Public toilets and their customers in low-income Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Public pay-per-use toilets are the only alternative to open defecation for a significant number of people in many low-income, urban neighbourhoods where insecure tenure, space constraints, and/or cost make private sanitation facilities unfeasible. This study explores public toilet use, characteristics of public toilet customers and possible improvements to public toilet facilities in four neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana, the country with the highest reliance on shared sanitation facilities globally. Reliance on public toilets ranged considerably depending on neighbourhood affluence, but even some people living in compounds with a private toilet used a public toilet. The vast majority of users were adults. Few public toilet customers could foresee owning a household toilet in the coming year, mostly because of lack of space, and they voiced desires for more and cleaner public toilets with better provision of handwashing facilities. Improved accessibility and management of public toilets, along with facilities more suitable for children, could reduce open defecation.

Getting a foot on the sanitation ladder: user satisfaction and willingness to pay for improved public toilets in Accra, Ghana

“…Most The majority of users were satisfied happy with some aspects of the services: such as location of the toilet facilities, number of cubicles in the facilities, internal space, lighting system, and the opening times. However, in line with another recent study in Accra (Peprah et al, 2015), our data indicate there were high rates of dissatisfaction with many of the most critical aspects of toilets facilities: such as convenience, security, privacy, cleanliness/hygiene, flow of water, availability of soap and water for hand-washing, and waiting time to use the facility. No (Interestingly, there were no statistically significant differences were identified in satisfaction levels of any criteria according to by gender, , age, etc.age or settlement location although, as noted above, the age range of respondents was relatively limited.…”

“…Under18s were excluded from the sample because they were not covered by the study's ethical approval, while older people generally declined to participate in the study, citing lack of time. Peprah et al (2015) note that public toilets in Accra are under-used by children and older people, who may either lack the money to use them or who may struggle to keep their balance over squat holes designed for adults (see also Van der Geest and Obirih-Opareh, 2002). and most were single.…”

“…The study adopted a similar approach by this study was similar to others that have sought to understand public-toilet -users' experiences and motivations (Bayha, 2009;Schouten & Mathenge, 2010;Biran et al, 2011;Peprah et al, 2015). The data were obtained through administering aA structured questionnaire was administered consisting of both open and closed-ended questions to public toilet users at one facility in each of the two study areas, using an 'exit interview' approach.…”

“…If -as seems to be the case -public toilets continue to be a major source of sanitation across in urban Ghana (and in urban settings across the developing world), it is important to understand how they are perceived and used by the populations they serve. The Our study contributes to a small but growing literature in this area (see Peprah et al, 2015) by that we report below aimed to ascertain exploring user perceptions and experiences of public toilets in low-income neighbourhoods of Ghana's capital city, Accra, and to ascertaining users' willingness to pay more for improved services. …”

Characterising urban growth in Tamale, Ghana: An analysis of urban governance response in infrastructure and service provision

“…By this focus, the study contributes to urban research in Tamale relative to previous studies that have had narrow focus on single themes such as housing (Boamah, 2010;Yakubu et al, 2014), agriculture and food security (Fuseini, 2014;Naab, Dinye, & Kasanga, 2013), urban growth dynamics (Braimoh & Vlek, 2004) or multiple themes of different focus . The study so provides an understanding of urban growth and urban governance issues as well as access to vital urban services by adding to the body of urban research in Ghana (see for example Obeng-Odoom, 2013a,b, 2015a2010b;Adarkwa, 2012;Akaateba & Yakubu, 2013;Ayee & Crook, 2003;Boamah, 2012Boamah, , 2013aBoamah et al, 2012;Cobbinah & Amoako, 2012;Cobbinah & Korah, 2015;Peprah et al, 2015;Ubink, 2008;Yeboah & Obeng-Odoom, 2010;Owusu, 2011;Yeboah & Shaw, 2013;Yeboah, 2003;.…”