Trends in Health Burden of Untreated Water and Insanitary Environments in Iran, 1990-2010: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010

Summary: A study found better water systems in Iran cut waterborne disease deaths by 94% from 1990-2010, showing sanitation’s impact. #PublicHealth #WaterSafety

Ebrahimi A^{1, 2} ; Mahdavi M^{2, 3} ; Ghasemian A⁴ ; Poursafa P¹ ; Sharifi F⁵ ; Mohammadi R⁶ ; Nejatifar M⁶ ; Amin MM^{1, 2} ; Asayesh H⁷ ; Safiri S⁸ ; Ansari H⁹ ; Qorbani M^{4, 10}
Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2016

Abstract

Background: Water, sanitation and hygiene have a very important role in public health. Poor sanitation is the cause of water contamination, which causes many types of diseases. The aim of this paper was to present the attributable death and disability adjusted life year (DALYs) of untreated water and insanitary environments from 1990 to 2010 in Iran. Methods: In the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study, using the comparative risk assessment, the proportion of death and DALYs attributable to untreated water source and insanitary environment has been calculated in 1990 to 2010. The certain outcomes were intestinal infectious diseases for both untreated water source and insanitary environments. Estimated attributable deaths and DALYs were reported with 95% uncertainty interval (UI). Results: DALY number for untreated water source and insanitary environments was 5838 (95% UI: 198- 14837) in 1990, which decreased to 326 (95% UI: 9-863) in 2010 and the percent of decrease was 94.42%. In addition, DALY rate was 5667 (95% UI: 192-14402) DALY per 100,000 in 1990, which decreased to 453 (95% UI: 13-1199) DALY per 100,000 in 2010 and the percent of the reduction was 92.01%. The greatest percentage of decrease in the attributed number of deaths was also found in the late neonatal age group (95.45%). Conclusion: A significant decrease has occurred in a number of DALYs and deaths between 1990 and 2010, which was attributed to the development of new water systems and environmental sanitations in Iran.