Women are more likely to expect social sanctions for open defecation: Evidence from Tamil Nadu India

Social sanctions can be effective for sustaining beneficial norms by harnessing the power of social pressure and peer monitoring. Yet, field evidence regarding how norms might be linked to perceived risk of sanction is limited. In this study, we focused on communities located in peri-urban areas of Tamil Nadu, India, and examined how people’s perceived prevalence of a socially desirable behavior (i.e., toilet use) relates to the perceived risk of sanctions for deviating from this behavior (i.e., open defecation) in the sanitation domain. Cross-sectional data from 2427 participants in 75 communities revealed that the majority (77%, n = 1861) perceived the risk of informal sanctions related to open defecation. Among those, verbal reprimand was the most common (60%), followed by advice (30%) and gossip (7%). Results from multilevel logistic regression indicated that those who believed toilet use was prevalent in their community were more likely to perceive the risk of social sanctions for open defecation. Moderation analysis revealed that this relationship was robust among women, but attenuated among men. Our findings suggest that women are more likely to expect social sanctions if they deviate from what is perceived as the prevalent sanitation behavior (e.g., toilet use) in their community. Open defecation practices are known to cause psychosocial stress among women due to their experiences with sanitation insecurity, which may include fear of disapproval from community members. Our results highlight the need for gendered intervention strategies when sanitation programs leverage social influence for behavior change.

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Rotary Club of Madras: Open Defecation Free Communities Project

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad ◽

10.1108/case.iima.2020.000015 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Ashis Jalote Parmar ◽

G. Raghuram

Keyword(s):

Cultural Change ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Open Defecation ◽

Non Profit ◽

Cultural Challenges ◽

The Social ◽

Rotary Club ◽

Village Communities

This case describes the social cultural challenges confronted by Mr. Srikanth, President, Rotary Club, Chennai in making a village near Chennai in rural Tamil Nadu, Open Defecation Free (ODF). It highlights the role of a non-profit organization such as the Rotary Club and behavioral change consultants such as Feedback Foundation in the effective deployment of toilet construction and bringing about a social cultural change in village communities towards acceptance of ODF. The case also points to the of critical need of Swachh Bharat Mission addressing the socio cultural issues and bringing behavioural change, towards acceptance of ODF.

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Assessment of Socio-Educational Status of Irula Tribe School Students in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

International Journal of Indian Psychology ◽

10.25215/0401.144 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

R Balamurali Krishna ◽

Dr. N Prathiba

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

Educational Status ◽

School Curriculum ◽

Parental Role ◽

School Students ◽

Open Defecation ◽

Toilet Facility ◽

Coimbatore District ◽

Career Growth ◽

Poor Infrastructure

The aim of the study is to assess the socio-educational status of Irula tribe middle adolescent school students in the hilly hamlets of Kunjapanai and Anakati, the most backward regions of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The study focuses on 6 areas namely, School Curriculum, Parental Role, Sports, Sanitation, Awareness and Abuse. The Findings and recommendations of the study have been documented. The key highlights of the study admits that majority (~74%) of the students rate their school as ‘Average’ due to the poor infrastructure; Didactic mode of teaching is still dominant; Parents role is minimal in their children’s academics; No formal exposure to Sports is available for students, even though ~64% of them prefers to participate in sports and games; Lack of toilet facility, cleanliness and maintenance compels the students to opt for practicing the open defecation; Majority of students don’t have appropriate awareness regarding their career growth. Lastly, almost (~96%) of the students has been subjected to Corporal Punishment in one-way or the other. These need of the students’ voices for proactive intervention of Panchayat, NGOs and local bodies to ameliorate the condition.

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Socio-cultural determinants of open defecation in rural households of Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20191389 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 1594 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rakesh Kumar ◽

Sati P. Sinha

Keyword(s):

Sex Education ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Communication Strategy ◽

