Knowledge Summary 30: Water, sanitation and hygiene – the impact on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health

Creating equitable and sustainable access to safe water and improved sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can dramatically benefit reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH). Integrating WASH services and practices into health services delivery in health facilities and improving access to WASH within communities has been shown to decrease both morbidity and mortality of women and children. WASH interventions are cost-effective and have the potential to improve gender equality and human rights – crucial to the post-2015 development agenda – by giving women and girls more social freedom and safety, and removing inequitable work burdens. Creating multisectoral interventions that address WASH and RMNCH, and integrating WASH into existing frameworks and agendas for health, has the potential to bring about lasting and positive change for women, children, families and communities.