What does latrine coverage measure in WASH monitoring?

What does latrine coverage measure in WASH monitoring?

• A. The proportion of the population with access to latrines
• B. The volume of latrine water
• C. The frequency of latrine cleaning
• D. The color of latrine tiles

Answer: (A)

Latrine coverage measures access to sanitation facilities for the population. It reflects the share of people who have a latrine available to use—whether in their own household or a nearby, acceptable facility—so they can safely dispose of feces. It’s usually calculated as the number of people with access divided by the total population, often expressed as a percentage, and helps track progress toward universal access. This focus on access distinguishes it from aspects like how much water a latrine holds, how often the latrine is cleaned, or the appearance of the facility, which relate to maintenance or quality rather than whether people can reach and use a latrine.

Latrine coverage measures access to sanitation facilities for the population. It reflects the share of people who have a latrine available to use—whether in their own household or a nearby, acceptable facility—so they can safely dispose of feces. It’s usually calculated as the number of people with access divided by the total population, often expressed as a percentage, and helps track progress toward universal access.

This focus on access distinguishes it from aspects like how much water a latrine holds, how often the latrine is cleaned, or the appearance of the facility, which relate to maintenance or quality rather than whether people can reach and use a latrine.