title: Household latrine use, maintenance and acceptability in rural Zinder, Niger.
abstract: We conducted a survey in rural Niger to assess use, maintenance and acceptability of household latrines one year after a subsidized promotion project. Standard interviews were conducted with 200 randomly selected project participants and a visual latrine inspection. Before the project, 21.5% (43/200) of households had latrines. After the first year, 100% of these households had at least one latrine. Overall, 2577 household latrines were built in the 50 targeted villages. Latrines were 'always' used by 92.5% of adults and 55% of children in the households. The latrines were adequately maintained: superstructure 93%, covers 74.5%, clean 70%. The main perceived advantages of latrine ownership were proximity/easy access (59.5%) and privacy (22.5%). The project demonstrated that the implementation of a household latrine promotion project is acceptable and feasible in rural Niger. Future promotion projects may develop local sanitation expertise and focus on perceived benefits--proximity and privacy--rather than health.
authors.affiliation: The Carter Center/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30307, USA. mouda92@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mamadou O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niandou
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amadou
authors.forename: Boubacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kadri
authors.forename: Abdou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amza
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zingeser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D009548:Niger; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014141:Trachoma / Q000517:prevention & control*