The effect of access to improved water and sanitation on household welfare: Case study evidence from UNHS 2023/2024
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Date
2026-05-25
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This study examined the association between access to improved water and sanitation and household welfare in Uganda using data from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2023/2024. Specifically, the study analyzed the association between access to improved drinking water, improved sanitation facilities, shared sanitation facilities, and time spent collecting water and household welfare. Household welfare was measured using welfare quintiles derived from household consumption expenditure. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional research design using secondary nationally representative data from 13,547 households. The effect of education level, region, place of
residence, household size, and sex of the head of the household was controlled for in the estimation of an ordered logistic regression model. All sampling weights and design adjustments have been used to guarantee that estimates are nationally representative. The results showed that improved drinking water and improved sanitation facility availability had positive and significant relationships with household welfare. Households with improved drinking water and sanitation had higher odds of belonging to higher welfare quintiles compared to households without such access. Time spent collecting water for more than 30 minutes was negatively associated with household welfare, suggesting that long water collection times are linked to reduced opportunities for productive and income-generating activities. The findings for shared sanitation were mixed. In the full sample, shared sanitation was positively associated with
household welfare, largely reflecting urban households living in formal shared residential settings with relatively better facilities. However, subgroup analysis revealed negative associations in some disadvantaged contexts, particularly where congestion and poor sanitation conditions were more prevalent. The study concludes that improved access to safe water and sanitation services is strongly associated with better household welfare outcomes in Uganda. However, since the study relied on cross-sectional survey data, the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than definitive causal relationships. The study recommends increased investment in rural water infrastructure, improved
sanitation programs, and reduction of water collection time through expansion of nearby safe water sources. Policies should also focus on improving the quality, hygiene, and management of shared sanitation facilities, particularly in densely populated and low-income areas where congestion and poor sanitation conditions may reduce household welfare.
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Undergraduate