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Drinking Water Salinity and Infant Mortality in Coastal Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Susmita Dasgupta

    (Development Research Group, World Bank, USA)

  • Mainul Huq

    (#x2020;World Bank, USA)

  • David Wheeler

    (#x2021;World Resources Institute, USA)

Abstract

This paper investigates the post-natal impact of pre-natal salinity exposure in coastal Bangladesh, drawing on extensive medical research that links the salinity of drinking water consumed during pregnancy to maternal hypertension, preeclampsia and post-partum infant morbidity and mortality. The research employs individual and household survey information from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 2004 and 2007. In the absence of direct, household-specific measures of drinking water salinity, we construct monthly estimates for 2001–2009 using spatial interpolation of readings from soil salinity monitors that lie within 40km of the DHS clusters. The analysis uses probit and logit models to estimate mortality probability for infants less than two months old. Controlling for many other determinants of infant mortality, we find high significance for salinity exposure during the last month of pregnancy and no significance for exposure during the preceding months. The implied impact is comparable in magnitude to the estimated effects of traditionally-cited variables such as maternal age and education, gender of the household head, household wealth, toilet facilities, drinking water sources and cooking fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Susmita Dasgupta & Mainul Huq & David Wheeler, 2016. "Drinking Water Salinity and Infant Mortality in Coastal Bangladesh," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(01), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:wepxxx:v:02:y:2016:i:01:n:s2382624x1650003x
    DOI: 10.1142/S2382624X1650003X
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Wheeler, 2011. "Quantifying Vulnerability to Climate Change: Implications for Adaptation Assistance - Working Paper 240," Working Papers 240, Center for Global Development.
    2. World Bank, 2000. "Bangladesh : Climate Change and Sustainable Development," World Bank Publications - Reports 15706, The World Bank Group.
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    Cited by:

    1. Susmita Dasgupta & Md. Moqbul Hossain & Mainul Huq & David Wheeler, 2015. "Climate Change, Soil Salinity and Road Maintenance Costs in Coastal Bangladesh," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 1(03), pages 1-21.
    2. Rishika Chakraborty & Khalid M. Khan & Daniel T. Dibaba & Md Alfazal Khan & Ali Ahmed & Mohammad Zahirul Islam, 2019. "Health Implications of Drinking Water Salinity in Coastal Areas of Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, October.
    3. Guimbeau, Amanda & Ji, Xinde & Menon, Nidhiya & Long, Zi, 2022. "An Extra Grain of Salt: The Effect of Salinity Exposure on Early Life Health Outcomes in Coastal Bangladesh," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322076, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Mohammod Akbar Kabir & Md. Moniruzzaman & Kawsar Jahan & Md. Shahjahan, 2019. "Cost-benefit Analysis of Seedling Production on Floating Beds in a Few Selected Areas of Bangladesh," Journal of Agricultural Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 7(2), pages 75-86, June.

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