Over the last decade, India has made remarkable progress in improving sanitation. With the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014, millions of household toilets were constructed across the country. As a result, open defecation among adults has declined substantially and more families now have access to improved sanitation facilities.

But an important question often goes unnoticed: what happens to the feces of young children?

Many people assume that children’s feces are harmless. In reality, they can carry dangerous germs that spread diarrheal diseases and other infections. “Unsafe disposal” happens when a child’s feces are left in the open, thrown into garbage, or washed into drains instead of being disposed of in a toilet or latrine.

Our recent research, published in BMC Public Health, examined these practices across 707 districts in India using national survey data. The findings show that the problem is not evenly spread across the country. Around 177 districts emerged as hotspot areas, where unsafe disposal of children’s feces is particularly common. Many of these districts are located in central and eastern India.

The study also found that unsafe practices are more common among poorer households, families with limited education, and those without reliable sanitation facilities.

India’s sanitation mission has made impressive progress in reducing adult open defecation. However, safe disposal of children’s feces has not received the same attention. Addressing this gap is important because improving sanitation is not only about building toilets—it is also about ensuring safe hygiene practices for every member of the household, including young children.