Cost-Effectiveness of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Intervention in Rural Areas of Ethiopia : An Empirical Analysis Based on a Cluster Randomized Control Trial

Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. It accounted for 81 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for all-ages in 2017. A significant proportion of diarrhoeal disease can be prevented through safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene. Ensuring access to sanitation for all by 2030 is set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); however, in 2017 above 1.7 billion people (22%) lacked basic sanitation facilities, and still, more than 494 million people were defecating in the open. Understanding the cost-effectiveness of CLTS intervention is crucial for policy direction towards alleviating mortality and morbidity of diarrhoeal diseases