Longitudinal Household Trends in Access to Improved Water Sources and Sanitation in Chi Linh Town, Hai Duong Province, Viet Nam and Associated Factors

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aims to characterize household trends in access to improved water sources and sanitaton in Chi Linh Town, Hai Duong Province, Vietnam, and to identify factors affecting those trends.MethodData were extracted from the Chi Linh Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHILILAB HDSS) database from 2004–2014, which included household access to improved water sources, household access to improved sanitation, and household demographic data. Descriptive statistical analysis and multinominal logistic regression were used. The results showed that over a 10-year period (2004–2014), the proportion of households with access to improved water and improved sanitation increased by 3.7% and 28.3%, respectively. As such, the 2015 Millennium Development Goal targets for safe drinking water and basic sanitation were met. However, 13.5% of households still had unimproved water and sanitation. People who are retired, work in trade or services, or other occupations were 1.49, 1.97, and 1.34 times more likely to have access to improved water and sanitation facilities than farming households, respectively (p < 0.001). Households living in urban areas were 1.84 times more likely than those living in rural areas to have access to improved water sources and improved sanitation facilities (OR =1.84; 95% CI = 1.73–1.96). Non-poor households were 2.12 times more likely to have access to improved water sources and improved sanitation facilities compared to the poor group (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 2.00–2.25). More efforts are required to increase household access to both improved water and sanitation in Chi Linh Town, focusing on the 13.5% of households currently without access. Similar to situations observed elsewhere in Vietnam and other low- and middle- income countries, there is a need to address socio-economic factors that are associated with inadequate access to improved water sources and sanitation facilities.

Access to Improved Water Sources and Sanitation in Minority Ethnic People in Vietnam and Some Sociodemographic Associations: A 2019 National Survey

“…Socioeconomic status contributes to the many aspects of life, including access to improved water sources and sanitation, as revealed by various studies in the area of water and sanitation, with higher access belonged to the wealthier groups and lower access in the poorest, poor, or near-poor groups. 13 - 17 Similar results were also found by this study, with a likelihood of lower access in poor and near-poor groups than the not poor group ( Table 2 ). Based on this result, it is recommended that water and sanitation programs in Vietnam and other developing countries be focused on communities with lower socioeconomic status or lower wealthy quintile groups.…”

“… 15 However, several other studies in Vietnam did not analyze the association between the age of the households and the access to improved water and/or improved sanitation. 13 , 14 This study implied that household heads who were female had better access to improved water sources, and this finding was relevant to other similar studies conducted in Vietnam 13 and the African countries. 12 , 15 , 16 This finding highlighted the importance of women in ensuring the family’s access to improved water sources, and therefore, they should be involved in improved water promotion programs in different regions and levels, as suggested by Angoua et al 16 in Côte d’Ivoire.…”

“…This finding differed from that of a similar study in Côte d'Ivoire, where educational level seemed to have no association with the access of improved water and sanitation. 16 However, this finding was relevant to various studies in Vietnam 13,14 and in other regions of the world, such as in Cambodia 17 or Ghana 15 or sub-Saharan African countries. 12 It could be implied from our studies that ethnic minority people in Vietnam should be paid more attention in the educational process, and they should be able to speak Kinh language (ie, Vietnamese language) so that they can understand the importance of having access to improved water sources and sanitation to decrease their health risks, thus can have better access to the improved water and sanitation.…”

“…Other studies in Vietnam also found similar results to this study, with spatial unequal access to improved water, improved sanitation, and both improved water and sanitation in more advantageous regions compared with the more disadvantageous regions. 13,14 The study results showed that the overall prevalence of ethnic minority households who had access to improved water sources only was 64.6%, to improved sanitation only was 61%, and to both improved water sources and sanitation was 43% (Figure 2). All these figures indicated that even 4 years after the NTP3 ended, the ethnic communities still had lower access to improved water sources and improved sanitation than the 2015 targeted indicators.…”

“…Other studies in Vietnam also found similar results to this study, with spatial unequal access to improved water, improved sanitation, and both improved water and sanitation in more advantageous regions compared with the more disadvantageous regions. 13 , 14 …”