Potential motivators behind household toilet adoption: results from a study in Amhara, Ethiopia

A study conducted in Amhara, Ethiopia among open defecators and toilet owners using female informants with children under 5 years of age to understand psychosocial factors that influence toilet uptake revealed that feeling modern, respected by members of community and visitors, and allowing women privacy any time of the day distinguishes facility owners from open defecators. In addition, toilet owners perceive that sanitation facilities contribute to keeping the compound clean and facilitate defecation for the elderly. Yet, feeling of shame for contaminating the environment, convenience, security and disease prevention were found to be the four common motivating factors for building toilets. Major reasons hindering latrines uptake were: land tenancy constraints or lack of space, or lack of skills in house to build facilities meaning the need to rely on outside help to construct latrines. Both contextual factors and psychosocial factors interact to influence latrine ownership. Sanitation promotion needs to keep these factors into account to help meet MDGs.