPSS 20.0 software.Results: Two hundred eleven respondents were included in the study. About 88% were using latrine for defecation, out of this 57% were using household sanitary latrines, rest were using community latrines. About 12% were still practicing open defecation. Among those who were using latrine, only about 60% were found regular users. Positive health associated with latrine usage, comfort, privacy, security, presence of latrine in the rented house, quality construction and availability of water were the major motivators and enablers to regular usage of latrine.Conclusions:The internal migrant population is a vulnerable group, with suboptimal sanitation practices. Along with information education communication and behaviour change communication activities, policymakers need to pay special attention to this group in order to achieve global and national sanitation targets.