Scientific Publication

Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene in low- and middle-income settings

Abstract

This study, supported by Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity (SHARE) programme researchers, estimates the burden of diarrhoeal diseases from exposure to inadequate water, sanitation and hand hygiene in low- and middle-income settings. Global exposure data were estimated for the year 2012, and risk estimates were taken from the most recent systematic analyses. In 2012, 842,000 diarrhoea deaths are estimated to be caused by inadequate drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene, which amounts to 1.5% of the total disease burden and 58% of diarrhoeal diseases