Spatial Inequalities in Access to Safe Drinking Water in an Upper-Middle-Income Country: A Multi-Scale Analysis of Brazil

Access to drinking water is recognized as a human right, meaning that it is necessary to guarantee its universal and equitable access. Since analyzing only the average access rates to drinking water may obscure inequalities, studies have adapted socioeconomic inequalities indices to assess disparities. This research evaluated the Safe Drinking Water Access Index (SDWA) and inequalities access in all Brazilian municipalities using microdata from the 2010 Demographic Census. The inequalities were analyzed adapting indices derived from the Lorenz curve (Gini index, concentration coefficient and dissimilarity index). The results showed that the lowest SDWA rates and the highest inequality index values occurred in the north and northeast regions. The municipalities with significant inequality indexes values were rural with reduced gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. It was possible to punctuate municipalities that do not fit these rules but still need attention to safe water access guarantee. The amplitude of inequality index results reveals significant inequalities in the same regions or SDWA ranges. The inequalities in safe drinking water access were made more evident by the adapted Gini Index. This research contributes to the literature with an unprecedented analysis of Brazil and could be adapted to other countries and replicated to assess inequalities in sanitation access.

Automated summary

Access to drinking water is a human right, and this research evaluated the Safe Drinking Water Access Index (SDWA) and inequalities in access in all Brazilian municipalities. The study revealed low SDWA rates and high inequality index values in the north and northeast regions, particularly in rural areas with low GDP per capita. The adapted Gini Index highlighted significant inequalities in safe drinking water access.