Analysis of Determinants of Uninhabitable Houses (RTLH) in Indonesia

Abstract

Urbanization in Indonesia is rapidly increasing population density and the demand for habitable housing. This study examines the determinants of uninhabitable houses (RTLH) and evaluates provincial-level access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities, focusing on uninhabitable housing issues. Significant gaps in access to adequate drinking water and sanitation persist in Indonesia. The research question addresses the determinants of RTLH and the state of access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities in the country. This study uniquely integrates RTLH determinants with provincial-level data on water and sanitation access, along with regional and socio-economic indicators, providing a comprehensive perspective. Employing panel data regression with a Random Effects model, the study analyzes RTLH determinants using data from the Central Statistics Agency. Key determinants of RTLH include piped water, bottled water, refilled water, pumped water, protected well, protected spring, septic tank, WWTP, open pit, population density, homeownership, years of schooling, GDP per capita, open unemployment rate, informal labor, and agricultural labor. While 91% of households have access to improved drinking water sources, only 81% have access to improved sanitation facilities; unimproved sanitation facilities like open pits are still common in urban areas of Bengkulu, Lampung, and West Kalimantan. Government interventions are essential to ensure the availability of piped water and eliminate unimproved sanitation facilities, particularly open pits, in urban areas. The findings emphasize the need for improved educational facilities in high-RTLH regions like Papua, highlighting the critical nature of these interventions for reducing RTLH in Indonesia.