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Experiences of inequalities in access to safe water and psycho-emotional distress in Ghana

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  • Achore, Meshack
  • Bisung, Elijah

Abstract

Research suggests that experiences of water insecurity may negatively impact the psycho-emotional wellbeing of water-insecure households. This paper examines how perceived inequalities in water access mediate the relationship between water insecurity and psycho-emotional distress. Data were collected among 1192 men and women in Ghana who are active water collectors within their households. We employed a binary logistics regression to identify the determinants of psycho-emotional distress. Sobel test was used to test the indirect effect of water insecurity and psycho-emotional distress through perceived inequalities. The results show that wealth (OR = 6.6, CI = 2.784–14.076), number of people in a household (OR = 1.07, CI = 1.002–1.145) and perceived inequalities (OR = 4.6, CI = 2.737–7.907) are significant predictors of psycho-emotional distress. Sobel test indicated that the point estimate (PE) of the indirect effect between water insecurity and psycho-emotional distress through perceived inequality is -0.136 (p = 0.000), meaning households were less likely to experience psycho-emotional distress if they felt that safe water facilities were equally distributed. The findings suggest that the distribution of water resources in cities with water challenges, no matter how scarce those resources are, has a profound effect on psycho-emotional distress. In resources constrained cities, there is a need for holistic water-related interventions that make inclusivity and fairness their primary focus.

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  • Achore, Meshack & Bisung, Elijah, 2022. "Experiences of inequalities in access to safe water and psycho-emotional distress in Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:301:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622002763
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114970
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Workman, Cassandra L. & Ureksoy, Heather, 2017. "Water insecurity in a syndemic context: Understanding the psycho-emotional stress of water insecurity in Lesotho, Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 52-60.
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    4. Joseph Kangmennaang & Elijah Bisung & Susan J. Elliott, 2020. "‘We Are Drinking Diseases’: Perception of Water Insecurity and Emotional Distress in Urban Slums in Accra, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Dickin, Sarah & Bisung, Elijah & Nansi, Juste & Charles, Katrina, 2021. "Empowerment in water, sanitation and hygiene index," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
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    7. Wutich, Amber & Ragsdale, Kathleen, 2008. "Water insecurity and emotional distress: Coping with supply, access, and seasonal variability of water in a Bolivian squatter settlement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2116-2125, December.
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    1. Acheampong, Alex O. & Opoku, Eric Evans Osei & Tetteh, Godsway Korku, 2024. "Unveiling the effect of income inequality on safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): Does financial inclusion matter?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).

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