Is household water insecurity a link between water governance and well-being? A multi-site analysis

Miller, Joshua D.; Vonk, Jaynie; Staddon, Chad; Young, Sera L.

Abstract

Improving water governance is a top priority for addressing the global water crisis. Yet, there is a dearth of empirical data examining whether better water governance is associated with lower water insecurity and improved well-being. We, therefore, pooled household data from two Sustainable Water Effectiveness Reviews conducted by Oxfam GB in Zambia (n = 997) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, n = 1,071) to assess the relationship between perceived water governance (using a 12-item indicator), water insecurity [using the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale], and four indicators of well-being: life satisfaction, drinking unsafe water, diarrhea, and resilience to cholera outbreak. Using generalized structural equation models controlling for wealth and primary water source, each point increase in water governance score was associated with a 0.69-point decrease in HWISE Scale scores. Good water governance was also directly associated with greater odds of life satisfaction (aOR 1.24) and lower odds of both drinking unsafe water (aOR 0.91) and severe cholera impact (aOR 0.92). Furthermore, the relationships between water governance and drinking unsafe water, diarrhea, and cholera impact were mediated by household water insecurity. Improving water governance has the potential to meaningfully impact entrenched public health issues through changes in water insecurity.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 10, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
• Print ISSN: 2043-9083
• Publisher: IWA Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 320-334
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.165
• Keywords: Waste Management and Disposal; Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Development; Pollution; Water Science and Technology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5964473