relationship of social health with toilet
Answers
Toilets, and our relationship with them, are not as straightforward as they may seem. Every country has its own social and cultural norms dictating what constitutes a ‘normal’ toilet: sit-down or squat, water-sealing or composting, flush or long-drop. Understanding what is considered acceptable is crucial in developing effective sanitation programmes. Recognising the need to improve knowledge in this area, in September 2012 the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) began conducting research into the influence of social and cultural factors on toilet construction and use in Haiti. The research was undertaken in both the urban and rural areas of Haiti, over the course of three months. As the Haitian government is implementing a strategy of moving away from subsidised construction of toilets towards more sustainable homeowner-driven projects, the IFRC’s research proved to be an important initial step towards understanding the best way of fitting Red Cross household sanitation activities within this strategy.