Estimating the Impact of Unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on the Global Burden of Disease: Evolving and Alternative Methods

This paper by Clasen et al. (2014), published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, provides a summary of evolving methods over previous Global Burden of Disease studies, to provide context for a series of companion papers proposing alternative assumptions and methods concerning the disease burden and risks from inadequate WASH. The authors also describe an alternative approach using population intervention modelling. Conclusions emphasise the important role of Global Burden of Disease studies and the need to ensure that policy on interventions such as WASH are grounded on methods that are transparent, peer-reviewed and widely accepted.