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Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation: Public Health Implications in Rural Bangladesh

Students & Supervisors

Student Authors
Arizit Chaki Artha
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering, FST
Sazid Mohsin
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering, FST
Supervisors
Md. Mortuza Ahmmed
Associate Professor, Faculty, FST

Abstract

Safe drinking water and proper sanitation are very important for good health, especially in rural areas of Bangladesh. Many people in villages still get sick from waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and other infections. Poor services cause diseases and create health problems among rich and poor people. This study explores the changes and impacts on rural health in Bangladesh over the past 30 years (1994–2023). The focus is on trends in disease prevalence, health equity, nutritional status, service access, and vaccination coverage, exploring how these factors have evolved and influenced public health outcomes in rural communities. Five health indicators were analyzed using 30-year of secondary government and NGOs datasets: the Health Equity Index, Disease Prevalence Rate, Nutritional Status (national survey rates of malnutrition), Service Access (percentage of households with safe water and improved sanitation), and Vaccination Coverage (completion rates of major childhood vaccines). We used time trend analysis, correlation, and linear regression to identify patterns and connections. Disease rates were highest in 2005 (29.36%) and 2010 (28.78%) and lowest in 2007 (5.39%). Health equity dropped to 0.42 in 2016 but improved to 0.71 in 2023. Service access rose significantly (40.55%-92.61%) with an average of 68.4%. Vaccination coverage exceeded 95% several times but fell to 65.08% in 2022. The connection between disease rates and health fairness was very weak (r = -0.033). Service access and vaccination together explained only 3.2% of the variation in disease rates. The results show that although rural health improved during certain periods, equity gaps remained. The weak connections between health factors show that many things affect health outcomes. Policymakers should place greater emphasis on improving health equity and improving rural services to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation in rural areas.

Keywords

rural health sanitation health equity disease prevalence public health policy

Publication Details

  • Type of Publication:
  • Conference Name: 7th International Conference on Integrated Sciences (ICIS 2025)
  • Date of Conference: 25/10/2025 - 25/10/2025
  • Venue: Eastern University Campus, Ashulia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Organizer: Eastern University, Bangladesh
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