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Full Project – THE SIGNIFICANCE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY LED TOTAL SANITATION: (A STUDY OF ALABATA COMMUNITY, ODEDA, OGUN STATE)

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ABSTRACT

The study examined “The significance importance of community led total sanitation”. The research design was the survey design. The population of the study comprises of the people in Alabata, Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State. The research used primary sources of data in the course of study. The data were collected via the use of questionnaire and a simple random sampling method was adopted in selecting samples for the study. One hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were administered to the respondents and one hundred and twenty-two (122) was retrieved. Frequency tables was use to analyse the data while the hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square Statistics. The findings showed that Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) involves facilitating a process to inspire and empower rural communities to stop open defecation and to build and use latrines. The study recommended that the Government should encourage Community Led Total Sanitation in order to reduce widespread open defecation which may lead to outbreak of diseases.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) involves facilitating a process to inspire and empower rural communities to stop open defecation and to build and use latrines (Kar and Pasteur, 2005). It uses participatory methodologies to develop awareness of the risks of open defecation and facilitate community self-analysis of their health and sanitation status. Its aim is to “ignite” communities to cease open defecation and commence toilet construction using local materials. CLTS has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the most effective approaches to promoting sanitation and achieving the MDGs for sanitation (Ahmed, 2008).

The CLTS approach was first pioneered in 1999 by Kamal Kar working with the Village Education Resource Centre (VERC) and supported by Water Aid, in a small community of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. The background to the approach, the methodology and details of early experience were documented in ‘Subsidy or Self-Respect: Participatory Total Community Sanitation in Bangladesh’ (IDS Working Paper 184 – reprinted in this volume from page 15). Since then the approach has continued to spread within Bangladesh and has been introduced in a number of other countries in Asia and in Africa.

At the heart of CLTS lies the recognition that merely providing toilets does not guarantee their use, nor result in improved sanitation and hygiene. Earlier approaches to sanitation prescribed high initial standards and offered subsidies as an incentive. But this often led to uneven adoption, problems with long-term sustainability and only partial use. It also created a culture of dependence on subsidies. Open defecation and the cycle of fecal–oral contamination continued to spread disease.

In contrast, CLTS focuses on the behavioural change needed to ensure real and sustainable improvements – investing in community mobilisation instead of hardware, and shifting the focus from toilet construction for individual households to the creation of “open defecation-free” villages. By raising awareness that as long as even a minority continues to defecate in the open everyone is at risk of disease, CLTS triggers the community’s desire for change, propels them into action and encourages innovation, mutual support and appropriate local solutions, thus leading to greater ownership and sustainability.

In recent years, new innovations such as Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) have also attracted significant attention. CLTS has led to thousands of low-cost toilets springing up all around South, South East Asia and beyond. Usually built by villagers and barefoot innovators out of local materials such as bamboo, tin, jute, the resulting ‘open defecation free’ villages have led to a noticeable increased sense of pride about toilet possession, self-confidence about newly gained dignity, health benefits and freedom of shame which was caused due to the lack of privacy, especially for women.

CLTS differs from earlier approaches to sanitation which prescribed high initial standards in order to reduce the costs of operation and maintenance. Earlier approaches also involved upfront hardware subsidies in order to induce people to use the latrines or toilets. However, instead of adoption, latrines were often not used or used for other purposes like storage. There were problems of affordability. CLTS refrains from advocating toilet construction for individual households. Instead, the whole community is targeted with the aim of ‘open defecation free’ (ODF) villages and communities. Interest among different institutions is growing, particularly as it becomes apparent that CLTS has the potential to contribute towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), both directly on water and sanitation (Goal 7) and indirectly through the knock-on effects of improved sanitation on combating major diseases, particularly diarrhoea (Goal 6), improving maternal health (Goal 5) and reducing child mortality (Goal 4).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Despite the significant impact CLTS has had in other countries, as with all development initiatives, it is confronted with the social realities that characterize communities. One of these challenges concerns the inclusion within the CLTS process of what this study refers to as „people in vulnerable situations‟, who face particular challenges. Several recent studies have suggested that people in particularly vulnerable situations are often neglected and/or have difficulties participating in CLTS for a variety of reasons (Bode and Haq, 2009; Chambers, 2008; Huda, 2008; Jones et al, 2009; Mahbub, 2008). This idea has been met with some criticism as it devalues the ability of CLTS as a method to assist the poorest people. Another criticism leveled at CLTS in this area is its „naming and shaming‟ component. For example, people who are caught openly defecating during the CLTS process are often publicly identified and may be ridiculed. This may inadvertently reinforce stigma and social exclusion of some groups.

