User:JustinePorto/Public toilets in Tunisia

Public toilets in Tunisia are few, of the squat toilet type and do not provide toilet paper.

Public toilets
There are few public toilets. Most are dirty, have flies and smell. The most common type in more rural areas are squat toilets. Almost none provide toilet paper. Buying toilet paper is relatively easy as it tends to be available in most major shops.

Public toilets in Chott located on a dry salt lake were listed in a 2016 Lonely Planet guide, Toilets: A Spotter’s Guide, in the world because of their view.

Across the whole of the country, 82% of households were connected to sewage systems.

History
Starting in the second century AD, the Roman Empire started building public latrines in Italy and North Africa. This improvement was generally widely approved of, and locals integrated using these facilities into their daily lives. Surplus water was often used by Roman aqueducts for flushing sewer systems and public toilets. One of the major differences between the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans was that the Romans supported public baths so that all classes of the population could maintain a certain level of cleanliness. The ancient Romans also prioritized providing clean water for use in public baths and fountains.

Regional and global situation impacting public toilets in Tunisia
Around 2.5 billion people around the world in 2018 did not have access to adequate toilet facilities. Around 4.5 billion people lacked access to proper sanitation. An issue in developing countries is toilet access in schools. Only 46% of schools in developing countries have them. Many schools around the world in 2018 did not have toilets, with the problem particularly acute in parts of Africa and Asia. Only one in five primary schools on earth had a toilet and only one in eight secondary schools had public toilets. In developing countries, girls are less likely to attend school once they hit puberty if their school does not have adequate hygiene facilities.

Islamic teachings suggest using water for cleaning after using the toilet. A popular thing for Arab travelers to take with them on trips is a handheld portable bidet.

In developing countries, unisex public toilets have been a disaster because they make women feel unsafe and fail to consider local religious beliefs. Across Africa, open defecation had social consequences. These included loss of dignity and privacy. It also put women at risk of sexual violence. Women used public latrines by crouching over them, which encouraged some women to wear skirts and sarongs without wearing underwear.

There are generally two toilet styles in public bathrooms in Africa. One is a traditional squat toilet. The other is a western style toilet with bowl and a place to sit. Sit flush toilets are the most common type of toilet in North Africa. Flush toilets are often only found in affluent areas of developing countries.