Sanitation is the science and practice of effecting healthful and hygienic conditions. “Sanitation generally refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and feces.
” (WHO, 2008). Proper sanitation greatly helps in achieving optimal health of individual. It is very important to dispose excreta safely. Personal hygiene and hand washing is greatly encourage after defecating, before and after eating and before cooking to minimize or lessen bacteria.Fecal contamination will not only affect the human health at the same time it will also destroy or threaten the environmental health.
Proper sanitation is the easiest and cheapest way of preventing water-borne diseases. Sanitation is a global concern. There are more than 20 million Filipinos suffering the indignities and health hazards of not having access to proper sanitation. (EcoSan, Philippines 2010). 1.
8 million people die every year from diarrheal diseases (including cholera), 90% of all deaths caused by diarrheal diseases are children under 5, mostly in developing countries.88% of all diarrheal deaths are attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene. In 2004, only 59% of the world population had access to any type of improved sanitation facility. In other words, 4 out of 10 people around the world have no access to improved sanitation. They are obliged to defecate in the open or use unsanitary facilities, with a serious risk of exposure to sanitation-related diseases.
(International Year of Sanitation (IYS), 2008) “The Philippines has made fairly significant inroads in increasing access to basic sanitation”.However in spite of these gains, sanitation problems and challenges continue to pervade the country: open defecation in pockets of low-income urban and rural communities; lack of appropriate sanitation facilities; improper hygiene behaviors; and low levels of coverage of urban wastewater management services (collection, treatment and disposal) which lead to contamination of water sources and incidence of water-borne disease and impact negatively on environmental health.Proper defecation of body wastes materials remains a problem. Sustainable sanitation is one of the priority programs of Department of Health. (DOH, 2010) Poor sanitation gives many infections the ideal opportunity to spread: plenty of waste and excreta for the flies to breed on, and unsafe water to drink, wash with or swim in. Among human parasitic diseases, schistosomiasis (sometimes called bilharziasis) ranks second behind malaria in terms of socio-economic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas.
(UNICEF and WSSCC and WHO 2008) Improved sanitation reduces environmental burdens, increases sustainability of environmental resources and allows for a healthier, more secure future. (UNICEF and WSSCC and WHO 2008) Culture is adopted and learned from the older generation and will be transmitted and transferred to the next generation. According to Madeleine Leininger culture centers on a particular group (society) and the patterning of actions, thoughts, and decisions that occurs as the result of “learned, shared, and transmitted values, beliefs, norms and lifeways.Culture care is a professional nursing care that is culturally sensitive, culturally appropriate, and culturally competent. Cultural care nursing is critical to meeting the complex nursing care needs of a given person, family and community.
It is the provision of nursing care across cultural boundaries and taken into account the context in which the client’s health problems arise. (Tamor, 2005) The specific health care practice which the researchers will focus on isthe defecation practices of individualsinBarangay Rawis, Legazpi City specifically who nearby live the shoreline or coastal area.Barangay Rawis is an urban area, a part of Legazpi City which is known in having the longest river in Albay, the Yawa River. These residents live in within a social environment and advanced technologies, hence, their health is affected with the surroundings they live in. The researcher would like to contribute to Aquinas University of Legazpi Research Agenda, indeveloping new knowledge and applied researches that willenhance the health care of residents of Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City and even the communities which are located near the barangay.The research can be integrated with the university’s extension program, in advocating health among residents in a community like Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City.
In addition the research can be integrated with the Department of Health Program which is to promote sustainable sanitation. In this connection, the ability to have more knowledge and information about sanitation and disposal of body wastes lies on how the residents and barangay health workers cooperate and correspond. Issues of nowadays is merely this case.Contribution to the field of health is our aim.
Statement of the Problem This study will identify the defecation practices of the residents in the coastal barangay of RawisLegazpi, Albay. The researcher will also determine the reasons for the unsanitary practices of defecation of the local dwellers and will identify the related health care needs and possible intervention programs that may help in the promotion of proper and sanitary defecation practices. Specifically the study sought to answer the following questions:1. What are the defecation practices of the residents of the selected coastal barangay? 2. What are the contributing factors to the defecation practices? 3. What are the perceived problems relative to toilet practices? 4.
What are the implications on the health of the residents of the coastal barangay? 5. What nursing intervention strategies may be recommended to address the problems related to defecation practices?Scope and Limitations of the study This study will focus on the defecation practices of the residents of Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City The study specifically involves human defecation practices and did not include animal defecation behaviors and other hygienic practices such as bathing, washing and cleaning. It will not also cover internal fecal elimination processes and problems such as constipation, diarrhea, fecal infection, bowel incontinence, flatulence and other fecal elimination problems. The study is limited to residents who live nearbythe Yawariver or along the coastal area and the barangay health workers residing in Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City.The researchers only aim to identify the defecation practices and the needs for intervention of the Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City. The end goal of the study to promote sustainable sanitation and to enhance the level of awareness of the residents about health care and environmental health.
Significance of the study The following are the persons who will benefit in this study: Community: their problem will be recognized; this study will serve as a link to improve their situation and their health at the same time it will enhance their awareness about the importance of sanitation.Government Units: will serve as a link for formulating policies and guidelines that will enhance the health services. Private Companies: will be encouraged to incorporate sustainable sanitation in their plans. Health Care Advocates:will serve as a guide to provide a more efficient health care delivery system Future Researchers: will serve as guide to develop interest in similar investigation
