Portable pit latrine seats to increase sanitation for disabled individuals in Lira, Uganda

Abstract

This paper presents a viable solution that evolved over several years of research to mitigate the sanitation problems faced by individuals in rural areas of Uganda, particularly those with disabilities, addressed in our first paper (Schmachtenberger et al.). The solution is based on interviews and contacts with affected individuals in Lira, Northern Uganda, where the most commonly used sanitation facility is a pit latrine. To that end three types of design considerations and requirements for effective pit latrine assistive devices were adopted in the development of the technology discussed in this paper. Ultimately, three different designs were fabricated after synthesizing the requirements, preliminary user feedback, and engineering knowledge of mechanical design. The deliverables from these designs are three different assistive devices whose common feature is a portable seat that can be used safely in a pit latrine. The good results from several field tests engendered the development of more locally reproducible and cost-effective, assistive seat devices over a period of 3-5 years. Results from data collected over the years will be published in another manuscript, subsequently.

Editorial: The unmet need of pit latrine use by disabled people: a practical solution

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The papers by Schmachtenberger et al [1] and Hey et al [2] , published in this issue, identify the unmet need of assistive technologies for people living in rural communities in Lira, Northern Uganda in accessing the use of pit latrines, and describe a new range of portable toilet seats. These toilet seats, designed by the University of San Diego Mechanical Engineering under-graduate senior students in California, and built by local carpenters in Lira, appear to help persons with disabilities to access pit latrines.Use of a pit latrine requires the user to be able to squat and align their bottom with the opening of the pit latrine.

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