Household Characteristics and Drinking Water Source in Rural Nigeria

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water remains a major public health concern in rural Nigeria, where household characteristics may influence the choice of drinking water sources. This study aimed to examine the determinants of improved versus unimproved drinking water sources among rural households using secondary data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A total of 62,143 rural households were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using STATA 17, employing univariate, bivariate, and multivariate approaches. The prevalence of improved drinking water use was 56.96 percent, while 43.04 percent of households relied on unimproved sources. Bivariate analysis showed significant associations between all household characteristics and water source choice (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that female-headed households, higher educational attainment, and higher wealth status were strongly associated with reduced odds of using unimproved water. Conversely, Traditionalist religion, and lower socioeconomic status increased the likelihood of relying on unimproved sources. A small but significant effect was also observed for household size. These findings indicate that socioeconomic disparities, education, and gender dynamics substantially shape water access in rural Nigeria. Strengthening community water infrastructure, improving household socioeconomic conditions, and expanding targeted interventions may help increase access to safe drinking water. Future studies should include community-level factors and qualitative insights to capture broader determinants of water access.