Socioeconomic disparities in complete indoor plumbing in the United States
Date
2024-12
Authors
Bhattarai, Dilli Ram
Major Professor
Advisor
Poleacovschi, Cristina
Liu, Lu
Feinstein, Scott
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Abstract
Across the United States, significant disparities exist in access to complete indoor plumbing. Complete indoor plumbing is defined as hot and cold running water, sinks and faucets, a flush toilet, and a bathtub or shower, all for exclusive use within the unit. While the literature acknowledges these disparities, the data used in these analyses are often outdated, with most studies relying on information predating 2016. Moreover, since 2016, significant events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the critical importance of hygiene and sanitation. To address this gap, our study aims to understand the disparities in access to complete indoor plumbing in the United States and how socioeconomic and racial factors influence these disparities over time. Understanding how socioeconomic factors influence the availability of complete indoor plumbing over time is crucial for identifying and addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring equitable access to basic facilities for all communities.
We used data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates covering the period from 2017 to 2021 and employed Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)’s ArcGIS software to analyze both the spatial distribution and spatial autocorrelation of changes in access to indoor plumbing across the United States. Additionally, we conducted a longitudinal regression model (linear mixed-effects regression) using RStudio Desktop version ‘2024.4.1.748’. The model included fixed and interaction effects and incorporated random effects to account for variability over the years.
Our analysis reveals increased disparities in access to indoor plumbing, particularly in the Southwestern and Eastern regions and the Alaska area. Furthermore, significant relationships emerge in regression models concerning race, income, and migrant status. Regression results show an increased likelihood of the Black or African American community lacking indoor plumbing over time. Additionally, the Asian population and Hispanic or Latino population exhibit a decreased likelihood of lacking complete indoor plumbing over time. The interaction results indicate a significant influence of socioeconomic factors, such as education, income, and immigrant status, on access to complete indoor plumbing. These findings suggest valuable insights for government agencies and researchers. Governments can formulate targeted policies to address disparities, and researchers can deepen their understanding of underlying factors.
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