{
  "abstract": "Access to and use of improved water sources and sanitation facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains a significant public health concern, with notable variations across countries. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to water and sanitation require evidence on current levels of access and factors that shape them. This study examined household access to and use of improved water sources and sanitation facilities, as well as the determinants of their use in SSA. Demographic and Health Survey data from 465,208 households across 30 SSA countries conducted between 2014 and 2025 was used for this study. Descriptive analyses examined access levels. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance was used to identify the factors associated with reported use. Overall, 76.3% of households had access to and use of improved water sources, 56.7% had access to improved toilets, and 35.4% had access to basic sanitation facilities (unshared improved toilet facilities), with wide variations across countries. Significant factors associated with access and use of improved toilet and sanitation facilities included wealth and residence, while educational attainment was significantly associated with access to and use of improved water sources. The findings highlight that disparities in access to water and sanitation exist in the SSA region, with household wealth, place of residence, and education significantly associated with households’ access and use of improved water sources and sanitation facilities. Governments in SSA should prioritize improving access to water and sanitation, particularly in underserved areas. Additionally, targeted strategies are needed to address disparities driven by socioeconomic and demographic factors.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana",
    "Department of Social and Behavioral Change, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana",
    "Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana",
    "Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Joyce Aputere Ndago"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Paul Adjorlolo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Martin Nyaaba Adokiya"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Micheal Boah"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/35m1amm9gfjkq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195",
  "id": "35m1amm9gfjkq",
  "issns": [
    "2767-3375"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2916|Child Nutrition and Water Access"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Natural resources/Water resources"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Pollution/Water pollution"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Environmental engineering/Water management"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Environmental health/Sanitation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Environmental health/Sanitation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Angola"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Chad"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Senegal"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Education/Educational attainment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220655527",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/35m1amm9gfjkq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006195"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "plos:pollution",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:public and occupational health",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Access to and use of improved water and sanitation facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data from 30 countries",
  "title_text": "Access to and use of improved water and sanitation facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data from 30 countries",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/35m1amm9gfjkq",
  "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health",
  "versions": []
}