Shared Sanitation Management and the Role of Social Capital: Findings from an Urban Sanitation Intervention in Maputo, Mozambique

Abstract

Shared sanitation—sanitation facilities shared by multiple households—is increasingly common in rapidly growing urban areas in low-income countries. However, shared sanitation facilities are often poorly maintained, dissuading regular use and potentially increasing disease risk. In a series of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, we explored the determinants of shared sanitation management within the context of a larger-scale health impact evaluation of an improved, shared sanitation facility in Maputo, Mozambique. We identified a range of formal management practices users developed to maintain shared sanitation facilities, and found that management strategies were associated with perceived latrine quality. However—even within an intervention context—many users reported that there was no formal system for management of sanitation facilities at the compound level. Social capital played a critical role in the success of both formal and informal management strategies, and low social capital was associated with collective action failure. Shared sanitation facilities should consider ways to support social capital within target communities and identify simple, replicable behavior change models that are not dependent on complex social processes.

Using Path Analysis to Test Theory of Change: A Quantitative Process Evaluation of the MapSan Trial

“…Formation of a compound sanitation committee also did not explain variance in participant behaviours. The committee model may be less appropriate in this setting for compounds with 15 or fewer members, as informal management systems may be su cient to maintain quality among small groups of people with existing social ties [31].…”

“…The report noted a major scaling-back of planned hygiene promotion activities due to increased costs of infrastructure construction, suggesting that the effectiveness of this component warrants investigation. A qualitative assessment of sanitation management structures in study compounds [31] identi ed factors including compound leadership, number of households and relational structure that might in uence cleanliness and maintenance of facilities.…”

An Approach Incorporating User Preferences in the Design of Sanitation Systems and Its Application in the Rural Communities of Chiapas, Mexico

“…For instance, when users do not maintain hygiene in the toilet vicinity, then unsanitary conditions may initiate failure on the appropriation of the system and subsequently lacerate community relationships and complicate the optimal management of the system, maintenance, repairs, waste management, profits, cleaning, etc. Depending on the social capital, in some cases, users would not want to avoid creating problems [61], which justifies why they would rather have private systems than shared. Furthermore, financial barriers can represent a significant challenge in terms of the willingness of users to pay.…”

“…Although they want to pay, saving, or collecting money may be difficult for them. Another issue is the lack of trust between the community or family members when the utilization of money is involved [61]. In the area of study, the majority simply could not afford sanitation charges.…”

Where Shared Sanitation is the Only Immediate Option: A Research Agenda for Shared Sanitation in Densely Populated Low-Income Urban Settings

“…35 User commitment and social capital are critical for successful collective management of shared sanitation facilities, including the need to strengthen communication and accountability between landlords and tenants. 32,[36][37][38] Our suggested priority research questions for the setting and user experience are as follows:…”