Examining accessibility to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in urban informal settlements during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Nairobi, Kenya

Keywords: COVID-19, water, sanitation, hygiene, accessibility, informal settlements, Kenya
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 8

Abstract

This research examined the WASH facility (water facilities and toilets) accessibility and opportunity in Kibera and Mathare – urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya – during the COVID-19 pandemic. We utilized the most up-to-date data on the list of water and toilet facilities that have been collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. By conducting quantitative geospatial analysis, we illustrated specific pictures of WASH accessibility and opportunity issues that were not revealed by previous studies: (1) 77.4% of people living in Kibera have limited WASH facility accessibility or opportunity; (2) 60.6% of people living in Mathare have limited WASH facility accessibility or opportunity; (3) there is a clear geographic pattern in WASH facility accessibility and opportunity; and (4) overall accessibility and opportunity is better in Mathare than in Kibera. Our study is significant as it is one of the first studies that has attempted to examine WASH accessibility issues in urban informal settlements during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing the most up-to-date data and quantitative geospatial methods. Based on the results, we discussed important public health policy implications for people living in urban informal settlements to improve their accessibility to WASH facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.