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Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Eco-Toilet Systems in Rural Areas: A Case Study in the Philippines

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Jared Ignacio

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Roy Alvin Malenab

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Carla Mae Pausta

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Arnel Beltran

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Lawrence Belo

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Renan Ma. Tanhueco

    (Civil Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Marlon Era

    (Behavioral Sciences Department, College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Ramon Christian Eusebio

    (Department of Engineering Science, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College Laguna 4031, Philippines)

  • Michael Angelo Promentilla

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

  • Aileen Orbecido

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines)

Abstract

Death due to diseases from poor sanitation is a serious global issue and it has become one of the priorities of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (i.e., SDG6). This SDG6 aims to provide adequate improved sanitation facilities to over 2.3 billion people around the world who have no or limited access to sanitation, wherein more than two-thirds of these un-served people live in rural areas. One of the strategies for addressing this global issue is through emerging sustainable sanitation technologies such as the Eco-Toilet System (ETS), which uses small amounts of water or is even waterless and recovers nutrients from human waste thereby promoting water-energy conservation, improved sanitation and supplement nutrients essential to plant growth. Social acceptance, however, remains a key barrier in deploying the ETS. A social perception study on the use of the ETS was conducted in a rural community in Mulanay, Philippines. The researchers analyzed the proposed combined technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior (C-TAM-TPB) using multiple linear regression and the Mann-Whitney U-test to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of a rural community towards the use of the ETS. The results showed that more than 50% of the respondents are aware of the nutrient value of human excreta and believe that it is usable as fertilizer; however, less than 25% prefer to utilize it for food production. Results also indicate that the behavior of the users is driven by their attitude (β = 0.420, p -value < 0.010). Moreover, the Mann-Whitney U-test results revealed that people who are knowledgeable of the nutrient value of human excreta and are willing to collect them have more positive attitude towards the ETS.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Jared Ignacio & Roy Alvin Malenab & Carla Mae Pausta & Arnel Beltran & Lawrence Belo & Renan Ma. Tanhueco & Marlon Era & Ramon Christian Eusebio & Michael Angelo Promentilla & Aileen Orbecido, 2018. "Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Eco-Toilet Systems in Rural Areas: A Case Study in the Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:521-:d:132023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Simon Gwara & Edilegnaw Wale & Alfred Odindo & Chris Buckley, 2020. "Why do We Know So Much and Yet So Little? A Scoping Review of Willingness to Pay for Human Excreta Derived Material in Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Gadaza, Aniza C & Ninobla, Katrina Anne C & Morla, Wildren Lou B & Balanza, Katrynne Yzzabelle B & Mabutas, Angela & Graycochea, Mary Rose, 2025. "Community Health Policy: Zero Open Defecation Implementation in Selected Barangays of Bauang, La Union," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(4), pages 5054-5091, April.
    4. William Musazura & Alfred Oduor Odindo & Stephen O. Ojwach, 2025. "Transformative Approaches in Transitioning to a Circular Sanitation Bioeconomy in South Africa: A Scoping Review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 9463-9489, November.
    5. Simon Gwara & Edilegnaw Wale & Alfred Odindo & Chris Buckley, 2021. "Attitudes and Perceptions on the Agricultural Use of Human Excreta and Human Excreta Derived Materials: A Scoping Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-30, February.
    6. Donglin Han & Huiying (Cynthia) Hou & Hao Wu & Joseph H. K. Lai, 2021. "Modelling Tourists’ Acceptance of Hotel Experience-Enhancement Smart Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    7. Jabir Ali & Waseem Khan, 2024. "Demographic, social and economic factors affecting the adoption of green toilets among rural households in India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 5117-5138, February.
    8. Fernando Alonso-Marroquin & Ghulam Qadir & Jad Nazha & Vanessa Pino & Arianna Brambilla, 2023. "A User-Friendly and Sustainable Toilet Based on Vermicomposting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-26, August.

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