Study on Norms and Attitudes 

One of the largest obstacles to global implementation of ecological sanitation is societal aversion to human excreta and a lack of knowledge surrounding the socio-cultural aspects of its functioning. Many societies, particularly Vietnamese and Chinese, are at ease with the use of human excreta in agriculture and the historic use of urine and faeces as fertilizers can be traced back hundreds of years. However, many people in other parts of the world are uncomfortable with the topic - perhaps due in part to the "human excreta is waste" mentality embedded in conventional flush and discharge and pit sanitation systems. 

The aim of the study on norms and attitudes, as funded by the EcoSanRes Programme and executed by Vatema AB, is to gain insight about how people perceive and understand ecological sanitation and re-circulating the nutrients found in human excreta. The study will examine differing values about urine and faeces based on gender, ethnic background and social position. 

The study incorporates an analysis of existing research and field visits to Uganda and South Africa to produce a deeper understanding of varying societal views on ecological sanitation and the motivational factors involved in its acceptance or rejection as a preferred sanitation system. 

For more information contact Jan-Olof Drangert ( )