Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS) The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
PLoS One. 2022 May 11;17(5):e0267386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267386. eCollection 2022.
This study aimed to quantify the inequalities and identify the associated factors of the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) targets in relation to safe drinking water. The concentration of the gut bacterium Escherichia coli in drinking water at the point of use (POU) and other information were extracted from the latest wave of the nationally representative Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2019). Bivariate and multivariable multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify potential predictors of contamination, whereas, classification trees were used to determine specific combinations of background characteristics with significantly higher rates of contamination. A higher risk of contamination from drinking water was observed for households categorized as middle or low wealth who collected water from sources with higher concentrations of E. coli. Treatment of drinking water significantly reduced the risk of higher levels of contamination, whereas owning a pet was significantly associated with recontamination. Regional differences in the concentrations of E. coli present in drinking water were also observed. Interventions in relation to water sources should emphasize reducing the level of E. coli contamination. Our results may help in developing effective policies for reducing diarrheal diseases by reducing water contamination risks.
本研究旨在量化与安全饮用水相关的联合国可持续发展目标（SDG）指标的不平等现象，并确定其相关因素。本研究从最新一轮具有全国代表性的孟加拉国多指标类集调查（MICS 2019）中提取了饮用水在使用点（POU）的肠道细菌大肠杆菌浓度和其他信息。本研究采用双变量和多变量多项逻辑回归模型来确定污染的潜在预测因素，而分类树则用于确定与污染率显著较高的特定背景特征组合。从中等或低财富家庭以及从大肠杆菌浓度较高的水源收集水的家庭中，观察到饮用水污染的风险更高。饮用水处理可显著降低更高水平污染的风险，而养宠物则与再污染显著相关。饮用水中存在的大肠杆菌浓度也存在区域差异。与水源有关的干预措施应强调降低大肠杆菌污染水平。本研究结果可能有助于通过降低水污染风险，制定有效政策来减少腹泻病。
