Accelerating rural sanitation coverage in Ghana: what are the speed bumps impeding progress?

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Monney ◽  
Amos Baffoe-Kyeremeh ◽  
Papa Kofi Amissah-Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Human Resource Capacity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Local Assembly ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Sanitation Promotion

Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) sanitation target has generally been slow-paced in Ghana. This is particularly the case in rural areas where access to improved sanitation has increased by just 4% within two decades. This paper examines defecation practices as well as constraints and existing opportunities at both household and institutional levels in promoting in-house toilet construction. The study was conducted in three rural communities in the Tain district and drew on key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and face-to-face interviews of 400 residents selected from 249 houses. The results showed the scarcity of in-house toilets, which means consequently open defecation and use of communal toilets are common practices. The need for in-house toilet facilities is high among property owners without them, mainly driven by the desire for comfort and safety. Barriers at the household level constraining latrine installation include ignorance of low-cost technologies, the perceived high cost of latrines and the low priority given to their ownership. Analysis of expenditure patterns at the local assembly shows low priority afforded to sanitation promotion, which is constrained by low donor support, lack of requisite logistics and poor human resource capacity. Existing opportunities for accelerating sanitation coverage in these study communities are examined both at the household and institutional levels, and best practices discussed.

Accelerating uptake of household latrines in rural communities in the Volta region of Ghana

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Keraita ◽  
Peter Kjær Mackie Jensen ◽  
Flemming Konradsen ◽  
Maxwell Akple ◽  
Thilde Rheinländer
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Sanitation Promotion ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Low Coverage ◽  
Technological Options

This study was done in four rural communities in Ghana to assess uptake of household latrines. A total of 156 household interviews, 16 focus group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted. Study findings show that only 8.5% of households were using improved sanitation facilities with more than 75% of the households relying on open defecation and communal trench latrines. Knowledge of technological options was very limited and the cost for preferred latrines was unaffordable. Though health-related benefits motivated household latrine uptake, those related to personal security, privacy, social status and convenience were ranked higher. Sanitation uptake was constrained mainly by finances, poor sanitation promotion and general biophysical factors. High costs of latrine construction could be reduced by introducing cheaper technological options, using low-cost construction materials and labor contributions from households. Financing models like microcredit financing can also be explored and adapted for use in Ghana. We recommend the use of approaches aimed at behavior change while giving households a range of technological options such as community led total sanitation (CLTS). Hence, despite the low coverage of improved sanitation in rural Ghana, there exist real opportunities to accelerate sanitation uptake.

Technology Shaping Education in Rural Communities

2018 ◽  
pp. 184-204
Author(s):  
Jillian R. Powers ◽  
Ann T. Musgrove ◽  
Jessica A. Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Rural Teachers ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Impact Of Technology ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines how technology has shaped the teaching and learning process for individuals residing in rural areas. Research on the history and unique needs of rural communities and the impact of technology in these areas is discussed. Educational experiences of students across all grade levels, from early childhood though post-secondary education, is examined. Examples of innovative and creative uses educational technologies in distance and face-to-face settings are described from the perspective of rural teachers and students.

scholarly journals ‘I didn’t feel judged’: exploring women’s access to telemedicine abortion in rural Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Ireland ◽  
Suzanne Belton ◽  
Frances Doran
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Medical Abortion ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Situational Contexts ◽  
Personal Skills

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONRegardless of geographical location, safe and legal abortion is an essential reproductive health service. Accessing an abortion is problematic for women in rural areas. Although telemedicine is globally established as safe and effective for medical abortion in urban settings, there is a paucity of research exploring access to telemedicine abortion for women in rural locations. AIMThe aim of this qualitative research is to explore and better understand women’s access to telemedicine abortion in Australian rural areas. METHODSStructured interviews were conducted with women (n=11) living in rural areas who had experienced a telemedicine abortion within the last 6 months. Phone interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data underwent a Patient-Centred Access framework analysis and were coded according to the domain categories of approachability/ability to perceive, acceptability/ability to seek, availability/ability to reach, affordability/ability to pay, and appropriateness/ability to engage. RESULTSRural women had severely limited access to abortion care. The five domains of the Patient-Centred Access model demonstrated that when women with the prerequisite personal skills and circumstances are offered a low-cost service with compassionate staff and technical competence, telemedicine can innovate to ensure rural communities have access to essential reproductive health services. DISCUSSIONTelemedicine offers an innovative model for ensuring women’s access to medical abortion services in rural areas of Australia and likely has similar applicability to international non-urban contexts. Strategies are needed to ensure women with lower literacy and less favourable situational contexts, can equitably access abortion services through telemedicine.

