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Faecal sludge management in low income areas: a case study of three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana
Abstract
The challenge of faecal sludge management (FSM) in most developing countries is acute, particularly in low income areas. This study examined the management of faecal sludge (FS) from household latrines and public toilets in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana based on household surveys, key informant interviews and field observations. Communities did not have designated locations for the disposal and treatment of FS. For household toilets, about 31 and 42% of peri-urban and rural respondents, respectively, with their toilets full reported that they did not consider manual or mechanical desludging as an immediate remedy, although pits were accessible. Households rather preferred to close and abandon their toilets and use public toilets at a fee or practise open defecation. For the public toilets, desludging was manually carried out at a fee of GHC 800–1,800 and the process usually lasted 8–14 days per toilet facility. The study showed that FSM has not been adequately catered for in both peri-urban and rural areas. However, respondents from the peri-urban areas relatively manage their FS better than their rural counterparts. To address the poor FSM in the study communities, a decentralized FS composting is a potential technology that could be used.
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In the Ashanti region of Ghana, 31% of latrines were found full and needed immediate de-sludging.
“A study by E Appiah-Effah, et al. [57] undertaken in the Ashanti region of Ghana reported that 31 % of the latrines were found full and needed immediate de-sludging.”
From Are pit latrines in urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa performing? A review of usage, filling, insects and odour nuisances (2015) · cites this paper as [57]
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“[57] Ghana (Ashanti region) 6–10 Low income area in Ashanti region Nakagiri et al.”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Appiah-Effah, E., Nyarko, K. B., Gyasi, S. F., & Awuah, E.
- Affiliations
- Civil Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GH)
- University of Energy and Natural Resources (GH)
- Venue
- Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
- Publisher
- IWA Publishing
- Published
- 2014-03-27
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 189-199
- ISSN
- 2043-9083 (ISSN-L)
- 2408-9362
- OpenAlex
- W2333782337
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 1.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Keywords
- fecal sludge management, household latrines, public toilets, open defecation, low-income communities, peri-urban areas, rural sanitation, decentralized composting, Ashanti Region, Ghana
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