Health
Inconsistent toilet usage is a continuing challenge in India. Despite the impact of social expectations on toilet usage, few programs and studies have developed theoretically grounded norm-centric behavior change interventions to increase toilet use in low-income settings.
Descriptive norms messaging interventions are used to motivate people to adopt or maintain desirable behaviors. Such interventions provide people with information that describes an undesirable behavior as uncommon or a desirable behavior as prevalent within a relevant social group.
Open defecation persists in India, despite rigorous efforts from the government, NGOs, and international organizations to suppress it. Although coverage of sanitation facilities has increased, use remains poor, especially in rural areas.
In the first phase of our study of the social determinants of open defecation in India, we have produced a report detailing how social networks influence latrine ownership. We also explore demographic predictors of ownership and use and how our findings differ from existing literature.
Access to improved toilets can enhance physical and mental security among women. Therefore, it becomes critical to incorporate and understand their decisions on household toilet construction.
The health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to disproportionately impact residents of lower-middle income countries. Understanding the psychological impact of the pandemic is important to guide outreach interventions.
In countries without adequate access to improved sanitation, government-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic can impact toilet usage. In India, where millions have recently transitioned to using a toilet, pandemic-related barriers to use might increase open defecation practices.
Do mothers' perceptions of community behavior and their beliefs about exclusive breastfeeding affect their own infant feeding behavior?