PUBLIC URINATION: FACTS AND FALLACIES

A man urinating publicly (P.C,: Md. Ashiqur Rahman)

Editor: M A Mannan Munna

Facts of Public Urination in Dhaka City

Roadside urination is a very common incident that impacts on both environment and public health. A randomized face to face field survey was conducted at different spots. Rickshaw puller is the main group who urinate at roadside. People are necessitated to urinate at roadside due to insufficiency of public sanitation facilities. Roadside urination is one of the crucial barriers for improving the sanitation situation of the city. Mass migration, uncontrolled population growths, unplanned urbanization and lack of proper sanitation facilities (i.e. public/mobile toilets) are accelerating roadside urination in Dhaka city which impacts on society, environment and public health. As such this research focused very first time on this unhygienic but frequent incident of the city. Randomized face to face field survey was conducted at different roadside urination spots and public toilet locations in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Four different questionnaire forms were prepared to cover four different groups of people. The survey covered total 364 people. Among ten different professions of urinators rickshaw puller was the main group who urinate at roadside. Majority percentages (80%) of people were found aware of this unacceptable practice but they were bound to urinate at roadside due to intense insufficiency of public sanitation facilities. Lack of law enforcement was also accountable for remaining this problem. Nearly half of the users were unsatisfied about the hygienic conditions of the existing public toilets. More than 70% of people relied on the effectiveness of privatization of this sector. The findings revealed that the frequent incident of roadside urination is one of the major barriers for improving overall sanitation practice of the city.

Health and Environmental Hazards

If someone have urinary tract infection, the bacteria in his urine can spread, infecting other people and causing disease. On urination on soil, the bacteria get a fertile breeding place and multiply. Worse, children playing may touch the soil with their hands or play barefoot, infecting them. The urea content in urine attracts flies and cockroaches. These insects are carriers of bacteria, including the ones found in urine, and can pass them on in exposed food and water.

What can be done

Raising voices not eyebrows is the only solution to this offensive crime, only then a slow but certain change will come one day for sure. It is true that Nature’s call is not something to be avoided but women have been brought up, trained to use a urinal only when one is available. It is time that men also will start to train themselves and keep the environment clean and healthy.

Acknowledgment: Research Gate, Loupdargent, The better India