Abstract
Improving access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are on the frontline of efforts to combat related diseases and their accompanying effects. Using a household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews, the authors explored how rural livelihoods could be improved through water and sanitation interventions. The study revealed a complex web of configuration between water and sanitation interventions and rural livelihoods. The study found that the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure does not guarantee reductions in related diseases and improvements in livelihoods. Although rural dwellers are aware of the consequences of poor sanitary and hygiene conditions, related diseases and the implications on livelihoods, their persistent demonstration of poor sanitary and hygiene behaviours attributable to intertwined historical and socio-economic factors, adversely affect interventions. Thus, the organisation and management of water and sanitation interventions, require an integrated attention to behaviour change mechanisms.Keywords: Water-related Diseases, Access to Water, Hygiene, Livelihoods, Sanitation
Highlights
Access to potable water and improved sanitation services is a topical issue in the global community development agenda
This paper presents the links between water, sanitation and rural livelihoods and how such links feed into community development
Water and sanitation-related diseases still remain a key setback to community and livelihoods development interventions, especially in rural areas
Summary
Access to potable water and improved sanitation services is a topical issue in the global community development agenda. Improved water and sanitary situations minimise poor growth in children caused by infectious diseases that expose them to illness and death (Dangour et al, 2013) This holds true because Zhang established that as a result of a water programme, “children’s weight-for-height and height itself both rose by 0.446 kg/m and 0.962 cm respectively” (Zhang, 2012: 122). Using data from 193 countries, Cheng et al (2012) established that there is a strong relationship between access to water and sanitation, and a reduction in maternal and child mortality This implies that achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages) requires serious intervention in improving safe water and sanitation, hygiene infrastructure and practices
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