Unlocking the Door to Improved Sanitation: Exploring Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Latrines in a Coastal Rural Area of Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: Access to safe sanitation is a recognised human right, yet many rural communities in Tanzania continue to experience low adoption of improved latrines. This study explored factors influencing adoption of improved latrines in rural coastal households of Tanzania. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study in Mkubiru village, Mtwara, explored factors influencing adoption of improved latrines. Purposive sampling recruited 38 adults and community leaders, including latrine owners and non-owners. Data were collected through 14 interviews and four focus groups in Kiswahili during July–August 2023. Thematic analysis combined deductive and inductive coding in Atlas.ti. Trustworthiness was enhanced through triangulation, reflexivity, audit trails, and thick description. The study obtained ethical approval and informed consent. Results: Participants identified interrelated barriers and facilitators of improved-latrine adoption. Normalised open defecation was the leading barrier, compounded by sandy soils, high water tables, and rainfall that increased construction difficulty and costs. Competing household priorities, limited technical knowledge, and perceptions that improved latrines were for wealthier households further constrained adoption. Incremental construction, peer examples, local enforcement, health-worker engagement, and anticipated privacy, convenience, dignity, and safety promoted uptake. Conclusion: Adoption of improved latrines in rural coastal communities is shaped by entrenched social norms, environmental constraints, and affordability challenges. Interventions should prioritise culturally sensitive strategies that address social norms and promote feasible latrine construction options suited to the coastal environment.