Table 1 Interpretation of components of the non-sewered sanitation emptying perception-behaviour determinants.

 Perception of risk/hazards of emptying

Perceived susceptibility or vulnerability to the emptying behaviour and severity of the expected consequences (positive and/or negative) that may result from performing that behaviour (Hochbaum, 1958; Rosenstock, 1966; Becker, 1974; Sharma and Romas, 2012; Morris et al., 2012; Mosler, 2012).

 Perception of desired emptying behaviour

Perceived attitude and the intention that support the performance of the desired emptying behaviour is dependent on one’s attitude and intention to perform the appropriate emptying behaviour, in this case scheduled emptying (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975; Funk and James, 2001/2006; Grizzell, 2007; Mosler, 2012; Neil et al., 2016; Loritoa et al., 2019).

 Perception of emptying norms

Perceived norms based on their unique local experiences that become a reality to guide behaviour, even when the perceptions are inaccurate. Its unique feature is the emphasis on social influence, external and internal social reinforcement (Tankard and Paluck, 2016; Wicker, 1969; Bandura, 1971; Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975; Chartrand and Bargh, 1999; Munro et al., 2007; Mosler, 2012; Neil et al., 2016).

 Perception of emptying ability

Perceived ability and self-efficacy to effectively perform the desirable emptying behaviour, in this case scheduled emptying. It is influenced by a person’s specific capabilities and situational (barriers and facilitators) factors (Bandura, 1971/2000/2004; Gollwitzer and Sheeran, 2006; Schwarzer, 2008; Mosler, 2012).

 Past emptying behaviour

Priming of future practice to influence current perception based on past performance that determine whether to repeat that emptying behaviour or not (Liska, 1984; Eagly and Chaiken, 1993; Albarracin and Wyer, 2000; Fuster and Bressler, 2015; Hollingworth and Barker, 2017).

 Sanitation belief system

The belief systems of individuals, households, and communities could create the perception that may influence emptying behaviour. Perceptual belief systems are much richer, detailed and a good behaviour determinant in their content (Armstrong, 1961; Rosenquist, 2005; Koottatep et al., 2019).

 Consequences of previous emptying experience

The consequences (positive or negative) of previous emptying experiences may likely influence the subsequent actual emptying perception that could determine future emptying behaviour to be adopted (Skinner, 1953).

 Sanitation norms

Traditions, customs, and religious beliefs provide cues that activate corresponding emptying perceptions that could trigger the attitudes and intentions to act on that behaviour (Darnton, 2008; Mosler, 2012; Tankard and Paluck, 2016).

 Sanitation situational factors

The unique and dynamic contexts that influence emptying perception-behaviour adoption. Issues such as the household’s educational and socio-economic levels, the quality of facilities, compliance to regulations and enforcement of sanitation laws, and general environmental conditions of the location will definitely influence emptying perception-behaviour links (Mosler, 2012; Koottatep et al., 2019; Navarro, 1994; van Vliet et al., 2011; Ahmed and Hassan, 2012; Novotny et al., 2018).

 Confidence in ability to empty facility effectively

The self-accepted capabilities that activate perceptual representations, which may produce the desired corresponding emptying behaviour (Bruner, 1957; Prinz, 1990; Dijkersterhuis and Knippenberg, 1998; Ferguson and Bargh, 2004; Canal-Bruland and Van Der Kamp, 2009; Mosler; 2012).

 Information

Perceptual actions and decisions guided by detail of instructions that influence what is being perceived. The right kind of emptying information provides the stimulation needed to guide emptying perception that produce the desired behaviour (Park et al., 1988; Brewer and Lambert, 2001; Tacca, 2011; Mulder, 1979; Chemero, 2003).

 Cognitive processes

Knowledge and understanding captures roughly the capacity and thoughts that could exert significant influences on perception-behaviour determinants (Fodor, 1983; Firestone and Scholl, 2015; Sydhagen, 2017; Michel, 2019).