Socio-Economic Factors Related to Drinking Water Source and Sanitation in Malaysia

Yuke-Lin Kong, Jailani Anis-Syakira, Weng Hong Fun, Nur Zahirah Balqis-Ali, M. S. Shakirah and Sondi Sararaks
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Yuke-Lin Kong: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia
Jailani Anis-Syakira: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia
Weng Hong Fun: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia
Nur Zahirah Balqis-Ali: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia
M. S. Shakirah: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia
Sondi Sararaks: Health Outcomes Research Division, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: Access to improved water and sanitation is essential. We describe these practices in Malaysia using data from a nationwide community survey and used logistic regression to assess the determinants. Of the 7978 living quarters (LQs), 58.3% were in urban areas. About 2.4%, 0.5% and 27.4% of LQs had non-improved water sources, non-improved toilet types and improper domestic waste disposal, respectively. Open burning was practiced by 26.1%. Water source was a problem for long houses (10.5%), squatters (8.5%) and shared houses (4.0%). Non-improved toilet types were 11.9% for squatters and 4.8% for shared houses. Improper domestic waste disposal practices were higher for occupants of village houses (64.2%), long houses (54.4%), single houses (45.8%) and squatters (35.6%). An increase in education or income level was associated with a decrease in improper domestic waste disposal methods. House type significantly affected water and sanitation after adjusting for the effects of other variables. Lower household income was associated with non-improved toilet types and improper domestic waste disposal. Lower education and rural location influenced domestic waste disposal. The water and toilet facilities in Malaysia were generally good, while domestic waste management practices could be improved. There remain pockets of communities with environmental challenges for the nation.

Keywords: sanitation; drinking water source; house type; strata; income; education level (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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