Is the Tap Locked? An Event History Analysis of Piped Water Access in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

In many respects, easy access to water of good quality and in adequate quantity can be regarded as a basic social service that is central to both health and socioeconomic development. Having piped water in the dwelling or in the yard remains the best way of having low cost and easily accessible water, compared with water vendors or standpipes. However, international data estimate that only 35 per cent of urban population in sub-Saharan Africa have piped water access. This research uses event history analysis methods to study the factors affecting sustained piped water access in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, where only 23 per cent of the urban population had piped water in 2010. The analysis demonstrates the relationship between aspects of one's life history—particularly residential status—and access to piped water. These results are discussed from the perspective of social and health issues.