Abstract
Every year, Bangladesh experiences major floods that inundate about one-third of the country. Therefore, flood control projects that comprise earthen dikes and irrigation/drainage systems are built along the major rivers to protect the people living in low-lying areas, stabilize the river banks and improve agricultural productivity. However, the adverse effects of these projects are regularly emphasized, such as environmental degradation and reduction of fishing supplies. The Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) was used to assess the effect of a flood control programme on the mortality of 0-4-year-old children residing in the Matlab study area. Adjusted mortality rates were used in comparing four adjacent child populations residing either inside or outside a flood-control embankment and according to the type of health services provided in this area. Between the periods 1983-86 and 1989-92, the crude child mortality in the total study area decreased by 37%, from 185.9 per 1000 live births to 117.9 per 1000 live births. Following the construction of the embankment, death rates outside were up to 29% higher in 1-4-year-old children and 9% higher for 0-4-year age group compared to the flood-protected area (P < 0.001). Simultaneously, in the same study area, health interventions contributed to a 40% reduction in mortality among children less than 5 years of age in all causes of deaths (P < 0.001). Migration patterns and the effect of distances to the hospital are discussed.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bhatia S. Patterns and causes of neonatal and postneonatal mortality in rural Bangladesh. Stud Fam Plann. 1989 May-Jun;20(3):136–146. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bhatia S. Patterns and causes of neonatal and postneonatal mortality in rural Bangladesh. Stud Fam Plann. 1989 May-Jun;20(3):136–146. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chen L. C., Rahman M., D'Souza S., Chakraborty J., Sardar A. M., Yunus M. Mortality impact of an MCH-FP program in Matlab, Bangladesh. Stud Fam Plann. 1983 Aug-Sep;14(8-9):199–209. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chen L. C., Rahman M., Sarder A. M. Epidemiology and causes of death among children in a rural area of Bangladesh. Int J Epidemiol. 1980 Mar;9(1):25–33. doi: 10.1093/ije/9.1.25. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fauveau V., Wojtyniak B., Chakraborty J., Sarder A. M., Briend A. The effect of maternal and child health and family planning services on mortality: is prevention enough? BMJ. 1990 Jul 14;301(6743):103–107. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6743.103. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Islam M. S., Rahaman M. M., Aziz K. M., Rahman M., Munshi M. H., Patwari Y. Infant mortality in rural Bangladesh: an analysis of causes during neonatal and postneonatal periods. J Trop Pediatr. 1982 Dec;28(6):294–298. doi: 10.1093/tropej/28.6.294. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rahaman M. M., Aziz K. M., Munshi M. H., Patwari Y., Rahman M. A diarrhea clinic in rural Bangladesh: influence of distance, age, and sex on attendance and diarrheal mortality. Am J Public Health. 1982 Oct;72(10):1124–1128. doi: 10.2105/ajph.72.10.1124. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Salway S. M., Nasim S. M. Levels, trends and causes of mortality in children below 5 years of age in Bangladesh: findings from a national survey. J Diarrhoeal Dis Res. 1994 Sep;12(3):187–193. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Siddique A. K., Baqui A. H., Eusof A., Zaman K. 1988 floods in Bangladesh: pattern of illness and causes of death. J Diarrhoeal Dis Res. 1991 Dec;9(4):310–314. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]