Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Getting a foot on the sanitation ladder: user satisfaction and willingness to pay for improved public toilets in Accra, Ghana

Mariwah, Simon; Hampshire, Kate; Owusu-Antwi, Constance

Getting a foot on the sanitation ladder: user satisfaction and willingness to pay for improved public toilets in Accra, Ghana Thumbnail


Authors

Simon Mariwah

Constance Owusu-Antwi



Abstract

Rapid urban growth in developing countries has led to an increase in unplanned, high-density settlements dependent on public toilets for sanitation, yet we know relatively little about users' perceptions and concerns about such facilities. This paper seeks to explore user satisfaction and willingness to pay for improved sanitation services in Accra. Utilising a questionnaire, data were gathered from 245 users of public toilets in two low-income communities of Accra. 80.8% of users expressed overall dissatisfaction with the public toilets, the main areas of concern being: long queues and waiting times, unpleasant smells, dirtiness, concerns about security and lack of running water and soap. The majority of the respondents said that they would be willing to pay higher fees for improved services. Operators should take note of this and explore the potential market for building and maintaining high-quality public toilet facilities as a means to ending open defecation and getting on the first step on the sanitation ladder.

Citation

Mariwah, S., Hampshire, K., & Owusu-Antwi, C. (2017). Getting a foot on the sanitation ladder: user satisfaction and willingness to pay for improved public toilets in Accra, Ghana. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 7(3), 528-534. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2017.007

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 30, 2017
Online Publication Date May 17, 2017
Publication Date Sep 1, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 20, 2017
Publicly Available Date Nov 17, 2017
Journal Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Print ISSN 2043-9083
Electronic ISSN 2408-9362
Publisher IWA Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 7
Issue 3
Pages 528-534
DOI https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2017.007

Files

Accepted Journal Article (898 Kb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
© IWA Publishing 2017





You might also like



Downloadable Citations