Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore

Introduction Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related infectious diseases contribute to approximately 5% of the global disease burden. Despite sanitation being a human right, 673 million people worldwide had limited access to toilets. To tackle the same, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) was...

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Main Authors: Iswarya Natarajan, Kathiravan Rajendran, Seetharaman Narayanan, Jeevithan Shanmugam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_91_24
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author Iswarya Natarajan
Kathiravan Rajendran
Seetharaman Narayanan
Jeevithan Shanmugam
author_facet Iswarya Natarajan
Kathiravan Rajendran
Seetharaman Narayanan
Jeevithan Shanmugam
author_sort Iswarya Natarajan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related infectious diseases contribute to approximately 5% of the global disease burden. Despite sanitation being a human right, 673 million people worldwide had limited access to toilets. To tackle the same, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) was launched in 2014 to facilitate the construction of over 100 million individual household latrines (IHHLs) across India. However, literature evidence on acceptance of SBM-G in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Coimbatore, is scarce. Objectives The primary objective was to investigate the utilisation of the SBM-G scheme and its associated factors in rural Coimbatore. Materials and Methods In 2022, a mixed-methods study incorporating quantitative (using a purpose-designed questionnaire) and qualitative (using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) components was conducted among 60 SBM-G beneficiaries in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital Institute of Health Sciences and Research (KMCH IHSR)’s rural field practice area. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v23 and qualitative data using manual thematic content analysis. Results Before IHHL construction, 93.7% of respondents practiced open-air defecation (OAD). The issues perceived with OAD were distance (28.8%) and privacy concerns (12.5%). After SBM-G implementation, 78.3% reported using the IHHL ‘all the time’, reflecting a substantial shift in behaviour. Most respondents received financial aid within about six months (INR 8,000), often in a single instalment. The majority had constructed their IHHLs before 2015. The expenditures incurred varied significantly, with 58.3% spending extra costs ranging between INR 10,000 and 30,000. Water supply to households significantly influenced IHHL usage. Conclusion While rural villagers appreciate the SBM-G financial assistance for IHHLs, concerns about the inadequacy of the sanctioned amount for proper piped water supply and septic tanks persist. Nonetheless, there is a clear demonstration of positive behavioural change, marked by reduced OAD and increased IHHL usage.
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spelling doaj-art-7255e9f24259427a9667bc441019902a2025-08-20T02:12:24ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352024-10-0113104539454410.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_91_24Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural CoimbatoreIswarya NatarajanKathiravan RajendranSeetharaman NarayananJeevithan ShanmugamIntroduction Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related infectious diseases contribute to approximately 5% of the global disease burden. Despite sanitation being a human right, 673 million people worldwide had limited access to toilets. To tackle the same, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) was launched in 2014 to facilitate the construction of over 100 million individual household latrines (IHHLs) across India. However, literature evidence on acceptance of SBM-G in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Coimbatore, is scarce. Objectives The primary objective was to investigate the utilisation of the SBM-G scheme and its associated factors in rural Coimbatore. Materials and Methods In 2022, a mixed-methods study incorporating quantitative (using a purpose-designed questionnaire) and qualitative (using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) components was conducted among 60 SBM-G beneficiaries in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital Institute of Health Sciences and Research (KMCH IHSR)’s rural field practice area. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v23 and qualitative data using manual thematic content analysis. Results Before IHHL construction, 93.7% of respondents practiced open-air defecation (OAD). The issues perceived with OAD were distance (28.8%) and privacy concerns (12.5%). After SBM-G implementation, 78.3% reported using the IHHL ‘all the time’, reflecting a substantial shift in behaviour. Most respondents received financial aid within about six months (INR 8,000), often in a single instalment. The majority had constructed their IHHLs before 2015. The expenditures incurred varied significantly, with 58.3% spending extra costs ranging between INR 10,000 and 30,000. Water supply to households significantly influenced IHHL usage. Conclusion While rural villagers appreciate the SBM-G financial assistance for IHHLs, concerns about the inadequacy of the sanctioned amount for proper piped water supply and septic tanks persist. Nonetheless, there is a clear demonstration of positive behavioural change, marked by reduced OAD and increased IHHL usage.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_91_24behaviour changeopen-air defecationrural sanitationsustainable development goalsswachh bharat mission gramin
spellingShingle Iswarya Natarajan
Kathiravan Rajendran
Seetharaman Narayanan
Jeevithan Shanmugam
Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
behaviour change
open-air defecation
rural sanitation
sustainable development goals
swachh bharat mission gramin
title Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
title_full Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
title_fullStr Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
title_full_unstemmed Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
title_short Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore
title_sort swachh bharat mission gramin uptake and challenges in rural coimbatore
topic behaviour change
open-air defecation
rural sanitation
sustainable development goals
swachh bharat mission gramin
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_91_24
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AT kathiravanrajendran swachhbharatmissiongraminuptakeandchallengesinruralcoimbatore
AT seetharamannarayanan swachhbharatmissiongraminuptakeandchallengesinruralcoimbatore
AT jeevithanshanmugam swachhbharatmissiongraminuptakeandchallengesinruralcoimbatore