Status of Community Sanitation in Dhabauli VDC Dhanusa

Abstract

The study area selected comprises of poor households, mostly farmers from Madhesi communities and have a very low awareness on hygiene and sanitation. The population especially, women and children have a very severe lack of access to education. They are not aware on the importance of sanitation and usage of toilets. They are preferring open farm lands for defecation.The education level is also not that high. Due to the lack of proper sewerage, the environment has gone more polluted thereby raising risks of drinking water contamination and health hazards in impoverished children and women. The study aimed at identifying the present status of sanitation in the study area and to assess the sanitation scenario in different socio-economic groups and education level. This study tries to explore the status of community sanitation in Dhabauli VDC of Dhanusa district in Terai of Nepal. A descriptive research design was proposed for the study incorporating primary and secondary data collection from the targeted VDCs and statistical analysis to analyze the data. Sampling method is basis on 100 respondents of cluster were randomly selected from 600 households as 17% of total households of Dhabauli VDC including toilet-users, non-users etc. The demographic and socio-economic status of the respondents showed 57% of the respondents were females, 88% were literate and educated, 51% within 15-20 age group. 79% were Madhesis and 18% were Dalits. Unsafe sanitation leads to higher rates of infant mortality and infections, contributes to malnutrition and generally a weaker human condition. A lack of sanitation limits economic growth. Without good sanitation, workers are less healthy and therefore less productive, living shorter lives and saving and investing less. Due to the backward nature of the similar communities across the rural Terai region, this study can be a good indication for other communities within the region and provides valuable insights into a rural context of Nepal where access is not a big issue but still health and sanitation remains a myth.