DETERMINANTS OF COMMUNITY-LED TOTAL SANITATION UPTAKE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Approximately 22% of Ghanaians are involved in the practise of open defecation. In 2014, the Sagnarigu Municipality embraced Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) as a strategy to combat open defecation. This study assessed the determinants of CLTS uptake and sustainability in the Sagnarigu Municipality. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 randomly selected household heads. Structured questionnaires, Focused Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews were used to collect data. The quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. To identify the factors associated with the CLTS uptake, bivariate analysis was performed. Those factors with p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The results of the study were presented using frequencies, tables and charts. The qualitative data collected were thematically analysed and used to support the quantitative results. The results show that the average age of the respondents was 35.62 years while the minimum and maximum ages were 18 and 79 years respectively, males were 193 (57.1%), 116 (34.3%) were age 31-40 years, 190 (56.2%) had no formal education, 286 (84.6%) were married, and 169 (50.0%) were from household size 11- 20 members. The study was dominated by Muslims and Dagomba’s, with farming being the predominant 205(60.5%) occupation. Latrines ownership was 100%, knowledge on CLTS was high (85.80%) while very high 335(99.1%) households’ CLTS uptake (involvement). With the exception of age of household heads (X2=11.732, P=0.039), all sociodemographic variables including community name were not significantly associated with uptake of CLTS. There was remarkable progress towards achieving open defecation free in the municipality with over 6,000 latrines constructed in rural communities since 2014. The study recommends continuous monitoring of ODF communities by the municipal assembly field officers and development of a sustainability plan by both donor partners and municipal assemblies.