Child Feces Disposal in Haiti
- 37% of households surveyed in Haiti reported unsafe disposal of the feces of their youngest child under age three in 2012.
- Even among households with “improved” toilets or latrines, 15% reported unsafe child feces disposal behavior.
- Unsafe child feces disposal is more prevalent among households that defecate in the open, those in rural areas, those that are poorer, and those with younger children.
- Safe disposal of child feces increased nationally between 2005-2006 and 2012, from 56% to 63%.
This brief provides an overview of child feces disposal practices in Haiti, based on data from the 2012 Haiti DHS. It highlights that while 63% of households reported safe disposal of their youngest child's feces, only 18% used improved sanitation facilities for disposal. The brief identifies key factors influencing unsafe disposal, including lack of access to improved sanitation, rural residence, poverty, and the child's age. It also discusses the health impacts of unsafe disposal and suggests potential interventions, such as behavior change programs, integration of child sanitation into existing interventions, and partnerships with the private sector.
How to cite
Water and Sanitation Program (WSP); United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 2015, Child Feces Disposal in Haiti, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/wsp-2015-child-feces-disposal-haiti