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Table 7 Sanitation infrastructure and practices at health care clinics (n = 50)

From: WASH infrastructure and practices in primary health care clinics in the rural Vhembe District municipality in South Africa

Indicator

n

Vhembe sub-Districts

Makhado

Thulamela

Mutale

Musina

Main type of toilet/excreta disposal facility:

 Flush/pour toilet to piped sewer system/septic tank etc

49

17

24

6

2

 VIP toilet

41

15

20

6

0

 Pit latrine with slab

8

1

7

0

0

 Pit latrine without slab/open pit

0

0

0

0

0

 Bucket

0

0

0

0

0

 No facilities/bush/field

0

0

0

0

0

 Ecosan

0

0

0

0

0

Location of toilet

 Separate from PHC facility

2

0

1

0

1

 Within PHC facility

1

0

0

0

1

 Both separated and within PHC facility

49

18

23

6

2

The toilet facilities are constructed to accommodate people with disabilities

47

17

24

6

0

Sanitary condition of toilet facility at time of inspection

 Cleanliness of seat [absence of dirt/urine/faecal matter]

27

11

11

3

2

 Cleanliness of toilet hole (It is covered)

27

14

9

4

0

 Cleanliness of wall [no graffiti/urine/faecal matter]

31

14

12

4

1

 Cleanliness of floor [no litter/urine/faecal matter]

45

17

20

6

2

 Smell [no foul odour]

22

8

12

2

0

 Cleaning/cleansing materials in toilet (soap/toilet paper/sanitary tissue]

29

10

14

4

1

How often are toilets cleaned?

 3 or more times per day

36

15

16

4

1

 1 or 2 times a day

13

2

8

2

1

 Every other day

0

0

0

0

0

 Once a week

0

0

0

0

0

 Less than once a week

0

0

0

0

0

Who cleans the toilets?

 Hired cleaners

20

9

11

0

0

 Patient care takers

0

0

0

0

0

 health care workers

29

10

12

5

2

 Community volunteers

3

0

2

1

0

Condition of immediate area around the toilet building and entrance to the toilet

 Grass present

38

11

19

6

2

 Maintained

12

7

5

0

0

Level of faecal matter in pit

 full

10

2

7

1

0

 half full

22

9

8

5

0

 almost empty

12

5

7

0

0

 n/a

6

2

2

0

2

Is there a mechanism to empty toilets or provide an alternative if toilets are full?

34

11

17

6

0

Mechanism used to empty pit

 Flush/drainage of VIP

30

10

15

5

0

 Flush/drainage of VIP/Use of pit latrine

1

0

1

0

0

 Never experienced full pit

7

2

4

0

1

 Use sanitation in next building/section

2

1

0

1

0

 VIP is used if there is no water for flush toilets

1

0

1

0

0