Water, sanitation, and hygiene global research: evolution, trends, and knowledge structure

Area of Science:

• Public Health and Environmental Science
• Global Development Studies
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are fundamental to public health, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic development.
• Global WASH challenges are exacerbated by climate change, water scarcity, pandemics like COVID-19, conflicts, and socioeconomic inequalities.
• The scientific community actively researches WASH, necessitating a comprehensive overview of global knowledge and research trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive examination and evaluation of the global body of knowledge on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
• To analyze research trends, collaborative patterns, and national productivity in WASH research.
• To identify key research areas and inform future policy and collaborative efforts.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database with specific WASH-related search terms.
• Network visualization maps generated using VOSviewer 1.6.18 to assess collaboration and trends.
• Country research output adjusted for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population size.

Main Results:

• A total of 1805 WASH-related publications were identified, with 1589 being articles and reviews.
• The USA (42.0%) and the UK (24.9%) were the most productive countries in WASH research.
• Ethiopia led in publications relative to GDP per capita, followed by Uganda, Malawi, India, and Bangladesh; the USA, UK, and Switzerland showed the most international collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Key research themes include WASH's role in sustainable development, impacts on gender and child health, disease outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19), and hygiene interventions.
• The study highlights disparities in global WASH research output and collaboration.
• Enhanced collaboration between developed and developing nations is crucial for advancing WASH research and implementing effective global policies.