CLTS’s behavioral changes process is based on the use of shame, this is meant to promote collective consciousness-raising of the severe impacts of open defecation and trigger shock when participants realize the implications of their actions. There is quite a deal of evidence now that the triggering process has seen practices utilized, which infringe the human rights of recipients. There have been cases of fines (monetary and non-monetary), withholding of entitlements, public taunting, posting of humiliating pictures and even violence. It should be noted that the victims of these infringements are in most cases already the poorest and most vulnerable in their communities.CLTS does not specify technical standards for toilets. This is a benefit in terms of keeping the costs of constructing toilets very low. However, it can produce two problems: first in flood plains or areas near water tables poorly constructed latrines are likely to contaminate the water table and thus represent little improvement. Second, long-term use of sanitation facilities is related to the pleasantness of the facilities; dirty overflowing pits are unlikely to be utilized in the longer term. A related issue here is that CLTS does note address the issue of latrine emptying services or where they exist, how they dispose of waste.The problem of poor access to adequate sanitation, resulting in the practice of widespread open defecation, has negative health and social impacts on communities, particularly in terms of diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this research is to examine the significance of community led total sanitation. The objectives include the following:

To evaluate the perceived effects of community led total sanitation on the health of the citizen.
To ascertain the effects of community led total sanitation in achieving behavior change.
To examine the prevention of diseases through community led total sanitation.
To examine the short=comings of community led total sanitation in Odeda Local Government.

1.4 RELEVANT RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In assessing the purpose of the study, this research project seeks to answer the following questions:

To what extent does community led total sanitation affect the health of the citizen?
Does community led total sanitation result to achieving behavioral change?
How can diseases be prevented through community led total sanitation?
What are the problems of community led total sanitation in `Odeda Local Government?

1.5 RELEVANT RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

In carrying out this research work the following theoretical statements are buttressed to serve as a direction on which the work will be premised:

H_o: There is no significant relationship between communities led total sanitation and the citizens’ health.

H₁: There is significant relationship between communities led total sanitation and the citizens’ health.

H_o: Community led total sanitation does not encourage behavioral change in people.

H₁: Community led total sanitation does encourage behavioral change in people.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that the findings and recommendations of the study will be of great benefit through the following ways:

The study will modify the attitude of Nigeria citizen from the negative mentality towards community led total sanitation to the positive aspect of health improvement. It is also significance in the sense that it gives details on measures to be employed by the government of Nigeria in order to encourage community led total sanitation.

The study will serve as an eye opener to the students by unfolding the various ways through which CLTS will contribute towards meeting the United Nations Development Programme goals, both directly on water and sanitation (goal 7) and indirectly through the knock-on impacts of improved sanitation on combating major diseases, particularly diarrhoea (goal 6), improving maternal health (goal 5) and reducing child mortality (goal 4).

In addition to creating a culture of good sanitation, the study will also help the rural dwellers to know how CLTS mobilizes community members towards collective action and empowers them to take further action in the future. CLTS outcomes illustrate what communities can achieve by undertaking further initiatives for their own development.

Again, the study will be of great benefit to the public by bringing to their awareness about the existence of community led total sanitation in the country, providing insight through which people in a less developed area can be reached.Furthermore, the study will broaden students understanding about the problems, significant and the aftermath effect of community led total sanitation on Nigeria citizen.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work examines the significance of community led total sanitation with a view to explore Alabata Community, Odeda, Ogun State. The study as perceived might face some logistic challenges in terms of the time and the costs involved in carrying out the research, but nevertheless, it would endeavor to accomplish its aims and objectives.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

CLTS: Community Led Total Sanitation.

Community: Asocial groups of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

Sanitation: Conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal.

Health: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

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