Impact of Water Quality on Diarrheal Infections in Nigerian Urban Slums: A Narrative Review of Exposure Pathways, Evidence and Equitable Wash Interventions

Mercy Latricia

Department of Pharmacognosy Kampala International University Uganda

Email: atricia.mercy@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

                                                                                         ABSTRACT
Diarrhoeal infections remain a major public health problem in Nigeria’s informal urban settlements, where population growth has outpaced water, sanitation, drainage, and waste services. This review shows that diarrhoea risk is driven mainly by faecal contamination throughout the source-to-mouth chain. Wells, boreholes, piped systems, tanker water, carts, and sachets may become contaminated through nearby latrines, drains, dumpsites, flooding, leaks, poor handling, or weak regulation. Even safe water can be recontaminated during transport, storage, and serving. Nigerian studies report higher diarrhoea rates among households using unimproved sources, although source type does not always reflect actual water quality. Children under five face the greatest health risks, while women and girls bear collection and caregiving burdens. Effective prevention requires reliable water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste control, vendor regulation, microbial monitoring, safe storage, hygiene, breastfeeding, vaccination, treatment, community participation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and evaluation of quality, affordability, equity, reliability, and health outcomes across vulnerable communities.

Keywords: water quality; diarrhoea; urban slums; informal settlements; Nigeria; faecal contamination; WASH; water safety

CITE AS: Mercy Latricia (2026). Impact of Water Quality on Diarrheal Infections in Nigerian Urban Slums: A Narrative Review of Exposure Pathways, Evidence and Equitable Wash Interventions. IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED FIELDS 11(3):75-79.
https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JBBAF/2026/1137579