Factors influencing householders' access to improved water in low-income urban areas of Accra, Ghana
Abstract
We analysed householders' access to improved water for drinking and other domestic uses in five selected low-income urban areas of Accra, Ghana using a survey of 1,500 households. Our definitions of improved water were different from those suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results revealed that only 4.4% of the respondents had access to improved drinking water compared to 40.7% using the WHO definition. However, 88.7% of respondents had access to improved water for domestic uses compared to 98.3% using the WHO definition. Using logistic regression analysis, we established that the significant determinant of householders' access to improved drinking water was income. However, for access to improved water for other domestic uses, the significant factors were education, income and location of the household. Compared to migrants, indigenous people and people from mixed areas were less likely to have access to improved water for other domestic purposes. For the analysis using the WHO definitions, most of the independent variables were not statistically significant in determining householders' access, and those variables that were significant generated parameter estimates inconsistent with evidence from the literature and anecdotal evidence from officials of public health and water supply companies in Ghana.
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A recent study reported a significant association between access to improved water sources for domestic uses and the level of education in low-income urban areas of Accra.
“This differs from a recent study that reported a significant association between access to improved water sources for domestic uses and the level of education in low-income urban areas of Accra [21].”
From Barriers to access improved water and sanitation in poor peri-urban settlements of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
Higher socio-economic classes are more likely to access improved water because they have the ability to purchase private alternative sources during shortages.
“Higher socio-economic classes are more likely to access improved water because they have the ability to purchase private alternative sources during shortages [21].”
From Barriers to access improved water and sanitation in poor peri-urban settlements of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
In general, in the planning of African cities, the need for water and sanitation in poor communities is not adequately taken into account.
“However, in general, in the planning of African cities, the need for water and sanitation in poor communities is not adequately taken into account [21, 29].”
From Barriers to access improved water and sanitation in poor peri-urban settlements of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
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- Authors
- Mahama, A. M., Anaman, K. A., & Osei-Akoto, I.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Post Office Box LG74, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Corresponding author
- Anaman, Kwabena Asomanin
- Venue
- Journal of Water and Health
- Publisher
- IWA Publishing
- Published
- 2014-01-03
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 318-331
- ISSN
- 1477-8920 (ISSN-L)
- 1996-7829
- OpenAlex
- W2150796450
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 2.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Water and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Resource Management and Quality
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Water Governance and Infrastructure
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Keywords
- improved water access, drinking water, household water use, low-income urban households, Accra, household income, household location, migrants, indigenous peoples, water supply
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Child, Preschool, Cities, Family Characteristics, Female, Ghana, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Poverty, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Water Supply, Young Adult, Water Quality, Drinking Water
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