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Public toilets in parklands or open spaces in international cities using geographic information systems

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Availability of public toilets in parklands and open spaces is a community resource for all persons and may support self-management of incontinence. The purpose of this study was to describe and map the availability of public toilets in parklands and open spaces in major international cities by city population and area.

Methods

Observational/descriptive design. Twelve cities in nine countries with available data about toilets in parklands (Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Osaka) or open spaces (Greater London, Greater Sydney, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, and Seoul) were included in the analysis. Data were from online open/free data sets. Availability of publicly owned and/or operated permanent toilet facilities was measured/analyzed as number, density (calculated by population and area (km2)), and distribution (visualized using Geographic Information Systems).

Results

Density of public toilets/area (km2) in parklands was highest in Osaka. MSP had the most toilets per 100,000 residents. In open spaces, the density of public toilets/area (km2) was highest in Paris. Sydney had the most toilets in open spaces per 100,000 residents. The distribution of public toilets across parklands was fairly even in MSP, Philadelphia, and Toronto. The distribution of public toilets in open spaces was highly concentrated in one area in Brussels. Sydney has a low population density but a high toilet density in open spaces.

Conclusions

Availability of public toilets in parklands or open spaces varies among international cities. Toilet availability should be considered in urban planning and community healthcare programs to promote continence, health, and quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 5-140 Weaver Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Donna Z. Bliss & Young Shin Park

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  1. Donna Z. Bliss
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  2. Young Shin Park
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Correspondence to Donna Z. Bliss.

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Conflicts of interest

This study was funded in part by internal finds from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN. Ms. Park was paid as a research assistant. Dr. Bliss had a subcontract of an NIH grant from Innovative Design Labs for a research study that developed a a prototype of an augmented reality program to educate nursing students about pressure injuries.

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International Continence Society annual meeting podium presentation, Philadelphia, PA, USA, August 2018.

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Bliss, D.Z., Park, Y.S. Public toilets in parklands or open spaces in international cities using geographic information systems. Int Urogynecol J 31, 939–945 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04024-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04024-6

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