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Estimating the impact of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene on the global burden of disease: evolving and alternative methods
Author(s) -
Clasen Thomas,
PrussUstun Annette,
Mathers Colin D.,
Cumming Oliver,
Cairncross Sandy,
Colford John M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12330
Subject(s) - sanitation , hygiene , environmental health , disease burden , psychological intervention , context (archaeology) , burden of disease , medicine , population , public health , global health , geography , nursing , pathology , archaeology
Abstract The 2010 global burden of disease ( GBD ) study represents the latest effort to estimate the global burden of disease and injuries and the associated risk factors. Like previous GBD studies, this latest iteration reflects a continuing evolution in methods, scope and evidence base. Since the first GBD Study in 1990, the burden of diarrhoeal disease and the burden attributable to inadequate water and sanitation have fallen dramatically. While this is consistent with trends in communicable disease and child mortality, the change in attributable risk is also due to new interpretations of the epidemiological evidence from studies of interventions to improve water quality. To provide context for a series of companion papers proposing alternative assumptions and methods concerning the disease burden and risks from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, we summarise evolving methods over previous GBD studies. We also describe an alternative approach using population intervention modelling. We conclude by emphasising the important role of GBD studies and the need to ensure that policy on interventions such as water and sanitation be grounded on methods that are transparent, peer‐reviewed and widely accepted.