New publication by our project members on shared sanitation in informal settlements

In a recent issue of Infectious Diseases of Poverty, members of our team and their research partners published an article on the relationship between the structural implementation of shared sanitation facilities in informal settlements, their perceived safety, and the impact on diarrhea infections.

Environmental determinants of access to shared sanitation in informal settlements: a cross-sectional study in Abidjan and Nairobi

April, 10th 2023

By Vitor Pessoa Colombo, Jérôme Chenal, Fred Orina, Hellen Meme, Jeanne d’Arc Amoin Koffi, Brama Koné & Jürg Utzinger

---

“Universal access to basic sanitation remains a global challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Efforts are underway to improve access to sanitation in informal settlements, often through shared facilities. However, access to these facilities and their potential health gains—notably, the prevention of diarrheal diseases—may be hampered by contextual aspects related to the physical environment. This study explored associations between the built environment and perceived safety to access toilets, and associations between the latter and diarrheal infections. The cross-sectional study was carried out between July 2021 and February 2022, including 1714 households in two informal settlements in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and two in Nairobi (Kenya).”