Open Defecation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College ◽

Change Communication ◽

The People ◽

Cultural Determinants ◽

Study Participants

Background: In many areas of the world, including India, open defecation still remains the predominant norm and poses one of the biggest threats to the health of the people particularly in rural areas.Objectives were to study the prevalence and socio-cultural determinants of open defecation in rural area of Perambalur district.Methods: The present cross-sectional was done in a three randomly selected villages falling under rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital in Perambalur district (Tamil Nadu). Data was collected on 330 houses using pre-tested interview schedule developed using SBM-G questionnaire/schedule for ODF verification for household surveys which was modified for present study. Statistical analysis was done using Epi Info version 7 software.Results: Most (89.1%) of the study participants were above 30 years of age. Majority of respondents (39.4%) were illiterate. Prevalence of open defecation was 78.8%. Only 70 (21.2%) houses were using household sanitary latrines. Various reasons reported for open defecation were unawareness about availability of public latrine (41.5%), inadequate water (15.3%), insufficient space for latrine construction (16.9%), inadequate money (10%), considering open defecation better (16.6%) and caste based discrimination (0.4%). The study found sex, education and occupation of head of family to be significantly associated with open defecation.Conclusions: This study highlights the need for implementation well planned behavior change communication strategy to stop the menace of open defecation.

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A Forecast Visual Observation of the Anthropogenic Impact on the Pilgrimage Places Along the Southeast Coast of Tamil Nadu, India

10.20944/preprints202106.0404.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rajendran Viji ◽

Nirmaladevi D Shrinithivihahshini ◽

John S Armstrong-Altrin ◽

Ebrahem M Eid

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

National Level ◽

Visual Observation ◽

Visual Surveillance ◽

Contaminated Site ◽

Coastal Pollution ◽

Anthropogenic Activity ◽

Gulf Of Mannar ◽

Open Defecation ◽

The Impact

The present investigation is focused on the forecasting visual observation of the impact of anthropogenic activity on the pilgrimage places located along the coastal environments in Tamil Nadu, India. Devotees performing the unregulated ritual ceremonies, open defecation, waste materials dumping and local municipality discharging wastewater contamination levels were assessed from direct visual surveillance, and by taking photographs and baseline information collected from five different pilgrimage sites. Results showed that ritual ceremonies, wastewater discharges and debris highly contaminated site-III, and found open defecation at site-I. The lack of coastal regulation, pollution awareness, insufficient sanitation facilities and failure to control the commercial and recreational activities have major deleterious effects on the present and future environments of the coastal areas. This is the first attempt conducted by visual assessment of the coastal pollution in pilgrimage places. The results immensely support the recommendation for proper regulation of ritual activities, arrangement of basic sanitation facilities and prohibition of wastewater discharges to prevent waterborne diseases as well as to strictly follow the regional and national level of coastal regulation policy to protect the biological resources of the Gulf of Mannar marine ecosystems.

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Open Defecation: Awareness & Practices of Rural Districts of Tamil Nadu, India

International Journal of Scientific Research ◽

10.15373/22778179/may2014/176 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 537-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Geetha J. Geetha ◽

◽

S. Sampath Kumar S. Sampath Kumar

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

Open Defecation ◽

Rural Districts

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Availability and Utilization of Sanitation Facilities: A Micro Study from Rural Tamil Nadu

Shanlax International Journal of Economics ◽

10.34293/economics.v7i3.449 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 7-11

Author(s):

N Raja Sekaran

Keyword(s):

State Government ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Vital Role ◽

State Governments ◽

Open Defecation ◽

General Observation ◽

The World ◽

Study Methodology ◽

Unsafe Water ◽

Government Level

About 4 billion citizens around the world lack access to proper sanitation, meaning they are forced to practice open defecation. The health consequences for those living without using toilets are severe. Approximately 480,000 children under5 year age die annually from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and a lack of access to proper sanitation. That’s almost 2,000 kids a day. In developing countries like India, 57 per cent of households do not have a toilet. And in Tamil Nadu mainly, it was at 52 per cent. In India, civil societies and local government play a vital role in rural development, and they are responsible for transforming the socio-economic features of the villages in India. The central and state governments are implementing many schemes like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), and so on to protect child and women’s health. Both governments to give reward for full achievement of gram panchayats like Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) and reward up to Rs. 10 lakhs. Tamil Nadu provides an award with for Clean Village Campaign (CVC), and the reward is Rs. 5 lakhs at the state government level, The present study focuses on the availability and utilisation of sanitation facilities in Manjakuttai gram panchayat (GP). This GP awarded NGP in 2008. So the present paper contains the importance and need of the study, literature review, objectives of the study, methodology, general observation, rural sanitation etc.; An attempt is made, to study the sanitation facilities in general and particular to study the Manjakuttai GP of Yercaud block in Salem district, Tamil Nadu.

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