scholarly journals UNDERSTANDING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF SAHIWAL DISTRICT, PUNJAB PAKISTAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-616
Author(s):  
Abdullah Ijaz ◽  
Adnan Ahmad Dogar ◽  
Ikram Shah ◽  
Mohammad Saeed Lodhi ◽  
Shakirullah Dawar
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Constraints

Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study was to analyze the socio-cultural constraints that affect different dimensions of women empowerment in rural areas of Punjab province. Political participation and self-esteem were taken as dominant characteristics of women empowerment among lots of variables that collectively define women empowerment. Methodology: A mixed-method approach was used to study different dimensions of women empowerment. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to collect the data from 85 respondents excluding widows and divorced women. Two focus group discussions were conducted, one in each village to further understand the phenomenon or empowerment and constraints faced by women. The data got analyzed by using tables and graphs made in MS Excel. Main findings: Findings of the study indicate that although cultural constraints hinder the process of women empowerment a great deal, a husband's education along with a woman's education plays a significant role in women empowerment. Results showed that if the husband is more educated, women are more empowered politically and have higher self-esteem. Application of the study: The significant contribution of a single factor in overall women empowerment is very interesting and needs further in-depth studies on different locations. The results can contribute to policy formulation for women empowerment on a larger scale.

scholarly journals Diarrhoeal Disease in Relation to Possible Household Risk Factors in South African Villages

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thandi Kapwata ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Wouter le Roux ◽  
Caradee Wright
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Diarrhoeal Disease ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Guideline Values

Diarrhoeal disease is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality, particularly in the developing world. Poor sanitation, a lack of personal hygiene and inadequate water supplies are known risk factors for diarrhoeal disease. Since risk factors may vary by population or setting, we evaluated the prevalence of diarrhoeal disease at the household level using a questionnaire to better understand household-level risk factors for diarrhoea in selected rural areas in South Africa. In a sub-sample of dwellings, we measured the microbial quality of drinking water. One in five households had at least one case of diarrhoea during the previous summer. The most widespread source of drinking water was a stand-pipe (inside yard) (45%) followed by an indoor tap inside the dwelling (29%). Storage of water was common (97%) with around half of households storing water in plastic containers with an opening large enough to fit a hand through. After adjusting for confounders, the occurrence of diarrhoea was statistically significantly associated with sourcing water from an indoor tap (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.73, 95% CI: 2.73, 1.14–6.56) and storing cooked/perishable food in non-refrigerated conditions (AOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 2.17, 1.44–3.26). The highest total coliform counts were found in water samples from kitchen containers followed by stand-pipes. Escherichia coli were most often detected in samples from stand-pipes and kitchen containers. One in four households were at risk of exposure to contaminated drinking water, increasing the susceptibility of the study participants to episodes of diarrhoea. It is imperative that water quality meets guideline values and routine monitoring of quality of drinking water is done to minimise diarrhoea risk in relevant rural communities. The security of water supply in rural areas should be addressed as a matter of public health urgency to avoid the need for water storage.

scholarly journals Ozone Gas Sanitization Unit (O3SU) with Low Cost Tech where Water Supply is Critical

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Massimiliano De Mei
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Safe Water ◽  
The World ◽  
Gas Generators

Too many people in the world do not have access to clean and safe water but water purification processes are energy intensive and require structures capable of supplying energy constantly. In many rural areas there is basically no electricity available and only the installation of a photovoltaic system or of any other renewable energy source, can lay the foundations for design of water purification plants. The main goal of this work was to study the effectiveness of ozone (O3) for knocking down high levels of fecal pollution and to construct a prototype for low cost sanitization (O3SU Ozone gas Sanitization Unit), able to supply limited quantities of safe water to small rural communities. Ozone gas generators were tested at 7, 14 and 21 g/h and gas flow times were determined. The ozone sanitization of waters characterized by mainly fecal contamination seems to be very effective; surely the O3SU can and must be improved through, for example, the use of more powerful ozone generators, in order to reduce the duration of the treatment and through the decreasing of the electric consumptions, that would make possible to increase the daily treatment cycles. Thus, we would be able to increase the amount of clean water available to populations living in areas where the water crisis is an unlucky and grim reality.

scholarly journals Peningkatan Kapasitas Badan Usaha Milik Desa untuk Kesejahteraan Masyarakat

