Desigualdades no acesso ao saneamento básico em áreas rurais: estudo de caso no assentamento do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) no município de Alhandra-PB

Abstract

Access to basic sanitation is one of the main factors for promoting public health, quality of life, and sustainable development. Despite advances in public policies aimed at expanding these services in Brazil, significant inequalities in access to sanitation still exist, especially between urban and rural areas.Thus, this article conducts a study on basic sanitation services in rural areas. The research was carried out in a farmers’ settlement in the municipality of Alhandra, in the state of Paraíba, with the objective of evaluating the coverage of this service in the territory. Another aspect addressed concerns international and national actions aimed at achieving universal access to sanitation, using solutions based on ecological sanitation and social technologies.To identify this context, a qualitative methodology was used, including field visits and interviews with local residents. The results indicate a significant deficiency in sanitation services: water supply is obtained through wells, without any type of prior treatment; sewage disposal is carried out through rudimentary pits, also without treatment; and most solid waste is disposed of through burning.Therefore, the absence of effective and specific public policies for rural areas directly compromises the health and quality of life of the population living in these territories. The universalization of basic sanitation requires an inclusive approach that considers the specificities of rural environments and promotes sustainable solutions to transform this reality and ensure the right to sanitation for all.