Development of A Multidimensional Scale to Assess Attitudinal Determinants of Sanitation Uptake and Use.
Over 1 billion people still practice open defecation. Low uptake and use of new sanitation technologies in a number of settings has underscored our current limited understanding of the complex attitudinal factors that influence a household's decision to adopt and use new sanitation technologies. Mokken scaling techniques were applied to series of population-based surveys in Odisha, India between September 2011 and October 2013 (sample sizes 120, 500, 2200). Surveys contained simple, agree/disagree statements about attitudes toward sanitation use and sanitation technologies. Analysis produced two scales-a 10-question General Scale, reflecting attitudes toward defecation and norms regarding latrine use for all respondents, and a 6-question Experiential Scale, reflecting personal experiences with and perceived convenience of sanitation technologies targeted at respondents with a latrine. Among all respondents, a one-point change in the General Scale was associated with a 5-percentage point change in the marginal probability of having access to a functioning latrine. Among respondents with a functional latrine at home, a one-point increase in the General and Experiential Scales were associated with a 4- and 8-percentage point decrease in the probability of engaging in any open defecation in the last 7 days, respectively.
Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma , 201 Stephenson Parkway, Suite 4100, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States.
Robert
R
Dreibelbis
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis , One Shields Ave, Davis, California 95618, United States.|Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.
Marion
M
Jenkins
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.
Rachel P
RP
Chase
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.
Belen
B
Torondel
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.
Parimita
P
Routray
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.
Sophie
S
Boisson
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.|Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
Thomas
T
Clasen
Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
Matthew C
MC
Freeman
D001290:Attitude; D003672:Defecation; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011897:Random Allocation; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012499:Sanitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data