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Abd. Rasyid Syamsuri ◽  
Julianto Hutasuhut
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Institutions ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Village Government ◽  
The Village

The Enhancement of Village Owned Business Agencies Capacity for Community Welfare Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDes) aims to make village development innovations, especially improving the village economy and rural communities' welfare. BUMDes is a village business institution managed by the community and village government to strengthen the economy and is formed based on its needs and potential. Community service in Janji Village, Bilah Barat District, Labuhanbatu Regency was started by identifying the need for socialization: providing knowledge and understanding of the role of BUMDes and conducting focus group discussions based on interest groups in the village. The purpose of this program was to bring changes in the social-economic of the community. Based on the observations, partners' problems are: 1) The establishment of BUMDes in Janji Village has not fully formed all types of businesses in the area but has only formed one type of business, 2) There are objections from community members who already own home industry. As one of the economic institutions operating in rural areas, BUMDes must have differences from the general economic institutions so that the existence and performance of BUMDes can make a significant contribution in improving community welfare through socialization, education, and training to improve people's living standards in Janji Village.

Durban Community's Experiences of Class-Based Urinary Diversion Toilets

2022 ◽  
pp. 202-224
Author(s):  
Innocent Simphiwe Nojiyeza
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Urinary Diversion ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Resources Management

The aim of this chapter is to look at the integrated water resources management (IWRM)-related institutional shift in governance of water and sanitation in Durban and the extent to which class is considered in providing rural inhabitants with facilities they regard as sub-standard. The key finding is that rural communities remain uncomfortable with nearly 90,000 UD toilets constructed by eThekwini Municipality, despite current efforts being made to relieve them of the most hated chores of emptying vaults when they fill up. In a study conducted in rural areas of Durban through interviews with 70 households and focus group discussions, communities continue to reject UDs on the grounds of lack of equity, proximity to areas with flush toilets, lack of communication, and lack of sustainable institutional mechanisms associated with this project.

scholarly journals Contextual Determinants of General Household Hygiene Conditions in Rural Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11064
Author(s):  
D. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Contextual Determinants

Household hygiene is critical to prevent pathogen transmission at the household level. Assessing household hygiene conditions and their determinants are needed to improve hygiene conditions, especially in rural and less developed areas where the housing conditions are relatively worse than they are in urban areas. This study used data from 278 household interviews and observations in rural areas in the district of East Sumba, province East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The data were analyzed using statistical methods. In general, the household hygiene conditions in the study need to be improved. The main potential sources of pathogen transmission were from the surrounding environment, i.e., non-permanent floor and garbage, and personal hygiene, i.e., handwashing facilities with water and soap were only observed in the homes of four out of ten respondents. The presence of livestock roaming freely in the house’s yard was another source of contamination. Easy access to water and wealth significantly influenced the hygiene conditions. Implementing low-cost interventions, i.e., cleaning the house of garbage and animal feces and cleaning nails, should be the priority in immediate intervention, while providing easier access to water supply, especially during the dry season, could be a long-term intervention. This paper also argues that analyzing household hygiene conditions or practices should be complemented by analyzing contextual determinants of the hygiene conditions or practices, so that we can develop more precise intervention by considering the local or household context.

'The Only Place to Do This is in Town': Experiences Of Rural–Urban Migration in Northern Karamoja, Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-55
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Stites
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Migratory Patterns ◽  
The Cost ◽  
To Receive

Towns in northern Karamoja, Uganda, are growing due to an expanding commercial sector, shifts in livestock-based rural livelihoods, and the economic and social appeal of urban life. This article presents qualitative data from 83 individual migrants to Abim, Kaabong and Kotido, the three largest towns in northern Karamoja. The research aimed to better understand the factors behind migration, the livelihood strategies pursued by those moving to towns and the opportunities and challenges associated with urban life. The data show that the majority of respondents in urban centres retained links to their rural communities: these connections allowed migrants to access key assets such as land, social networks and food, and allowed rural residents to receive remittances and other forms of support. Those who were not able to maintain ties to their rural homes or families were frequently the most vulnerable; most were widowed or abandoned women. Reasons for migration included household-level shocks, such as the loss of livestock or the death of a family member, as well as food insecurity or 'hunger'. Towns are attractive destinations because of their economic opportunities and potential for a better life. However, many respondents struggled with the cost of living in towns and worked multiple ad hoc and low-skilled jobs in order to get by. While rural linkages were important for populations in both areas, most respondents did not envision returning to their rural areas. Urban planning and services have not kept pace with migratory patterns.

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