Burden of Disease Attributable to Inadequate Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Korea.
10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e288
- Author:
Jong Hun KIM
1
;
Hae Kwan CHEONG
;
Byoung Hak JEON
Author Information
1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. bhjeon0369@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Inadequate Drinking Water;
Sanitation;
Hygiene;
Burden of Disease;
Handwashing;
Korea
- MeSH:
Cause of Death;
Communicable Diseases;
Developed Countries;
Developing Countries;
Drinking Water*;
Drinking*;
Hand Disinfection;
Hand Hygiene;
Hygiene*;
Korea*;
National Health Programs;
Poverty;
Risk Factors;
Sanitation*;
Sewage;
Soaps;
Water Quality;
Water Supply
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2018;33(46):e288-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Diarrheal and intestinal infectious disease caused by inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not only a great concern in developing countries but also a problem in low-income populations and rural areas in developed countries. In this study, we assessed the exposure to inadequate WASH in Korea and estimated the burden of disease attributable to inadequate WASH. METHODS: We used observational data on water supply, drinking water, sewage treatment rate, and hand washing to assess inadequate WASH conditions in Korea, and estimated the level of exposure in the entire population. The disease burden was estimated by applying the cause of death data from death registry and the morbidity data from the national health insurance to the population attributable fraction (PAF) for the disease caused by inappropriate WASH. RESULTS: In 2013, 1.4% of the population were exposed to inadequate drinking water, and 1.0% were living in areas where sewerage was not connected. The frequency of handwashing with soap after contact with excreta was 23.5%. The PAF due to inadequate WASH as a cluster of risk factors was 0.353 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.275–0.417), among which over 90% were attributable to hand hygiene factors that were significantly worse than those in American and European high-income countries. CONCLUSION: The level of hand hygiene in Korea has yet to be improved to the extent that it shows a significant difference compared to other high-income countries. Therefore, improving the current situation in Korea requires a continuous hand washing campaign and a program aimed at all people. In addition, continuous policy intervention for improvement of sewage treatment facilities in rural areas is required, and water quality control monitoring should be continuously carried out.
