6 Discussion
6.1 Limitations of the research tools
The research methodology has its limitations regarding the
objectives, most notably as
the survey has not answered a number of points related to
sanitation marketing, and as the focus group discussion results are subject to
caution.
6.1.1 Inadequacy of the survey
The survey was inadequate in a number of ways: it was
originally designed in the same way as the «demand tool» of London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. How- ever, it was found that this tool
works well in areas with already a substantial sanitation coverage: as it is
supposed to assess the demand for improved latrine products, such products have
to exist and be known by a part of the population at least. Here, the fact that
only 23 households own a latrine, of which 11 are currently complete and in
use, does not allow to make generalised conclusions. More latrine owners should
have been interviewed in order to have a better idea of the process of latrine
acquisition, the supply chain, and the constraints they are facing.
The survey failed to answer questions related to sanitation
marketing. The level of demand and the communications channels are notably
hard to estimate, as well as will- ingness to pay; the focus group discussion
was more useful in this case. The survey has also been conducted in areas which
may not have been the most appropriate: according
to Steven Sugden, the high constraints faced in Bas-Ravine and
Petite-Anse are limiting possible solutions for sustainable sanitation, and by
using the field visits, it could have been decided not to perform the survey in
these areas.
However, the survey was also used to get data on defecation
practices and people's opinion about sanitation, which is relevant to the Oxfam
project and the research alto- gether. A possible way to use the survey to the
best would be to repeat it with the same interviewees in a few years, after the
project will have hopefully implemented some ex- periment or pilots; such as
survey would enable to assess the viability of the solutions, but also to
examine changes in people's attitudes regarding sanitation.
The area of Bas-Ravine was the first to be surveyed; given the
lack of experience from
the researcher, the first households in this area were less
rigorously interviewed and the
questionnaire had to be reviewed after surveying ten households.
In particular, there was
confusion on the question «Do you have the intention to
buy/build a latrine?» which was asked in a different way and did not allow
to know the actual level of intention. Many respondents answered that
«yes, I will build a latrine in the near future, because Jesus will help
me!»
A new survey would have to include other questions related to
the intention to get a latrine, in order to avoid the dichotomous choice
«intention / no intention» and allow for several levels of
intention.
6.1.2 Focus group discussion results
The results from the focus group discussion should be used
with caution; the objective was to get an idea of the willingness to pay in
Shada for a low-cost latrine and asso- ciated emptying service. However, the
fact that participants wanted to see whether the researcher belongs to an NGO
turned the discussion into a negotiation rather than an actual discussion. It
is expected that the figures of HT$ 200 for a latrine and HT$ 20 for emptying
200 litres are too low compared to the actual willingness to pay. During the
discussion, comments were «I could afford a latrine for HT$ 800, but my
neighbours couldn't, I think they could pay only HT$ 200», «if I save
HT$ 5 every day, I could afford a latrine at HT$ 1000 after a year»,
«If a latrine costs HT$ 200, we would jump,
we would pump, and we would get this money!».
One argument frequently repeated during the survey and the
discussion was the in- ability to save money, as «every little coin which
enters my pocket on a given day goes out of it before the sun sets!»
(heard multiple times during the survey). However, half of
the participants in the FGD were tenants, with the usual tenancy
system in Cap-Haitien
of affermage: a tenant who lives in a house affermée pays
his rent once a year, and rents
of several thousands Haitian dollars per year are not unknown.
This indicates some form
of saving mechanisms. The precise proportion of tenants
versus landlords is unknown and depends on the area: more people are tenants
in emerging areas like Petite-Anse than in established areas like Mansui.
To have a better idea of the actual willingness to pay, other
discussions would need
to be done, preferably with other types of groups such as men,
masons, members of the local civil protection committees, and groups from the
Northern part of Shada; in-depth interviews would also be appropriate to
identify the money and space constraints more precisely.
6.1.3 Continuation of the workshop
The workshop was a useful tool to reflect on the current
situation and discuss possible al- ternatives (see Section 5.4.1). As it
brought together people from various backgrounds,
including civil and water engineers, public health technicians
and NGO managers, dif-
ferent ideas and opinions were expressed before coming to a
common understanding of
the concepts of sanitation and sustainability. However, for many
of them this was done with reluctance, as it was different from their usual
practices. Given this reluctance,
it is possible that they will return to their usual practices,
which may be appropriate
for building water systems and storm drainage channels, but maybe
not for a sanitation marketing system.
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