Health Risk in Urbanizing Regions: Examining the Nexus of Infrastructure, Hygiene and Health in Tashkent Province, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Worldwide, development agencies have increased their investments in water supply and sanitation as a “powerful preventive medicine” to address infectious diseases. These interventions have focused on on-site technical interventions or social engineering approaches, emulating the result-based targets of the development goals. Against this backdrop, the study examines the following research question: What is the role of socio-cultural backgrounds, housing characteristics, and environmental hygiene practices in addressing water-transmitted diseases in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan. In a country where public statistics and official maps are rarely accessible, and research is restrictive, the study carried out a household survey using open data kit (ODK) between July and October 2015 in Olmalik, an industrial district, and the Kibray urbanizing district in the province. The findings reveal that demographic factors, poor sanitation practices, housing characteristics, and social behaviors are key predictors of water-transmitted diseases in the two districts. In the industrial township, poor housing, larger household size, and poor excreta disposal habits increased the occurrence of diseases, while in urbanizing districts, higher household size, frequently eating out, and access to public taps significantly increased the occurrence of water-transmitted diseases. The study, which was carried out in a challenging institutional environment, highlights the need for Uzbekistan to focus their policies on environmental hygiene, demographic factors and social behavior as key interventions rather than merely on on-site drinking water and sanitation interventions.

Regional Disparities in Safe and Clean Environments in Uzbekistan: Analysis of 2021–2022 Uzbekistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Data

“…Previous studies on the environment and health in Uzbekistan have focused on the Republic of Karakalpakstan [13] and the Tashkent region [14]. Research on the psychosocial health of residents in the Republic of Karakalpakstan demonstrated that the shrinking of the Aral Sea was perceived to contribute to physical symptoms and negative health effects [13].…”

“…Research on the psychosocial health of residents in the Republic of Karakalpakstan demonstrated that the shrinking of the Aral Sea was perceived to contribute to physical symptoms and negative health effects [13]. According to a study in the Tashkent region, poor sanitation practices were identified as significant predictors of waterborne disease [14]. Research has been conducted on the influence of proximity to industrial areas on congenital diseases, infant mortality, and lung cancer in certain regions.…”

Sanitation in Rural India: Exploring the Associations between Dwelling Space and Household Latrine Ownership

“…Housing characteristics are also considered social determinants of health outcomes [ 19 ], and might be associated with sanitation outcomes. For example, recent studies in Uzbekistan and China suggest that certain housing characteristics, such as access to a centralized water supply, are positively associated with improved water-borne illness outcomes and improved sanitation coverage rates [ 20 , 21 ]. Another critical housing characteristic, the amount of dwelling space owned by a family, is important because the toilet design recommended by the Government of India requires 67 ft 2 of land.…”