Combating Open Defecation through Community-led Sanitation

Abstract

This article discusses how the practice of open defecation influences the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) and accepted by all countries. Unfortunately, the practice of open defecation still exists. Public health is at stake because open defecation enables transmission of infectious diseases via the fecal–oral route. Open defecation could hinder achieving the targets set for sustainable development. Poverty is one of the prime reasons for open defecation and this in turn has negative effects on social outcomes, wellbeing, ecosystems, and the economy. This article highlights the areas in which open defecation could prevent attainment of SDGs, and justifies the recent sanitation interventions by various countries to curb the practice of open defecation.

Keywords

• Economy
• environment
• fecal–oral route
• gender equality
• infectious diseases
• open defecation