Open defecation practice and associated factors among Raglai ethnic minority community in Bac Ai district, Ninh Thuan province in 2018

Abstract

    The study was conducted in three communes of Bac Ai district, Ninh Thuan Province to describe the open defecation practice of the Raglai ethnic minority community and to identify possible associated factors. This was a cross sectional study combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Sample size included 190 households, 16 in-depth interviews with district health staff, commune health staff, commune people committee staff, heads of villages and selected households in the three selected communes. The study was undertaken from December 2017 to June 2018.

    Results of the study showed that the proportion of open defecation practice among the study participants was 71.4%. Associated factors to open defecation of the Raglai ethnic minority community in the three selected communes were the lack of access to information about hygienic latrines, limited access to the toilet construction materials available on local markets and having no benefit from the local assistance policy for constructing new hygienic latrines.