Entertaining risks to health: the state of human faecal matter managemnt in Wa, Ghana

Abstract

Wa, a fast growing municipality in Ghana, is at the first stage of the urban environmental transition where most of the environmental problems tend to occur within or close to the home, including the management of human faecal matter. This study examined the state of faecal matter management in Wa. A stratified sample of residential areas and a systematic sampling of households were employed for the selection of respondents and data was collected using questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. The results indicate that 52% of households in the municipality do not have their own toilet facilities and open defecation appears to be an acceptable practice for them. Surprisingly, public perception about faecal matter handling generally indicates that there are no dangers posed by exposure to humans. The finding suggests a considerable demand for improvements in the management of faecal matter but efforts to improve the situation might be thwarted by misconceptions of the risks posed by exposure to humans. Local government authorities need to re-engineer their efforts of providing a liveable environment by developing a regulatory framework that incorporates subsidies for the construction of household toilets and enforcement of sanitation bye-laws.

Keywords: Sanitation, Human Excreta, Management, Perceptions, Wa