From: Seasonal variations and shared latrine cleaning practices in the slums of Kampala city, Uganda
Reasons for latrine status (clean or dirty) | ||
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Reasons for being clean | Reasons for being dirty | |
Improved | • Had raised and lined pits. Pit contents not affected by high water table or flooding (surface or underground) • Due to frequent down pours, (those 1that could harvest rain 4water) there was water to clean | • Some facilities were inaccessible due to flooding in the yard. • Floors were challenging to keep clean due to muddy (unpaved) yards; the mud was carried underneath users’ feet and left on the latrine floor. • There was flooding of the latrine pit and the floor by surface run-off. • The dirty slum environment did not encourage keeping the latrines clean • In low lying areas, some houses were abandoned and this disorganized the latrine cleaning arrangements thereby accounting for setbacks in the cleaning of these facilities. • People perceived venturing out to access latrines more dangerous when it was raining at night. This forms some involuntary choices that lead to poor latrine use. • Some adults resorted to squatting near the entrance/door, around the facility or used flying toilets. |
Unimproved | • The clean unimproved facilities were very few and were mainly located in low water table and relatively well drained areas in the slums of Gogonya, Jjuko and Kisaasizi | • Floors were challenging to keep clean on account of muddy • (unpaved) environments. • Pit flooding from both underground and surface sources made latrine use, access and cleaning complex and almost impossible. • Rain over a long period of time made adults fear that the slab would collapse due to the weakened soils and the poor construction standards. • During the wet season, after the collapse of some structures, there was increased free riding and open defecation (OD) • Pits smell and made users uncomfortable • There was flooding of the latrine pit and the floor by surface run-off water that also carried pollutants. • The generally dirty slum environment did not encourage keeping the latrines clean • People perceived venturing out to access latrines more dangerous when it was raining at night. This forms some involuntary choices that lead to poor latrine use. • Some adults resorted to squatting near the entrance/door, around the facility or used flying toilets. • Some people took advantage of the stagnant water to empty latrines in the environment and also to open defecate • In low lying areas, some houses were abandoned and this disorganized the latrine cleaning arrangements thereby accounting for setbacks in the cleaning of these facilities. |