Abstract
Lack of access to potable water and good sanitation is still one of the most challenging public health concerns of the twenty-first century despite steady progress over recent decades. Almost a billion people globally lack access to safe water; over two billion live without adequate sanitation facilities. The challenge is even more daunting for Sub-Saharan Africa where coverage levels for both potable water and sanitation remain critically low. The urgent need to address the issue calls for adequate understanding of the socio-economic dimensions. Using the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we investigated the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with access to potable water and improved sanitation facilities. Our generalized linear models reveal that income, education, household size, and region are significant predictors of improved water and sanitation access. Our discussion and conclusion sections highlight the implications of the study results for water policy formulation and implementation in Ghana, and broadly for other developing countries.
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Notes
Demographic and Health Surveys is a USAID project responsible for collecting multiple indicator surveys on health and population in developing countries. For Ghana, the 2008 report is the most current data available.
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Adams, E.A., Boateng, G.O. & Amoyaw, J.A. Socioeconomic and Demographic Predictors of Potable Water and Sanitation Access in Ghana. Soc Indic Res 126, 673–687 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0912-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0912-y