OPEN DEFECATION IN THE WA MUNICIPALITY OF THE UPPER WEST REGION: AN ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Abstract

The study assessed the socio-economic and cultural factors influencing open defecation in the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study was conducted in 21 randomly selected communities in the Municipality. The case study design was used. Mixed method approach was used in collecting data for the study. Three hundred and sixty-seven closed and open- ended questionnaires were administered to household heads or their representatives for the quantitative study whiles eight key informant in-depth interviews were conducted and personal observation was used for the qualitative study. Data gathered from the field was analysed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The findings of the study revealed that ancestral beliefs/inheritance, inadequate public and household toilet facilities, poor maintenance of public toilets, the perception that children’s faeces are not dangerous, financial constraints, low levels of education, the belief that witches and wizards visits toilet facilities at night and the idea that it is only the duty of a man to construct a toilet facility were established as the major socio-economic and cultural factors influencing open defecation in the Wa Municipality. Faeco-oral diseases were also identified as consequences associated with open defecation. The study recommends intensive and quality public education, financial support for needy households to construct household toilets, community participation and ownership of sanitation facilities, privatization of few existing community public toilets and strict enforcement of the National Building Regulation (Act 462) as some effective ways of curbing open defecation in the Wa Municipality.