WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Those who do not have full use of their lower extremities cannot independently use a pit latrine in a safe and sanitary manner.
WHAT IS A PIT LATRINE?
A pit latrine is a simple hole in the ground. In underdeveloped areas the ground of the pit latrine is mud with a structure around it to keep privacy.
WHO IS AFFECTED?
When combining the issue of people who lack access to improved sanitation with those who are physically disabled, we see and incredible 375 million people globally potentially suffer from this issue.
In Uganda alone, there are over 2 million people who would benefit from a solution to this problem.
HOW ARE THEY AFFECTED?
The inability to use a pit latrine in a sanitary manner leads to increased health risk caused by poor hygiene.
Oftentimes there is a negative social stigma surrounding those with disabilities.
"When you reach a family with a disabled child, the family says 'We have four children and one disabled.' They are not part of the family, they are the unfortunate addition." - Teddy
Although sanitation solutions are being implemented around the world, those with disabilities are left out of the solution landscape, because they are unable to access these solutions.
OUR SOLUTION
Our team has designed low cost, portable, and easily manufacturable assistive devices that allow persons with disabilities to use a pit latrine in a sanitary and dignified manner.
Design Considerations
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The social acceptability of the devices is a key design characteristic. If the device is not socially acceptable, then it will not be implemented by its users and the problem will persist. To satisfy this design requirement, it is pertinent that the device-development directly involves the users to determine what is going to be socially accepted.
The social acceptability of the devices is a key design characteristic. If the device is not socially acceptable, then it will not be implemented by its users and the problem will persist. To satisfy this design requirement, it is pertinent that the device-development directly involves the users to determine what is going to be socially accepted.
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Another consideration is whether the device can serve a dual purpose as a mobility device. Some of the designs for a pit latrine assistive device are combined with a walker to allow the user to transport themselves to the pit latrine independently as well.
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On average, a pit latrine is located 100 meters from a peron's home in Uganda.
A device that would allow disabled individuals to use these pit latrines in a sanitary manner would ideally be portable, so the person using it is able to take ownership of the device and maintain its cleanliness.
The portability of a personalized device is also important to avoid the negative social stigmas of sharing a toilet seat with other strangers.
PORTABILITY
The solution needs to be accepted and accessible by marginalized groups, so it must satisfy the requirement of being low-cost.
For the purposes of designing early prototype devices, the most simple version of a pit latrine assistive device should cost no more than $11 USD.
Also, to increase acceptability, sense of ownership, and accessibility, the design must be manufactured from locally available tools and materials.
COST EFFICIENCY
For some, providing a solution on how to independently us the pit latrine is only solving part of the problem.
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We have taken into consideration the fact that not every person with a physical disability can utilize the same device. The suitability of the design is dependent on their abilities and preferences.
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Some of the designs serve a dual purpose as a mobility device as well, so that users can first transport themselves with a walker to the latrine.
SERVE A DUAL PURPOSE
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The social acceptability of the devices is a key design characteristic. If the device is not socially acceptable, then it will not be implemented by its users and the problem will persist. To satisfy this design requirement, it is pertinent that the device-development directly involves the users to determine what is going to be socially accepted.
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
