Gupta Vinayak, Gonzales Hazel B, Hungwe Douglas, Kanokwan Yamsomphong, Takahashi Fumitake
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G5-8, 4259 Nagatsuta-Cho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, #07-03 E1A, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 11;14(1):16002. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65191-1.
Community sanitation is a fundamental human right and need. Every year, as per the World Bank, total cost of providing sanitation services is estimated at around 114 billion USD per year. In India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), a public welfare scheme (PWS), is aimed at addressing community sanitation problems. Despite the successful implementation of SBA, local communities still practise open defaecation. To deduce the behavioural patterns governing communal toilet use, interviews were conducted with the local communities in the Kho Nagorian area of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. This qualitative survey examined attitudes towards the construction of a toilet, awareness towards the SBA scheme, and the willingness to use excreta-based pit humus. The study then discusses the factors that increase the local community's willingness to use these toilets. Results show that open defaecation is still prevalent in society. One way to foster the adoption of toilets is that the construction materials should mainly consist of local materials. As a recourse, places of worship could be used to influence people's perception of hygiene. In addition, community toilets should be cleaned often as well. PWS should not be made accessible at no cost to prevent a sense of entitlement among the people. A small sum should be charged to increase social responsibility towards the PWS. Another way to curb open defaecation is to tap into the sense of entitlement by making effective use of social campaign programs. Further, cross-table analysis revealed that the locals were inclined to use a toilet if they have invested in it. Advertisements were found to be ineffective, and proposals were made to make them effective. These findings aid in understanding public perceptions and can guide the development of public policies. The findings also assist in making tax distribution decisions that reflect public concerns, attitudes, and values.
社区卫生设施是一项基本人权和需求。根据世界银行的数据，每年提供卫生服务的总成本估计约为1140亿美元。在印度，“清洁印度运动”（SBA）是一项公益计划，旨在解决社区卫生问题。尽管SBA成功实施，但当地社区仍存在露天排便现象。为了推断公共厕所使用的行为模式，对印度拉贾斯坦邦斋浦尔的科纳戈里安地区的当地社区进行了访谈。这项定性调查考察了对厕所建设的态度、对SBA计划的认识以及使用粪便坑腐殖质的意愿。该研究随后讨论了增加当地社区使用这些厕所意愿的因素。结果表明，露天排便在社会中仍然普遍存在。促进厕所使用的一种方法是，建筑材料应主要由当地材料组成。作为一种手段，可以利用宗教场所来影响人们对卫生的认知。此外，社区厕所也应经常清洁。公益计划不应免费提供，以防止人们产生权利感。应该收取一小笔费用，以增强人们对公益计划的社会责任感。另一种遏制露天排便的方法是，通过有效利用社会宣传活动来激发权利意识。此外，交叉表分析显示，如果当地人投资建设厕所，他们更倾向于使用。研究发现广告效果不佳，并提出了使其有效的建议。这些发现有助于理解公众认知，并可为公共政策的制定提供指导。这些发现还有助于做出反映公众关切态度和价值观的税收分配决策。
