Compliance of private ventilated improved pit latrines to odour and fly control guidelines: A technical audit in selected regions of Ghana

Panin Asirifua Obeng; Emmanuel Amponsah Donkor; Eric Awere; Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng; Peter Appiah Obeng; Esi Awuah

Heliyon (Jul 2024)

Compliance of private ventilated improved pit latrines to odour and fly control guidelines: A technical audit in selected regions of Ghana

Panin Asirifua Obeng,
Emmanuel Amponsah Donkor,
Eric Awere,
Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng,
Peter Appiah Obeng,
Esi Awuah

Affiliations

Panin Asirifua Obeng: Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Civil Engineering, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana; Corresponding author. Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi, Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Emmanuel Amponsah Donkor: Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Eric Awere: Department of Civil Engineering, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana
Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng: Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Peter Appiah Obeng: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Esi Awuah: Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 13
p. e33980

Abstract

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The ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine offers a promising route to safely managed sanitation to many households in developing countries. However, some technical guidelines must be followed in order to realise the technology's advantage of odour and fly nuisance control. This study sought to audit private VIP latrines in selected regions of Ghana to assess their compliance to conventional technical guidelines and to understand the major factors that influence the latrine designs. An inspection checklist was developed to assess 296 private VIP latrines in the Central, Ashanti and Northern Regions of Ghana while semi-structured interviews were conducted among the latrine owners to enquire the factors that influenced the designs of their latrines. The results show that provision of a window in the superstructure (86 %), and the avoidance of an insect screen in the window(s) (77 %) were the most complied guidelines. The use of 150 mm diameter vent pipe was the least satisfied guideline (5 %). On the average, a latrine satisfied about half (3.6) of the technical guidelines that were assessed. The decision or advice of local artisans is the most influential factor in the design of the latrines. Cost was the least mentioned factor cited by the latrine owners. There is the need to establish information desks at the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to guide prospective owners on the proper design and construction of the VIP latrine. In addition, toilet construction should be incorporated in the curriculum for the basic training of building and construction students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Ghana. Further research is required to ascertain the basis of the decisions of local artisans and the potential impact of the use of accessories that are ‘borrowed’ from the WC toilet on odour and fly control in the latrine.

Published in Heliyon

ISSN: 2405-8440 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General); Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/home

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