Evolution of basic sanitation in the south of the state of Bahia, Brazil: state comparative analysis between 2010 and 2018

Abstract

Adequate access to improved sanitation is an essential condition for public health, social welfare, and economic development. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of aspects related to improved sanitation in the Brazilian State of Bahia and its southern region between 2010 and 2018. While the state and regional population grew by 5.6% and 3.0%, respectively, the growth in the extension of drinking water distribution and domestic sewage collection networks varied between 13.5% and 86.4%, respectively. However, regional indices were lower than state indices with respect to both aspects. On the other hand, the per capita investment of federal funds in sanitation in the southern region was higher than the state average from 2010 to 2016 with a gradual decrease in this proportion since 2012. Although both the state and its southern region showed improvements in sanitation rates during the study period, their most recent figures are still below national averages. Thus, there is a need for the continuity and increase in investments, not only of federal origin, to guarantee universal sanitation, human dignity, and public health.