User:JustinePorto/Public toilets in Ecuador

Public toilets in Ecuador are found at a rate of two per 100,000 people. Many are dirty, charge a fee to use and may charge a fee for toilet paper.

Public toilets
Some bathrooms are labeled SS HH, which stands for servicios higiénicos. Women's toilets are called damas or mujeres, while men's toilets are called caballeros or hombres. The local word for toilet paper is papel higiénico. The local word for public toilets is baños or servicios.

A 2021 study found there were two public toilets per 100,000 people. Public pay toilets are common. The typical charge to use a public toilet was 5-10 Sucres. Despite the fee, public toilets are often dirty.

The most common type of toilet is a sit toilet, though they often do not come equipped with a toilet seat. Many public toilets do not have toilet paper. In some cases there may be an attendant on site who sells toilet paper.

Public toilets were not very common in the 2000s, with one of the most common locations for them being bus stations. In the 2000s, most toilets lacked plumbing capable of handling toilet paper. Most public toilets had bins next to the toilet where people could dispose of their used toilet paper.

Regional and global situation impacting public toilets in Ecuador
Baño is the most common way to say toilet in Spanish speaking countries. Other words for toilet include aseo, váter, retrete, servicio, lavabo, sanitarios, regadera, bidé, tina, lavamanos and orinal. Men's toilets are called hombres, while women's toilets are called mujeres. Unisex toilets are called baño unisex. Toilet paper is called papel higiénico.

Public toilet access around the world is most acute in the Global South, with around 3.6 billion people, 40% of the world's total population, lacking access to any toilet facilities. 2.3 people in the the Global South do not have toilet facilities in their residence. Despite the fact that the United Nation made a declaration in 2010 that clean water and sanitation is a human right, little has been done in many places towards addressing this on a wider level.

An issue in developing countries is toilet access in schools. Only 46% of schools in developing countries have them. In the early 2000s, it was very rare for public toilets to have wheelchair access anywhere in South America. The few that were available tended to be at upscale shopping centers.

Sit flush toilets are the most common type of toilet in Latin America and South America. Most countries in Latin and South America do not have the sanitation infrastructure to support toilet paper being flushed. Trash cans are typically put next to the toilet to allow for easy disposal of toilet paper.