Improved water sources, sanitation and hygiene conditions at the community level generate important positive externalities in terms of better health. The incidence of diarrheal diseases, malnutrition and mortality especially among children are enlarged by inadequate water supply and unimproved sanitation. The study tries to explore the linkages between basic amenities and child health. Objective of the paper is to assess the extent of association between various variables like drinking water, latrine, bathroom facility, closed drainage, Infant and Under-five mortality rate; to develop a comprehensive water-sanitation index and also to investigate its impact on child health. Data is undertaken from census of India 2011 and Annual Health Survey 2011–12 for all the districts of Rajasthan. Various statistical tools have been applied such as Principal Component Analysis, Spearman's rank correlation and Regression analysis. The analysis concludes that accessibility of safe drinking water and improved sanitation are significantly associated with better health outcomes. Large inter-district variations are also observed which further calls to have equitable allocation of resources. The study suggests for adopting an integrated approach, focusing the inter-linkages of water and sanitation to have laudable health outcomes. Importance of water and sanitation facility is clearly viewed by the analysis therefore better health outcomes cannot be imagined in isolation. In order to achieve the Millennium goals of reducing child mortality and ensuring environmental sustainability these issues should be viewed holistically.
Water sources, sanitation and hygiene condition
