title: Environmental health indicators and sanitation-related disease in developing countries: limitations to the use of routine data sources.
abstract: This article explores conceptual issues in the development and use of environmental health indicators for basic problems related to water and sanitation in developing countries. In this context, faecal contamination is the most important environmental health problem, responsible for the death of approximately 3 million children a year, and the infection of hundreds of millions. Good indicators would be invaluable in assessing the magnitude and source of such problems in different settings.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Health Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kolsky
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D003625:Data Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012499:Sanitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data