Uttering the word “defecation” is often considered impolite. People say “going to the back” in Indonesia and “folding legs” in Cambodia. Many people also ask where to wash their hands rather than where the toilet is, avoiding the “dirty” word for the sake of politeness.



While talking openly about defecation may cause discomfort or embarrassment, it is a topic we all need to discuss. More than 1 billion people around the world still practice open defecation, the practice of defecating outdoors. Of this number, more than 60 percent live in Asia, according to a World Health Organization/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program report.



Excreta, the product of defecation (commonly referred to as “shit”, “poo” etc.), causes diarrhea and other deadly infectious diseases. WHO statistics show that more than one in 10 child deaths (about 800,000 per year worldwi...