A cross sectional study on assessment of epidemiological factors associated with open field defecation in a tribal community

Authors

  • Priyanka Chakkarwar Primary Health Center, Khanapur, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Amol Kinge Department of Community Medicine, SBH Government Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20185237

Keywords:

Open field defecation, Infectious diseases, Sanitation, Personal hygiene, Swacch Bharat Abhiyan

Abstract

Background: Almost 2.5 billion people don’t have the access to clean toilet globally. In 2011 sanitation coverage globally was 64%. While open defecation is declining across the globe, 15% (one billion) of the global population still defecate outdoors. OFD practices are associated with transmission of variety of infectious diseases. This study was conducted to understand the nature of defecation practices with respect to hygiene in a tribal community.

Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted among patients attending out-patient department of a rural health training center from a nearby tribal area, Thane district, Maharashtra which is a field practice area of rural health training centre of Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai.

Results: Majority of the subjects practiced open field defecation (67%), followed by 18% subjects used household latrines and 15% used community based latrines. Majority of the study participants practiced open field defecation in agriculture fields (81%), while 44% preferred nearby water source as a site for defecation.

Conclusions: The sanitary condition in the study area was poor. Rural areas with better literacy seems to have lower open field defecation prevalence and higher percentages of sanitary latrine usage.

 

Author Biographies

Priyanka Chakkarwar, Primary Health Center, Khanapur, Pune, Maharashtra, India

MD Community Medicine,

Medical Officer, Primary health center, Khanapur, Pune, Maharashtra

Amol Kinge, Department of Community Medicine, SBH Government Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra, India

Epidemiologist cum Assistant Professor, Department of community Medicine

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Published

2018-12-24

How to Cite

Chakkarwar, P., & Kinge, A. (2018). A cross sectional study on assessment of epidemiological factors associated with open field defecation in a tribal community. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(1), 164–167. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20185237

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles