Factors influencing utilization of public toilets in Bwaise III parish, Kawempe division, KCCA, Uganda.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing utilization of the public toilets in Bwaise iii Parish as a way of contributing to current knowledge and prospective users on viewing public toilets as a mean of easing themselves. The objectives of the study were to identify the social economic factors influencing utilization of the public toilet; to establish the social demographic factors influence the utilization of the public toilet and to assess individual factors influencing utilization of public toilets. The study was conducted in Bwaise iii Parish and a sample of 110 respondents represented the population of the users of the public toilets in the parish. The study adopted a cross-sectional design and questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was analyzed through SPSS software. The findings of the study were that: public toilets in Bwaise iii Parish were paid for as 63% of respondents pay for them, 80% of the toilets were accessible, and 60% had signposts indicating usage. location was not a key in influencing as 70% said toilets are not near them; 60% did not know whether toilet structures were sufficient for use or not; 90% approved on the important role of these toilets; 70% confirmed that gender was respected and observance of proper hygiene measures was lacking as 80% said these toilets are not clean enough. The study concluded that the quality of the toilet service is essential despite the location of the toilet; there is need to incorporate more strategies to market the toilets; the toilet providers have a strong societal recognition of the toilets as a business thus need improve their vision of the toilets and there is a need to have health regulations displayed inside the toilets to enlighten the users of the toilets. It is recommended that future researchers should study on the environmental contribution of public toilets to the life of residents of Bwaise iii parish.