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Adopters and Non-Adopters of Low-Cost Household Latrines: A Study of Corbelled Pit Latrines in 15 Districts of Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Rochelle Holm

    (Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Mavuto Tembo

    (Department of Land Management, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Dalo Njera

    (Department of Forestry, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Victor Kasulo

    (Directorate of Research, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Mphatso Malota

    (Department of Water Resource Management and Development, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Willy Chipeta

    (Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Wales Singini

    (Department of Fisheries, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

  • Joshua Mchenga

    (Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu 2, Malawi)

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals will challenge low- and middle-income settings to look at new approaches for rural sanitation. In 2013, Mzuzu University, in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Malawi, started a low-cost latrine program in rural areas using the corbelled latrine design supported by locally owned sustainable businesses. The objective of this work was to trace customers (early household adopters) and non-customers through field observations and interviews in 15 districts of Malawi. The research team spent 193 personnel work days in data collection and found 21 households as adopters in 7 districts. Most respondents had a preference with regard to the design of the sanitation facility they would like to use. Although sharing of sanitation facilities was common, the corbelled latrine is promoted as a single household pit latrine design. Unfortunately, 8% (23/304) of non-adopters responded they practiced open defecation. Households were satisfied with the corbelled latrine design, and no latrine was found to have collapsed during field visits. To promote the corbelled latrine in Malawi, the following are recommended: (1) education of frontline government extension workers towards non-subsidized household latrines; (2) identification of rural low-income households as the best target for potential adopters; and (3) linkage of low-cost sanitation technologies to community mobilization campaigns led by the government, such as Community Led Total Sanitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Rochelle Holm & Mavuto Tembo & Dalo Njera & Victor Kasulo & Mphatso Malota & Willy Chipeta & Wales Singini & Joshua Mchenga, 2016. "Adopters and Non-Adopters of Low-Cost Household Latrines: A Study of Corbelled Pit Latrines in 15 Districts of Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:10:p:917-:d:79010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenkins, Marion W. & Curtis, Val, 2005. "Achieving the 'good life': Why some people want latrines in rural Benin," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(11), pages 2446-2459, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, 2017. "Access to Sanitation Facilities among Nigerian Households: Determinants and Sustainability Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Victor Kasulo & Rochelle Holm & Mavuto Tembo & Wales Singini & Joshua Mchenga, 2020. "Enhancing sustainable sanitation through capacity building and rural sanitation marketing in Malawi," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 201-215, January.
    3. Artwell Kanda & Esper Jacobeth Ncube & Kuku Voyi, 2021. "Adapting Sanitation Needs to a Latrine Design (and Its Upgradable Models): A Mixed Method Study under Lower Middle-Income Rural Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, December.

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