ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Safe disposal of human excreta is a major Public Health concern since
improper disposal of human excreta can lead to an outbreak of excreta related problems.
Improving human excreta disposal, hygiene and water supply prevent at least 9.1% of the global
disease burden and 6.3% of all the deaths. In Ghana, diseases such as cholera and dysentery have
resurfaced; therefore a look at the barriers to safe disposal of human excreta can play an
important role in reducing the menace.
OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to assess the physical, social and cultural barriers to
safe disposal of human excreta in Prampram.
METHOD: This was a cross- sectional study among 200 participants who were conveniently
sampled from the four communities in Prampram. Quantitative data was collected using
structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was also collected using twelve in-depth interviews.
RESULTS: The findings from the study showed that majority of the respondents (81%) had no
toilet facilities in their places of residence. There was limited number of toilet facilities in the
district. More than half of the toilet facilities were well ventilated. There were some beliefs such
as ―children faeces are not harmful‖ and ―defecating at the beach is equivalent to a flush toilet‖
that promote unsafe disposal of human excreta. Also, payment for the use of toilet facilities, cost
involved in the construction of toilet facilities as well as dislodgement of excreta contributed
largely to unsafe disposal of human excreta. There was a significant relationship between levels
of education and the use of toilet facility (χ
2
= 47.36, p<0.01), implying that people with low
level of education tend to use the beach for human excreta disposal.
x
CONCLUSION: The results indicated that safe disposal of human excreta in study area is
inadequate due to limited access to toilet facilities, some beliefs and finance. Measures should
therefore be put in place by all members of the community including stakeholders to help
improve sanitation in Prampram.
Eastern Network, L (2021). Barriers to Safe Disposal of Human Excreta in Prampram. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/barriers-to-safe-disposal-of-human-excreta-in-prampram
Library, Eastern Network. "Barriers to Safe Disposal of Human Excreta in Prampram" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 03 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/barriers-to-safe-disposal-of-human-excreta-in-prampram . Accessed 15 Apr. 2021.
Library, Eastern Network. "Barriers to Safe Disposal of Human Excreta in Prampram". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 03 Apr. 2021. Web. 15 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/barriers-to-safe-disposal-of-human-excreta-in-prampram >.
Library, Eastern Network. "Barriers to Safe Disposal of Human Excreta in Prampram" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 15, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/barriers-to-safe-disposal-of-human-excreta-in-prampram