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Background <p>Optimal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remains a significant challenge in urban slums. Understanding the demand- and supply-side barriers to the provision of safe WASH facilities and the factors influencing access to these services will contribute to developing effective strategies for promoting such services and improving the health of slum dwellers. This paper provides new evidence on demand- and supply-side barriers to safe WASH services in urban slums in Nigeria.</p> Methods <p>A qualitative study was undertaken in two urban slums in Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra state, Southeast, Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 WASH stakeholders, and six focus group discussions were held with community members. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo software.</p> Results <p>Barriers to the adoption of safe WASH practices and services exist at multiple levels. On the demand-side, intrapersonal-level factors, such as limited knowledge, attitudes, and practices of safe WASH and its benefits, hinder access to WASH services. Additionally, interpersonal-level factors, including a lack of demand creation for WASH services, also pose a challenge. Conversely, supply-side factors that impede the provision of WASH infrastructure and services include community-level barriers, such as weak leadership and governance, institutional-level barriers, including inadequate multisectoral collaboration, inspection, and implementation of WASH regulations, and public policy-level barriers, such as insufficient funding and resource allocation at state and local government level.</p> Conclusion <p>The study identifies a range of barriers affecting access to and provision of WASH services in urban slums, including individual, institutional, and policy-level constraints. To address these challenges, policy recommendations include integrating WASH education, strengthening multisectoral collaboration, enhancing institutional capacity, and increasing funding and resource allocation for WASH infrastructure.</p>

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Exploring demand and supply-side barriers to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in urban slums in southeast Nigeria

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月15日

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  • Uchenna Ezenwaka,
  • Iheomimichineke Ojiakor,
  • Chinyere Okeke,
  • Joseph Nwankwo,
  • Obinna Onwujekwe

摘要

Background

Optimal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remains a significant challenge in urban slums. Understanding the demand- and supply-side barriers to the provision of safe WASH facilities and the factors influencing access to these services will contribute to developing effective strategies for promoting such services and improving the health of slum dwellers. This paper provides new evidence on demand- and supply-side barriers to safe WASH services in urban slums in Nigeria.

Methods

A qualitative study was undertaken in two urban slums in Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra state, Southeast, Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 WASH stakeholders, and six focus group discussions were held with community members. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo software.

Results

Barriers to the adoption of safe WASH practices and services exist at multiple levels. On the demand-side, intrapersonal-level factors, such as limited knowledge, attitudes, and practices of safe WASH and its benefits, hinder access to WASH services. Additionally, interpersonal-level factors, including a lack of demand creation for WASH services, also pose a challenge. Conversely, supply-side factors that impede the provision of WASH infrastructure and services include community-level barriers, such as weak leadership and governance, institutional-level barriers, including inadequate multisectoral collaboration, inspection, and implementation of WASH regulations, and public policy-level barriers, such as insufficient funding and resource allocation at state and local government level.

Conclusion

The study identifies a range of barriers affecting access to and provision of WASH services in urban slums, including individual, institutional, and policy-level constraints. To address these challenges, policy recommendations include integrating WASH education, strengthening multisectoral collaboration, enhancing institutional capacity, and increasing funding and resource allocation for WASH infrastructure.