Demographic analysis of the urban sanitation in Brazil (1972 – 2002)

Sonaly Rezende, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/CEDEPLAR
Simone Wajnman, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Léo Heller, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental

The demographic analysis aims to shed light in important aspects of the Brazilian urban sanitation process. The lack of stable politics regarding this aspect characterizes the Brazilian sanitation actions. The 70´s marked richest phase of urban environment sanitation, showing the largest advances in the water supply and sewerage systems. During the 80´s the sanitation sector faces a stagnation period and in the 90´s it advances again. The population dynamics events are helpful for explaining the sanitation in Brazil. The results of the study show that the chances to have access to sanitation are greater for older cohorts. It becomes clear when the household head educational level is included in the model. The household head educational level is strongly associated to sanitation and the cohort effects were underestimating the effects of educational level increase. It is necessary to give more attention to the formation of new households, especially those built after 70´s.