The determinants of improvedwater supply for rural households in Kenya: A differential diagnosis framework for community health

Abstract

Water is life, for people and for the planet. The supply and demand for improved water plays a paramount role in the analyses of community health. The general objective of this study is to investigate whether improved water supply reduces incidents of water-borne disease and that access to latrines and water for washing reduces incidents of sanitary/hygienic-related disease, enhancing peoples' livelihood as a result. Arising from the dearth of knowledge on rural water supply services in Kenya, this study intends to show the extent to which rural households participate in decision-making about improved water supply, assess their choices of water supply, and identify the likelihood of exclusion from the use of improved water sources among the rural households. The study proposes to use the Ordinary Least Squares Method in the analysis to verify the hypothesis that greater access to water supply will provide more available time for individuals (mostly women), to utilize in other endeavors that can influence the economic welfare (or wellbeing), and improve overall health and basic sanitation of the community. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.