Burden of disease associated with unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practices
WHO is the Custodian Agency for reporting the mortality from unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene (Indicator 3.9.2). In this role, WHO has developed methods and tools to estimate health gains based on the latest available evidence linking water, sanitation and hygiene with mortality and morbidity from diarrhoeal disease as well as other health outcomes.
Unsafe WASH is linked to many adverse health outcomes. It is associated with infectious diseases, health risks from exposure to chemicals and other contaminants in drinking-water, as well as impacts on well-being. However, quantification of the related burden of disease is not always possible due to limited epidemiological evidence. SDG indicator 3.9.2 captures the burden of disease linked to unsafe WASH for diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, soil-transmitted helminth infections and undernutrition.
Read the WHO report on the latest (2019) data. Previous rounds of estimates can be found below under ‘Relevant Publications’. As there have been changes in methods for diarrhoea, they have limited comparability.
Access data on The Global Health Observatory.
Access the WASH-related disease burden estimation tool.
Relevant publications
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Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update
The report summarizes the estimates of the burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for the year 2019 for...
Safer water, better health
Ensuring the access of all people to sufficient, safe water and adequate sanitation and encouraging personal, domestic and community hygiene will improve...
Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental...
The main message emerging from this new comprehensive global assessment is that premature death and disease can be prevented through healthier...
See also
2019 update
2016 update
2012 update