Editing Defecation (section)

===Open defecation===
{{main|Open defecation}}

[[Open defecation]] is the human practice of defecating outside (in the open environment) rather than into a [[toilet]]. People may choose fields, bushes, forests, ditches, streets, canals or other open space for defecation. They do so because either they do not have a toilet readily accessible or due to traditional cultural practices.<ref name="ClasenBoisson2014">{{cite journal | vauthors = Clasen T, Boisson S, Routray P, Torondel B, Bell M, Cumming O, Ensink J, Freeman M, Jenkins M, Odagiri M, Ray S, Sinha A, Suar M, Schmidt WP | display-authors = 6 | title = Effectiveness of a rural sanitation programme on diarrhoea, soil-transmitted helminth infection, and child malnutrition in Odisha, India: a cluster-randomised trial | journal = The Lancet. Global Health | volume = 2 | issue = 11 | pages = e645-53 | date = November 2014 | pmid = 25442689 | doi = 10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70307-9 | doi-access = free | url = https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/2026643/1/Effectiveness%20of%20a%20rural%20sanitation%20programme_GOLD%20VoR.pdf }}</ref> The practice is common where [[sanitation]] infrastructure and services are not available. Even if toilets are available, [[Behavior change (public health)|behavior change]] efforts may still be needed to promote the use of toilets.

Open defecation can pollute the environment and cause health problems. High levels of open defecation are linked to high [[child mortality]], poor [[undernutrition|nutrition]], [[poverty]], and large disparities between rich and poor.<ref name="JMP2014">{{cite book|url=http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2036|title=Progress on drinking water and sanitation, 2014 Update|date=2014|publisher=WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)|isbn=9789241507240|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2015-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115029/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2036|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|page=11}}

Ending open defecation is an indicator being used to measure progress towards the [[Sustainable Development Goal 6|Sustainable Development Goal Number 6]]. [[Extreme poverty]] and lack of sanitation are statistically linked. Therefore, eliminating open defecation is thought to be an important part of the effort to eliminate poverty.<ref name="Ahmad">{{cite news|url=https://www.devex.com/news/how-to-eliminate-open-defecation-by-2030-84634|title=How to eliminate open defecation by 2030| vauthors = Ahmad J |date=30 October 2014|access-date=2 May 2016|website=devex}}</ref>