Bias in the perceived prevalence of open defecation: Evidence from Bihar, India

Autor: Jinyi Kuang, Erik Thulin, Sania Ashraf, Alex Shpenev, Upasak Das, Maryann G. Delea, Peter McNally, Cristina Bicchieri, Tomáš Želinský
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 9 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1932-6203
Popis: People often form perceptions about how prevalent a behavior is in a social group. However, these perceptions can be inaccurate and biased. While persistent undesirable practices in low-income countries have drawn global attention, evidence regarding people’s perception of how prevalent these practices are is scarce. Among those harmful practices, open defecation in India remains a significant public health concern, where it perpetuates the vicious cycle of disease and poverty. In this study, we focus on measuring the perceived prevalence of open defecation among respondents in Bihar, India. We examined the bias in perceived prevalence, which is defined as a pattern of deviation from the actual prevalence of open defecation. Results showed that respondents who defecate in the open overestimate the prevalence of open defecation, whereas those who consistently use toilets underestimate it. This finding suggests a false consensus bias in the perceived prevalence of open defecation. Scholars, policymakers, and program implementers who seek to correct misperceptions about open defecation by broadcasting real prevalence should be aware of biases in the perceived prevalence and address them in behavior change interventions.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje