Regional Differentials in Access to Improved Water and Sanitation in Urban Zambia

Eunice N. S. Imasiku, University of Zambia

More than half (55%) of the world’s population live in urban areas. This poses challenges in delivering services such as water and sanitation (WS) to the citizens to ensure a high quality of life in urban spaces. Lack of access to improved WS has health consequences. Using data for 6,640 households in the Zambia DHS, this study aimed at identifying variations in access to improved WS in urban Zambia and examining the factors influencing the access. Binary regression analysis was employed to examine factors associated with access to improved WS. Lusaka had the highest proportion of households with access to improved WS. Wealth was positively associated with access to improved WS. Male headed households were 31% less likely to have access to improved water. Wealth was positively associated with access to improved WS. There is need for the government to increase access to improved WS among the urban poor.