The health benefits are usually considered to be the most significant impacts of sanitation, but other factors are also important. This literature review examines both published and grey literature on the non-health impacts of sanitation. The main sections of this report summarize the social impacts of sanitation on women, adolescent girls, children, the disabled and the environment. Safe, private sanitation facilities can help women and girls to be secure and healthy, can encourage girls' attendance in school past puberty, can help preserve the dignity of disabled people and can improve the environment.