KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES TOWARDS THE RISK OF OPEN DEFECATION AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF RURAL AREAMohamed Osman Elamin, Aida Zaid Ali Hatim Rahimtallah and Hatim A. Natto
Open defecation defined as defecated in fields, bushes, bodies of water or open spaces. Open defecation is the last recourse for those without any form of sanitation, who must endure the daily indignity of defecating in open. In the year 2016, about 12 percent of the global population, practiced open defecation. The situation is even worse in the sub-Saharan African countries including Sudan. The practice of (OD) peaks 44.5% of the population in Abu Haraz, Sudan. This cross-sectional descriptive community-based study was conducted in Abu Haraz, with the aim to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the risk of open defecation. 397 respondents were selected by using multi stage sampling techniques. The data were collected by using standardized questionnaire and observation checklist and the collected data were analyzed by SPSS computer program and Ã·2 test is used to show the association between the independent and dependent variable. The findings were presented in text, figures and Tables. Study findings revealed that (79.8%) of the respondents know that open defecation causes diseases, pollute water, affect women health and dignity and expose girl to sexual molestation. Study findings revealed that (17.4%) of respondents beliefs that open defecation is part of their daily routine. Findings also revealed that (47.9%) of respondents practicing open defecation, 10.1% of them leave the feces without burying, 15.9% of respondents use soil for cleanliness after defecating. The findings revealed that poverty was the major influencing factor for latrine owning among the households with (Ã·2=58.826; P<.05). (37.3%) of respondents said that type of soil influences latrine owning.