Drivers of women's sanitation practices in informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study in Mathare Valley, Kenya.

Abstract

Despite evidence suggesting women are disproportionately a ff ected by the lack of adequate and safe sanitation facilities around the world, there is limited information about the factors that in fl uence women ’ s ability to access and utilize sanitation, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The pur- pose of this study was to explore factors in fl uencing women ’ s sanitation practices in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. Information from 55 in-depth interviews conducted in 2016 with 55 women in Mathare Valley Informal Settlement in Nairobi was used to carry out cross-case, thematic analysis of women ’ s common sanitation routines. Women identi fi ed neighborhood disorganization, fear of victimization, lack of privacy, and cleanliness/dirtiness of facilities as important factors in the choices they make about their sanitation practices. This suggests that future sanita- tion-related interventions and policies may need to consider strategies that focus not only on toilet provision or adoption but also on issues of space and community dynamics.