Diarrheal Diseases and Water Sanitation Interventions in Uganda: Evaluating Public Health Strategies

Diarrheal diseases remain a major public health concern in Uganda, particularly among children under five, due to inadequate access to clean water, poor sanitation, and insufficient hygiene practices. Despite ongoing efforts to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions, outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other diarrheal infections persist, exacerbated by poverty, limited infrastructure, and lack of public awareness. This review evaluates the prevalence, causes, and health impacts of diarrheal diseases in Uganda, alongside the effectiveness of existing WASH interventions. The study highlights key strategies such as water treatment, sanitation improvements, and hygiene promotion, while also examining challenges like infrastructural deficits, climate change, and socio-economic barriers to implementation. By analyzing gaps in current policies and interventions, this review provides evidence-based recommendations to enhance WASH initiatives and reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases in Uganda. Strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration, community engagement, and policy frameworks will be crucial in achieving sustainable improvements in public health outcomes. Keywords: Diarrheal diseases, water sanitation, hygiene interventions, public health, Uganda