Acceptability of urine diversion dry toilets in Dollo Ado refugee camp, Ethiopia

Urine-diversion dehydration toilets (UDDT) are common throughout the developing world, and the toilet product is widely used as compost. There is no comprehensive research to date that characterizes the compost to determine its quality, extent of pathogen inactivation, and the effects of climate and bulking materials on the compost. Compost was collected from 45 UDDT in Bolivia and analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Eighty percent and 56% of samples did not meet acceptable compost guidelines for moisture content and pH, respectively, indicating desiccation was the dominant process in UDDT. Bulking materials significantly impacted compost characteristics in terms of pH, carbon, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and carbon stability (P < 0.05). Composts with ash exhibited, on average, low carbon concentrations (4.9%) and high pH values (9.7), which can be harmful to plants and composting microorganisms. Composts with sawdust exhibited, on average, high carbon concentrations (40.0%) and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (31.0). Climate had no significant impact on chemical characteristics, however composts from humid regions had significantly higher moisture contents (34.4%) than those from arid climates (24.8%) (P < 0.05). Viable Ascaris lumbricoides ova were identified in 31% of samples, including samples with high pH, low moisture contents, and long storage times.

Download Full-text

Traditional Urine-diversion Practices in Sub-urban Hanoi, Vietnam: Replaced or Promoted?

Water Practice & Technology ◽

10.2166/wpt.2010.058 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

H. Harada ◽

N. T. Dong ◽

S. Matsui ◽

S. Fujii

Keyword(s):

Northern Vietnam ◽

Urine Diversion ◽

Disinfection Process ◽

History Of ◽

Interview Survey ◽

Agricultural Use ◽

Dry Soil ◽

Human Wastes ◽

Farming Households ◽

Current Practices

Northern Vietnam has a history of using urine diversion (i.e., UD) toilets with agricultural use of excreta. This study tried to identify the current practices of UD toilets in suburban Hanoi, Vietnam. An interview survey to 120 households showed that UD toilets were used by 26.7% of households, of which most were double-vault UD toilets. Human wastes were used by 73.0% of vault toilets. It was interpreted that they are still recognized as not wastes but fertilizers especially by farming households in recent sub-urban Hanoi. Double-vaults UD toilets were used in significantly old houses compared to flush toilets with p<0.001. Results indicated the gradual replacement of double-vault UD toilets by water-flush toilets. All households with vault toilets applied additives such as ashes, dry soil and sawdust into vaults, and 24.3% of them applied ashes after every defecation event. Out of 33 vault toilets, 30 retained faeces for a period longer than six months and 28 did for a period longer than 12 months. Still, the application of ashes after every defecation event can be suggested to enhance the disinfection process in vaults, resulting sanitary use of excreta for agriculture.

Download Full-text

A Pythagorean fuzzy number-based integration of AHP and WASPAS methods for refugee camp location selection problem: a real case study for Istanbul, Turkey

Neural Computing and Applications ◽

10.1007/s00521-021-06195-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ertugrul Ayyildiz ◽

Melike Erdogan ◽

Alev Taskin Gumus

Keyword(s):

Fuzzy Number ◽

Refugee Camp ◽

Selection Problem ◽

Real Case ◽

Location Selection

Download Full-text

A combination sampling approach for epidemiologic research in humanitarian settings: a case analysis of a study of depressive disorder prevalence among refugees in Greece

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10342-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Danielle N. Poole ◽

Nathaniel A. Raymond ◽

Jos Berens ◽

Mark Latonero ◽

Julie Ricard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Disorder ◽

Case Analysis ◽

Refugee Camp ◽

Second Phase ◽

Two Phase ◽

Humanitarian Emergencies ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Phase Sampling ◽

Two Phase Sampling ◽

Sampling Approach

Abstract Background Understanding the burden of common mental health disorders, such as depressive disorder, is the first step in strengthening prevention and treatment in humanitarian emergencies. However, simple random sampling methods may lead to a high risk of coercion in settings characterized by a lack of distinction between researchers and aid organizations, mistrust, privacy concerns, and the overarching power differential between researchers and populations affected by crises. This case analysis describes a sampling approach developed for a survey study of depressive disorder in a Syrian refugee camp in Greece (n = 135). Discussion Syrian refugees face an extraordinarily high burden of depressive disorder during the asylum process (43%), necessitating population screening, prevention, and treatment. In order to preserve the informed consent process in this refugee camp setting, the research team developed a two-phase sampling strategy using a map depicting the geographical layout of the housing units within the camp. In the first phase, camp management announced a research study was being undertaken and individuals were invited to volunteer to participate. The participants’ container (housing) numbers were recorded on the map, but were not linked to the survey data. Then, in the second phase, the camp map was used for complementary sampling to reach a sample sufficient for statistical analysis. As a result of the two phases of the sampling exercise, all eligible adults from half the containers in each block were recruited, producing a systematic, age- and sex-representative sample. Conclusions Combining sampling procedures in humanitarian emergencies can reduce the risk of coerced consent and bias by allowing participants to approach researchers in the first phase, with a second phase of sampling conducted to recruit a systematic sample. This case analysis illuminates the feasibility of a two-phase sampling approach for drawing a quasi-random, representative sample in a refugee camp setting.

Download Full-text