Determinants of waterborne diseases in Argentina at the beginning of the 21st century

Abstract

Waterborne diseases are diseases caused by the consumption of water contaminated with chemical sustances and fecal remains of humans or animals containing pathogenic microorganisms. Its importance has been highlighted by different international organizations in relation to the right to universal health, to the point of being contemplated specifically within the action plan of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG, Goal 3.3). Although this group of diseases depends heavily on the population's drinking water supply, there are many factors that also affect water hygiene and sanitation. Therefore, the objective of this work is to determine the importance of different socio-economic and health factors in mortality from waterborne diseases in Argentina, analyzing the evolution of the data during the first decade of the 21st century. To do this, cause-specific mortality rates were calculated and logistic regressions were performed with selected socioeconomic variables. The results show a more important linear relationship of these diseases with the lack of health coverage, overcrowding and belonging to a rural area, than with the supply of drinking water.