Subnational regional inequality in access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Indonesia: results from the 2015 Indonesian National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS)

Abstract

Background: Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene in Indonesia are vital to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Objectives: To quantify subnational regional inequality in access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Indonesia. Methods: Data about access to improved drinking water and sanitation were derived from the 2015 Indonesian National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS) and disaggregated by 510 districts across the 34 provinces of Indonesia. Two summary measures of inequality, mean difference from mean and weighted index of disparity, were calculated to quantify within-province absolute and relative inequality, respectively. Results: While the majority of Indonesian households had access to improved drinking water (71.0%) and sanitation (62.1%), there were large variations between and within provinces. Access to improved drinking water ranged from 93.4% in DKI Jakarta to 41.1% in Bengkulu, and access to improved sanitation ranged from 89.3% in Jakarta to 23.9% in East Nusa Tenggara. Provinces with similar numbers of districts and similar overall averages showed variable levels of absolute and/or relative inequality. Certain districts reported very low levels of access to improved drinking water and/or sanitation. Conclusions: There are inequalities in access to improved drinking water and sanitation by subnational region in Indonesia. Monitoring within-country inequality in these indicators serves to identify underserved areas, and is useful for developing approaches to improve inequalities in access that can help Indonesia make progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Geographical inequalities in drinking water in the Solomon Islands

“…Inter-provincial and center-periphery inequalities in drinking water sources and services illustrate that besides urban and rural setting, populations in different geographical zones (e.g. center and periphery) within the country are potentially at different 'risk' when it comes to water (under)supply (Adams and Smiley 2018, Afifah et al 2018, Pullan et al 2014, Smith 2008, Yu et al 2014.…”

Monitoring health inequality in Indonesia

“…mean difference from mean and weighted index of disparity) [6]. Large variation in inequality was observed within provinces with the same numbers of districts.…”

Health Equity Assessment Toolkit Plus (HEAT Plus): software for exploring and comparing health inequalities using uploaded datasets

“…Data from different national sources, including health facility surveys and household surveys, were used to assess inequalities in selected indicators by relevant dimensions of inequality. For example, data from the 2015 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS) were used to assess inequalities in access to improved drinking water between districts [17]. Overall, it was found that there were large variations between districts within each province (see Figure 4).…”

“…Moreover, feedback from users helped to improve the template as well as the warning messages that appear in HEAT Plus if data have not been entered correctly. The results from the capacity building process have been presented in the national report State of health inequality : Indonesia , published in November 2017, as well as in this special issue [17,18]. …”