NEHA Housing Sanitation & Safety Practice Exam

Poor household sanitation leads to several adverse effects on health, with one significant consequence being higher rates of diseases and health issues. When sanitation facilities are inadequate or improperly maintained, it creates an environment that fosters the proliferation of pathogens. Contaminated water and inadequate waste disposal can lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrheal diseases, cholera, and other gastrointestinal infections.

Individuals living in unsanitary conditions are at a greater risk for contracting diseases, which can result in increased healthcare costs and productivity losses. This creates a vicious cycle where poor health exacerbates poverty and reduced economic opportunities due to frequent illness. By improving sanitation, communities can significantly reduce the incidence of these health problems and the overall burden of disease.

Other options, while they may present positive outcomes, do not align with the realities of poor sanitation. For instance, increased economic opportunities or better environmental conditions are unlikely to arise from unsanitary practices, and community relations can often suffer in environments where health issues are rampant. Thus, higher rates of diseases and health issues is the most accurate result of poor household sanitation.

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