Social Network Predictors of Latrine Ownership

21 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2012

See all articles by Holly Shakya

Holly Shakya

UC San Diego School of Medicine; Harvard University - Harvard Medical School

Nicholas A. Christakis

Harvard University - Department of Health Care Policy

James H. Fowler

UC San Diego Division of Social Sciences; University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health

Date Written: November 28, 2012

Abstract

Poor sanitation, including the lack of clean functioning toilets, is a major factor contributing to morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in the developing world.

We examine correlates of latrine ownership in rural India with a focus on social network predictors. Participants from 75 villages provided the names of their social contacts as well as their own relevant demographic and household characteristics. Using these measures, we test whether the latrine ownership of an individual’s social contacts is a significant predictor of individual latrine ownership. We also investigate whether network centrality significantly predicts latrine ownership, and if so, does it moderate the relationship between the latrine ownership of the individual and that of her social contacts.

Our results show that, controlling for the standard predictors of latrine ownership such as caste, education, and income, individuals are more likely to own latrines if their social contacts own latrines. Interaction models suggest that this relationship is stronger among those of the same caste, the same education, and those with stronger social ties. We also find that more central individuals are more likely to own latrines, but the correlation in latrine ownership between social contacts is strongest among individuals on the periphery of the network.

Although more data is needed to determine how much the clustering of latrine ownership may be caused by social influence, the results here suggest that interventions designed to promote latrine ownership should consider focusing on those at the periphery of the network. The reason is that they are 1) less likely to own latrines and 2) more likely to exhibit the same behavior as their social contacts, possibly as a result of the spread of latrine adoption from one person to another.

Keywords: social networks, social norms, India, latrines, open-defecation

Suggested Citation

Shakya, Holly and Christakis, Nicholas A. and Fowler, James H. and Fowler, James H., Social Network Predictors of Latrine Ownership (November 28, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2182130 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2182130

Holly Shakya (Contact Author)

UC San Diego School of Medicine ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive
Mail Code 0502
La Jolla, CA 92093-0112
United States

HOME PAGE: http://polisci2.ucsd.edu/hshakya/Holly_B_Shakya_PhD/Portal_Page.html

Harvard University - Harvard Medical School ( email )

25 Shattuck St
Boston, MA 02115
United States

Nicholas A. Christakis

Harvard University - Department of Health Care Policy ( email )

25 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States

James H. Fowler

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health ( email )

La Jolla, CA
United States

HOME PAGE: http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu

UC San Diego Division of Social Sciences ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive
Code 0521
La Jolla, CA 92093-0521
United States

HOME PAGE: http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu

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