Abstract:
In this study, data was collected from various sources, including the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Kiribati National Tourism Office, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Division, Public Utilities Board. A survey of a stratified sample of about 10% of households across each of the South Tarawa villages was also conducted.
The total annual economic burden of poor water and sanitation on South Tarawa is estimated to be A$3.7-A$7.3 million. These costs include those borne by the government and households and the wider economy as a whole. This translates into an annual economic cost of A$553-A$1,083 per household, or 2%-4% of the countryâs nominal 2013 Gross Domestic Product. These estimates are conservative since not all impacts such as ecosystem and tourism costs could be quantified with certainty.
The study also finds that female children have a higher likelihood of suffering from diarrhea and dysentery than males, and that age influences the changes of individuals suffering from these diseases, which men having a greater chance of suffering as they get older when compared with women.