Open Defecation: In the Age of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan- KAP Study in Urban Slum of Midnapore District, West Bengal

Open Defecation: KAP Study West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Open defecation continues to pose a serious threat to global health in the twenty-first century. An estimated 892 million individuals worldwide still defecate in open fields. Sanitary conditions have been recognised as one of the most significant factors in determining health status of a nation. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in two urban slum areas of Medinipur municipality, Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal. Total 244 households were visited. The head of the family members of these participating households were interviewed about their sanitation knowledge, attitude and practices towards safe sanitation and open defecation. Results: 159 households were aware about the bad effects of open defecation on the environment whereas, 190 households had the perception that open defecation is a bad practice. The present study revealed that 73.8% of participating households were using toilets and 26.2% of participating households were defecating in open. 91.8% of participating households had confirmed that there was no provision of water for use in the toilet therefore 84.8% of total open defecation were practiced besides the drainage system. Conclusions: The study showed that the lack of proper infrastructure, such as water supply in the toilets, cleanliness and maintenance, as well as low income and a dearth of health promotion initiatives to influence behaviour towards toilet use, may be the root causes of open defecation. The study also exhibited that many people were defecating besides drainage system, which might contaminate the surface and ground water make unfit for the consumption. To confirm the results of the current study, additional research is needed to determine the relationship between these variables.