This is the proportion of the population practicing open defecation. Open defecation is defined as the disposal of human faeces in fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water, beaches or other open spaces, or with solid waste.
Access to sanitation is a fundamental need and human right critical for the dignity and health of all. The elimination of open defecation is recognised as a top priority for improving health, nutrition, and productivity in developing countries. This is an indicator for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. It is also an indicator for monitoring the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030) under Transform: Expand Enabling Environments.
The preferred sources of data are household surveys and population censuses. Surveys and censuses collect data directly from the users of sanitation facilities, therefore measure "use" and not "access". In high-income countries where household surveys or censuses do not always include information on the type of sanitation facilities used by the population, data are taken from administrative records.
Open defecation is closely associated with extreme poverty. The spread of faecal pathogens in the environment is a major risk to public health and a leading cause of death, disease and malnutrition among young children. Open defecation is unhygienic and undignified and can also expose women and girls to danger of sexual harassment and physical attacks.
To monitor Sustainable Development Goal targets for drinking water, sanitation and hygiene at home, additional information is being collected by household surveys, including on emptying of onsite sanitation facilities and the availability of a handwashing facility with water and soap. The use of drinking water sources and sanitation facilities is part of the wealth index in integrated household surveys used to assess inequalities between rich and poor by dividing the population into wealth quintiles.