Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Injury, Disability, and Death in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Bangladesh is one of the countries most affected by natural disasters. While there is increasing evidence on the trends and impacts of climate change, both globally and in Bangladesh, there is limited quantitative analysis on the impacts of natural disasters on population health and the association with socioeconomic characteristics.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional nationally representative household survey data from the ‘Bangladesh Disaster Related Statistics-2015, which provides household characteristics and information on disaster-related injury, disability, and death across 143,980 households between 2009 and 2014. We assessed disaster-related health outcomes namely, injury, disability, and death. We applied three logistic regression models to examine the relationships between individual socioeconomic characteristics, reported disaster-related injury, disability, and death.

Findings: Our study found that 145·9 disaster-related injuries, 14·4 disabilities, and 21·0 deaths per 100,000 population were reported in Bangladesh over 2009-2014. Floods were responsible for the highest percentage of injury, disability, and deaths followed by thunderstorms. The elderly and children were more likely to suffer from disaster related injuries compared to adults. Disaster preparedness was a protective factor for both disasters related injury and disability. Geographic variations in the number of injury, disability, and death were observed across districts in Bangladesh.

Interpretation: The study findings can be used by policymakers to strengthen risk monitoring,
assessment, and preparedness strategies and actions for extreme weather events related to the
rapidly changing climate.

Funding Statement: We did not receive any funding support for this study.

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interest

Keywords: Natural disaster; injury; disability; death; thunderstorms; Bangladesh