Open defecation behavior of elementary school-aged children in the coastal region, Indonesia: A pilot study

Hasan, Fadhilah Azzahra; Ayuningsih, Fausiah; Juraiti, Warti; Sidiqah, Faizah

doi:10.36685/phi.v7i3.437

Journal SINTA 1

Open defecation behavior of elementary school-aged children in the coastal region, Indonesia: A pilot study

Public Health of Indonesia · Vol. 7 No. 3 (2021) · pp. 133–138

DOI: 10.36685/phi.v7i3.437
ISSN: 2477-1570, 2528-1542
Published: 2021-09-10
Publisher: YCAB Publisher
Language: eng

Abstract

Background: Open defecation is one of the public health problems. Such behavior will lead to contamination of water and food sources, which can cause several diseases, one of which is caused by polluted water (water-borne diseases).Objective: This research aimed to describe open defecation behavior in elementary school-aged children in Kendari City, Indonesia.Methods: This was a descriptive survey carried out on 11-12 June 2021 among 87 students. Open defecation behavior was seen from knowledge and attitude of open defecation and availability of latrines. Validated questionnaires were used to measure the variables. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.Results: The results showed that the students lacked knowledge (42%) and negative attitudes (44%). In addition, 11% of the respondents did not have latrines; therefore, open defecation still exists.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that most of the respondents had poor knowledge and attitude regarding the impact of open defecation on health. Therefore, the results can be used as the basic data to develop further research, and indeed, to inform public health workers to pay attention to this issue and health education related to open defecation behavior is highly needed.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

10 authors · 21 co-authorship links

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Universitas Halu Oleo
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Co-author	Organisation	Joint articles
Nurmaladewi Nurmaladewi	Universitas Halu Oleo	1
Jusniar Rusli Afa	Universitas Halu Oleo	1
Fithria Fithria	Universitas Halu Oleo	1
Rastika Dwiyanti Liaran	Universitas Halu Oleo	1
La Ode Ahmad Saktiansyah	Universitas Halu Oleo	1
Ramadhan Tosepu	Universitas Halu Oleo	1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) http://stikbar.org/ycabpublisher/index.php/PHI/oai, first harvested 10 Nov 2026, last seen 10 Nov 2026.

Original metadata (oai_dc)

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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Open defecation behavior of elementary school-aged children in the coastal region, Indonesia: A pilot study</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Hasan, Fadhilah Azzahra</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ayuningsih, Fausiah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Juraiti, Warti</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Sidiqah, Faizah</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">open defecation</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">school-age children</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">knowledge</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">attitude</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">practice</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Indonesia</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Background: Open defecation is one of the public health problems.  Such behavior will lead to contamination of water and food sources, which can cause several diseases, one of which is caused by polluted water (water-borne diseases).Objective: This research aimed to describe open defecation behavior in elementary school-aged children in Kendari City, Indonesia.Methods: This was a descriptive survey carried out on 11-12 June 2021 among 87 students. Open defecation behavior was seen from knowledge and attitude of open defecation and availability of latrines. Validated questionnaires were used to measure the variables. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.Results: The results showed that the students lacked knowledge (42%) and negative attitudes (44%). In addition, 11% of the respondents did not have latrines; therefore, open defecation still exists.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that most of the respondents had poor knowledge and attitude regarding the impact of open defecation on health. Therefore, the results can be used as the basic data to develop further research, and indeed, to inform public health workers to pay attention to this issue and health education related to open defecation behavior is highly needed.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">YCAB Publisher</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2021-09-10</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://stikbar.org/ycabpublisher/index.php/PHI/article/view/437</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.36685/phi.v7i3.437</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Public Health of Indonesia; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2021): July - September; 133-138</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2477-1570</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2528-1542</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.36685/phi.v7i3</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://stikbar.org/ycabpublisher/index.php/PHI/article/view/437/pdf</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2021 Fadhilah Azzahra Hasan, Fausiah Ayuningsih, Warti Juraiti, Faizah Sidiqah</dc:rights>
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