Unlocking the Role of Social Norms: How They Shape Women's Public Toilet Usage in India.

ABSTRACT: Poor access to toilets has significant impacts on hygiene, health, safety, and well-being. Women in resource-poor areas may not use public toilets because of concerns about personal safety and the disapproval of others. This study examines social beliefs about women's use of public toilets in India, using data from 5,052 households in rural, semi-urban, and urban slum areas of Bihar and Tamil Nadu in 2018. We asked respondents about their beliefs regarding the prevalence of young women aged 16 to 30 years using public toilets alone and whether this behavior was approved of in their community. We also asked about their personal beliefs on this issue. We used hypothetical vignettes to assess perceptions of a young woman's behavior in different settings regarding public toilet usage by women.

SUBMITTER: Babbar K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10622457 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature