Socioeconomic predictors of access to improved water sources, sanitation facilities, and household water treatment in Nigeria

In Nigeria, the widespread lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) represents a critical public health challenge. Yet, the socioeconomic determinants of WASH access at the national level remain poorly understood. This study uses 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) cross-sectional data to investigate the socioeconomic factors associated with WASH access. The majority of survey respondents lived in rural areas (57%); used an improved source of drinking water (73%) and an improved sanitation facility (55%); and did not treat their drinking water (92%). Binary logistic regression showed that Nigerians living in rural areas were less likely to have access to an improved water source (p < 0.001, OR = 0.42 [0.41, 0.44]) and less likely to have access to an improved sanitation facility (p < 0.001, OR = 0.79 [0.77, 0.81]). A sub-group regression analysis of respondents without access to improved WASH found that rural residence (OR = 0.84 [0.76, 0.93]), along with lower levels of education and wealth were associated with non-treatment of their unimproved drinking water. This study suggests that efforts are needed to increase WASH access in rural areas and to improve household water treatment in areas without access to improved water and sanitation.