Water, sanitation, and hygiene–specific risk factors of recent diarrheal episodes in children aged under 5 years: analysis of secondary data from the multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS 2019)

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, collectively called WASH, is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health. However, inadequate WASH practices and environments significantly contribute to the global burden of diarrheal diseases, particularly, in children aged under 5 years. Inadequate WASH conditions are the primary drivers of various infectious diseases, including cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio.