Health Benefits from Improvements in Water Supply and Sanitation: Survey and Analysis of the Literature on Selected Diseases

摘要

Significant efforts have been made in the past decade to improve water supply and sanitation in the developing world. The most notable achievement was in the area of rural water supply, where coverage increased from 32% in 1980 to 42% in 1985. The report reviews 144 English-language studies on the impact of improved water supply and sanitation facilities on six diseases: diarrheal diseases, ascariasis, dracunculiasis (guinea worm), hookworm, schistosomiasis, and trachoma. The review indicated that the impact has been significant. Median reductions in incidence were 78% for guinea worm, 77% for schistosomiasis, 29% for ascariasis, 27% for trachoma, and 26% for diarrhea. All studies of hookworm were flawed with one exception, which found a 4% reduction in incidence. The substantial impact of water and sanitation on child survival is also evident. The report also points out that water and sanitation often has an even greater impact on the reduction of disease severity than it does on disease incidence.