The ‘sanitation approach’ is a framework developed to understand the nature of psychosocio- economic influences that determine the societal approach to sanitation. It refers to the perception, feel, and practices involved in satisfying the primal need to defecate and urinate (and their disposal). This framework facilitates the identification and provision of appropriate/improved sanitation facilities keeping in mind appropriate resource availability and use, environmental consonance, usability/acceptability, and sustainability for a specific community. This paper evaluates and assesses the robustness and applicability of the sanitation-approach framework by establishing the relevance and significance of each of its factors on the community's sanitation practices. Appropriate strategies for improved sanitation have been identified. Five wards in a fisher community located in Vizhinjam in Kerala (India) have been chosen as the case study to evaluate the framework. Besides a brief on the sanitation-approach structure, the paper utilizes a detailed study methodology for adopting the sanitation approach in five wards.

Avvannavar, M.S. and Mani, M. (2008) ‘A conceptual model of people's approach to sanitation’, Science of the Total Environment 390: 1-12.

Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) (2009) Kerala Economic Review 2009 [website], Chapter 14, p. 328 <www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html≯ [accessed July 2010]. www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html

Krech, D., Crutchfield, R. and Ballachey, E. (1962) Individual in Society: A Textbook of Social Psychology, 3rd edn, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mani, M., Venkatarama Reddy, B.V. and Avvannavar, M.S. (2007) ‘Design of compact septic tank to suit coastal (island) habitation with high water table’, World Toilet Summit, New Delhi, 31 October-3 November 2007: 73-78.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) (2004) Mitigating Poverty: Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, The Indian Experience, New Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests: 49.

Penn, C. (2005) Technology Notes, London: WaterAid.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (2008) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: DESA: 42-43.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) Health Topics - Sanitation, <www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/≯ [accessed July 2012]. www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2010a) Joint Monitoring Programme, Definitions and Method, <www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/≯ [accessed April 2010]. www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/

WHO/UNICEF (2010b) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2010 update, <unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf≯ [accessed May 2010]. unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf

Avvannavar, M.S. and Mani, M. (2008) ‘A conceptual model of people's approach to sanitation’, Science of the Total Environment 390: 1-12.

Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) (2009) Kerala Economic Review 2009 [website], Chapter 14, p. 328 <www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html≯ [accessed July 2010]. www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html

Krech, D., Crutchfield, R. and Ballachey, E. (1962) Individual in Society: A Textbook of Social Psychology, 3rd edn, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mani, M., Venkatarama Reddy, B.V. and Avvannavar, M.S. (2007) ‘Design of compact septic tank to suit coastal (island) habitation with high water table’, World Toilet Summit, New Delhi, 31 October-3 November 2007: 73-78.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) (2004) Mitigating Poverty: Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, The Indian Experience, New Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests: 49.

Penn, C. (2005) Technology Notes, London: WaterAid.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (2008) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: DESA: 42-43.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) Health Topics - Sanitation, <www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/≯ [accessed July 2012]. www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2010a) Joint Monitoring Programme, Definitions and Method, <www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/≯ [accessed April 2010]. www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/

WHO/UNICEF (2010b) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2010 update, <unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf≯ [accessed May 2010]. unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf

Avvannavar, M.S. and Mani, M. (2008) ‘A conceptual model of people's approach to sanitation’, Science of the Total Environment 390: 1-12.

Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) (2009) Kerala Economic Review 2009 [website], Chapter 14, p. 328 <www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html≯ [accessed July 2010]. www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html

Krech, D., Crutchfield, R. and Ballachey, E. (1962) Individual in Society: A Textbook of Social Psychology, 3rd edn, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mani, M., Venkatarama Reddy, B.V. and Avvannavar, M.S. (2007) ‘Design of compact septic tank to suit coastal (island) habitation with high water table’, World Toilet Summit, New Delhi, 31 October-3 November 2007: 73-78.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) (2004) Mitigating Poverty: Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, The Indian Experience, New Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests: 49.

Penn, C. (2005) Technology Notes, London: WaterAid.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (2008) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: DESA: 42-43.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) Health Topics - Sanitation, <www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/≯ [accessed July 2012]. www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2010a) Joint Monitoring Programme, Definitions and Method, <www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/≯ [accessed April 2010]. www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/

WHO/UNICEF (2010b) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2010 update, <unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf≯ [accessed May 2010]. unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf

Avvannavar, M.S. and Mani, M. (2008) ‘A conceptual model of people's approach to sanitation’, Science of the Total Environment 390: 1-12.

Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) (2009) Kerala Economic Review 2009 [website], Chapter 14, p. 328 <www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html≯ [accessed July 2010]. www.spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/economic-review/er-2009.html

Krech, D., Crutchfield, R. and Ballachey, E. (1962) Individual in Society: A Textbook of Social Psychology, 3rd edn, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mani, M., Venkatarama Reddy, B.V. and Avvannavar, M.S. (2007) ‘Design of compact septic tank to suit coastal (island) habitation with high water table’, World Toilet Summit, New Delhi, 31 October-3 November 2007: 73-78.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) (2004) Mitigating Poverty: Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, The Indian Experience, New Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests: 49.

Penn, C. (2005) Technology Notes, London: WaterAid.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (2008) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: DESA: 42-43.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) Health Topics - Sanitation, <www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/≯ [accessed July 2012]. www.who.int/topics/sanitation/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2010a) Joint Monitoring Programme, Definitions and Method, <www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/≯ [accessed April 2010]. www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/introduction/

WHO/UNICEF (2010b) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2010 update, <unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf≯ [accessed May 2010]. unwater.org/downloads/JMP_report_2010.pdf