Skip to main content

This paper analyses the situation in countries comprising the WHO South-East Asia Region with respect to water supply and sanitation services, hygiene and the epidemiology of related infectious diseases.

TitleSituation analysis and epidemiology of infectious disease transmission : a South-East Asian regional perspective
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsThompson, T, Khan, S
Paginationp. 29-36 : 2 fig., 2 tab.
Date Published2003-06-01
Keywordsasia, behaviour, disease transmission, epidemiology, hygiene, infectious diseases, sanitation, sdiasi, sdihyg, uemk, water supply
Abstract

This paper analyses the situation in countries comprising the WHO South-East Asia Region with respect to water supply and sanitation services, hygiene and the epidemiology of related infectious diseases.
Recently, published data from the WHO/UNICEF Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 report was reviewed to depict the situation with respect to consumers¿ access to improved water supply and sanitation services. It was shown that access to improved drinking water supplies is among the lowest in the world, and that sanitation coverage in this region is below all others. The paper also reviews selected surveys of hygiene behaviours in several countries of the region. Associations are suggested between access to services, hygienic practices and speci.c infectious diseases. The need is acknowledged to improve the
evidence base on linkages between infectious diseases and water, sanitation and hygiene, and speci.c
recommendations are made in this regard. There is a need now and for the foreseeable future to promote low-cost household-level interventions, including behaviour change strategies, that mitigate the health consequences of the current situation with respect to water supply, sanitation and hygiene. The role of health authorities in meeting this challenge, and as advocates for accelerating development of the water and sanitation sector, is highlighted.

[author's abstract]

NotesIncluding 13 references
Custom 1245.0, 203.2, 303, 822

Disclaimer

The copyright of the documents on this site remains with the original publishers. The documents may therefore not be redistributed commercially without the permission of the original publishers.

Back to
the top