Situational Analysis of Socio-demographic Characteristics on Access to Pit latrines in Low Income Peri-urban Areas in Mzuzu City, Malawi

This study was conducted to determine the effects of socio-demographic characteristics in relation to access to improved pit latrine and desludging services in Area 1B, a peri-urban area of low-income settings in Mzuzu City, Northern Malawi. A total of 150 households were purposively sampled to assess the socio-demographic characteristics in terms of level of education, source of income and occupation in relation to the status of pit latrines. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0. The results revealed that 69% and 31% of the respondents had improved and unimproved pit latrines, respectively. The use of improved and unimproved type of pit latrines in Area 1B within Mzuzu City in Northern Malawi was attributed to the socio-demographic characteristics of households. Furthermore, the monthly income of the respondents revealed in the study cannot meet the costs of desludging services because it is far below the minimum service charge of one trip of a desludging truck. In order to progress with sanitation through improved types of pit latrines, especially to the vulnerable households, the Malawi Government and other stakeholders should come in and assist these households to access loans with reasonable interests