Women's sanitation matters: Unpacking the conundrums associated with open defecation among women in Harper City, Liberia

Abstract

Ending open defecation (OD) is a major global policy goal—anchored by the Sustainable Development Goal 6. While women are vulnerable to the risks associated with poor sanitation and are disproportionately impacted by OD, little is known in the scientific literature about the intricacies, drivers, implications and the challenges women face in OD practices in low and middle income countries’ cities. Using the FOAM analytical framework and the coastal city of Harper, Liberia, as a case study, the paper aims to unravel the day-to-day hustles and hostilities women face in defecating in the open. Data were sourced through desk review, face-to-face interviews with 30 women, 7 key informants and observation. Our findings demonstrate that the beach serves as the major destination for OD in the city. Institutional failure—a low commitment of the Liberia government towards the construction of public sanitation facilities and socioeconomic factors—a general high incidence of poverty among the populace influence women's OD practices in the city. Women are exposed to insecurity, psychological trauma, loss of privacy and dignity under OD practices. The findings underscore the need for policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize women's sanitation in emerging cities. The paper recommends that the government of Liberia should prioritize providing women access to improved sanitation by scaling up the construction of public sanitation facilities, subsidising the cost of building and sanitary materials, and promoting behavioural change through public health and sanitation education as measures to curtail OD in the country.

Keywords

• Open defecation
• Toilet facility
• Poor sanitation
• Sustainable development goals
• Women’ health
• Liberia