SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE OPEN DEFECATION IN LAWRA AND NANDOM DISTRICTS IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

There have been several efforts from both governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations to ensure adoption of open defecation free innovations in order to ensure good sanitary conditions. Studies show that there are still a large number of residents who have not adopted the innovations and continue to resort to open defecation in their respective communities. This study examined the socio-demographic factors which influence open defecation (OD) in Lawra and Nandom districts of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study design was cross sectional where 229 sampled household heads or adult members of households were interviewed about their sanitation practices in Lawra and Nandom districts using structured questionnaires. Respondents from six communities (three from each district) in the two selected districts in the Upper West region were interviewed. The study found that about 34% of the respondents continue to defecate in the open. Educational attainment and being engaged in some form of economic activities were factors which influence open defecation in the districts whilst sex, age, religion, marital status and wealth have no statistical significant relationship with open defecation. Inaccessibility to good toilet facility was the main reason why people practiced open defecation in the districts. Other reasons were closest latrines being too dirty to use, open defecation was convenient and I don’t know which also serve as attitudinal factors. Pit latrines are the most common toilet facilities found in the districts and most of them are poorly constructed, difficult to clean, have very bad odour and uncomfortable to use. The study therefore recommends that stakeholders should make both formal and non-formal education accessible and affordable to children and community members in the districts and also, organize trade and vocational skills training for members in the districts in order to reduce or eliminate open defecation in the area.