Perceptions, acceptability and determinants of sharing sanitation facilities among households in urban and rural areas in Mainland Tanzania: Evidence from three regions

Abstract

Introduction: WHO and UNICEF classify shared sanitation facilities as unimproved regardless of their structural design or technology used. This classification is based on the argument that shared sanitation facilities are poorly maintained.
Objectives: This study explored perceptions, acceptability, and determinants of sanitation facility-sharing habits among households in three regions of Tanzania. In 2014, this cross-sectional study employed a structured questionnaire for data collection to interview 1,751 heads of households or their representatives using Open Data Kit software.
Methods: Data analysis involved estimating descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results: The proportion of households sharing sanitation facilities was 14.6%, a significantly higher proportion being from urban settings. Most households sharing sanitation facilities did not like to continue sharing based on health risks. However, those who would like to continue sharing indicated that a maximum of five households could be tolerated—Additionally, those who shared sanitation facilities preferred to share with their relatives rather than neighbours. Factors significantly associated with sharing sanitation facilities include sex, location, and facility condition. Shared sanitation facilities can be necessary in some circumstances, such as when land space limits the construction of toilets and in multi-habited rental houses.
Conclusion: In such situations, information on proper management of sanitation facilities is necessary for better health outcomes.