Household Multidimensional Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Poverty in Pakistan

Abstract Human health and well-being have become a priority after the recent pandemic. Attainment of SDGs of good health and well-being for all, availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation with hygiene by 2030, is possible in developing economies after valuation of existing situations. Current research evaluates household multidimensional water, sanitation, and hygiene poverty in Pakistan using household survey data from Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey, 2018–2019. Dimensions for household water poverty measurement comprise resource, access, capacity, and use. Multidimensional sanitation poverty has two dimensions namely access and use. Hygiene poverty is assessed with food and personal hygiene dimensions. Multidimensional water poverty incidence is 51.2 percent, and 66.4 percent of sample households are experiencing deprivation in multiple dimensions of sanitation poverty. Multidimensional hygiene poverty incidence is 54.6 percent of the sample households in Pakistan. Results show multidimensional water poverty incidence of 4.6 percent, multidimensional sanitation poverty incidence of 61.9 percent, and multidimensional hygiene poverty incidence of 37.3 percent of the sample households in rural Pakistan. Balochistan and KP are highly water-deprived provinces, while highest multidimensional sanitation poverty incidence and multidimensional hygiene poverty incidence is in Balochistan. The study recommends assurance of policymakers towards policy implementation focusing on access to clean water and equitable hygiene and sanitation for all. Most deprived regions should get more financial and technical support for access to required facilities. Greater involvement of local communities in improvement of water, sanitation, and hygiene management can ensure long-term sustainability of such efforts creating a sense of ownership.