title: Factors affecting the utilisation of improved ventilated latrines among communities in Mtwara Rural District, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Tanzania government, working in partnership with other stakeholders implemented a community-based project aimed at increasing access to clean and safe water basic sanitation and promotion of personal hygiene in Mtwara Rural District. Mid-term evaluation revealed that progress had been made towards improved ventilated latrines; however, there was no adequate information on utilisation of these latrines and associated factors. This study was therefore conducted to establish the factors influencing the utilisation of these latrines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 randomly selected households using a pre-tested questionnaire to determine whether the households owned improved ventilated latrines and how they utilised them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About half (50.5%) of the households had an improved ventilated latrine and households with earnings of more than 50,000 Tanzanian Shillings were two times more likely to own an improved latrine than those that earned less (AOR 2.1, 95% CI=1.1-4.0, p= 0.034). The likelihood of owning an improved latrine was reduced by more than 60 percent for female-headed households (AOR=0.38; 95% CI=0.20-0.71; p=0.002). Furthermore, it was established that all members of a household were more likely to use a latrine if it was an improved ventilated latrine (AOR=2.4; 95% CI=1.1-5.1; p= 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest adoption of strategies to improve the wellbeing of households and deploying those who had acquired improved ventilated latrines as resource persons to help train others. Furthermore, efforts are needed to increase access to soft loans for disadvantaged members and increasing community participation.
authors: African Medical and Research Foundation, Tanzania.
authors: Koronel
authors: K
authors: Kema
authors: Innocent
authors: I
authors: Semali
authors: Serafina
authors: S
authors: Mkuwa
authors: Ignatio
authors: I
authors: Kagonji
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Temu
authors: Festus
authors: F
authors: Ilako
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Mkuye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012499:Sanitation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Tanzania; Ventilated Improved Pit latrines; utilization; water and sanitation