Dr. Asti began her presentation "Sustainable Sanitation for Marginalized People in East Indonesia", by explaining the results of the study conducted with her team at Central Lombok, (West Nusa Tenggara) and West Manggarai (East Nusa Tenggara).

The two provinces were chosen for their good practices of community-based sanitation based on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion. Such factors can be found in a community’s female sanitarians, inclusive toilets in schools, and more. In short, the research aims to observe how gender-based socio-cultural norms and practices around sanitation can be the key to optimal access and participation of marginalized groups in sanitation programs.

Information for the study was acquired via interviews with 252 households (126 of which were households with those with disabilities) and 30 stakeholders. Focus group discussions were also held for marginalized groups, namely women, adolescent girls, and people with disabilities.

Dr. Asti and her team revealed the survey results that showed the sanitation level in the region. They also compiled respondents' perceptions of WASH facilities at home, knowledge of WASH on a communal level, the participation level of women and people with disabilities in sanitation programs, the level of WASH practices, and the perceptions on both inhibiting and supporting factors of the programs’ participation.

Aside from the challenges and opportunities that arise for inclusive sanitation from the study, Dr. Asti analyzed the result’s causal loop diagram and gave recommendations for the community’s better welfare, ranging from improving coordination and access to information, developing better infrastructure, to optimizing the roles and capacity of vulnerable groups.

"Our results revealed that these marginalized people have a strong desire to speak up about their conditions and contribute to the field of sanitary design. However, there are internalized issues they need to face sometimes,” she said. These issues stemmed from the embarrassment of being powerless during meetings with the government; they are unable to voice their thoughts about the matter. "Their silence can be seen in the study we have been doing. Such perceptions are not only internally generated but are also heightened with current systems found in the group. This must be addressed in future studies concerning sanitation.”

This webinar is a collaboration of several parties, including the Center for Public Health Innovation, Udayana University Public Health Study Program, Udayana University Master of Public Health Study Program, and Institut Teknologi Bandung Environmental Studies Center.

Reporter: Hasna Khadijah (Environmental Engineering, 2019)
Translator: Ruth Nathania (Environmental Engineering, 2019)