Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices in Africa: exploring the effects on public health and sustainable development plans

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices in Africa: exploring the effects on public health and sustainable development plans

Suboptimal water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices constitute a serious public health risk, affecting one‑third of the world’s population.

Remarkable progress has been made to improve WASH; however, challenges remain, with rapid population growth adding pressure on WASH systems.

This study explores the current state of WASH practices and diseases in Africa, identifies challenges, and proposes public health recommendations
for sustainable implementation.

Keywords Water, sanitation, and hygiene, WASH, Public health, Africa, Sustainable Development Goals