COVID-19 and household water insecurities in vulnerable communities in the Mekong Region

L. Lebel, H. Navy, P. Siharath, C. T. M. Long, N. Aung, P. Lebel, Chu Thai Hoanh and B. Lebel

Papers published in Journals (Open Access), 2022, 20p. (Online first)

Abstract: Access to sufficient clean water is important for reducing the risks from COVID-19. It is unclear, however, what influence COVID-19 has had on water insecurities. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between COVID-19 control measures and household water insecurities. A survey of 1559 individuals living in vulnerable communities in five countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) showed that increased needs for clean water to wash hands or facemasks made it more likely a person was water insecure along those dimensions. Water insecurities with respect to handwashing and drinking, in turn, made adoption of the corresponding good practices less likely, whereas in the case of washing facemasks there was no association. Water system infrastructure, environmental conditions such as foods and droughts, as well as gender norms and knowledge, were also important for water insecurities and the adoption of good practices. As domestic water insecurities and COVID-19 control measures are associated with each other, efforts should therefore be directed at identifying and assisting the water insecure at high risk when COVID-19 reaches their communities.

Keywords: Water insecurity; COVID-19; Households; Vulnerability; Communities; Sustainable Development Goals; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation; Water, sanitation and hygiene; Hand washing; Good practices; Drinking water; Water quality; Water systems; Gender; Women; Risk reduction; Socioeconomic environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iwt:jounls:h050959

DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02182-0

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