Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Pre-Eclampsia/Eclampsia (PE/E) and Low Birthweight Births in Relation to Drinking Water Salinity at the District Level in Bangladesh From 2016–2018

Jessie Pinchoff , Population Council
Mohammed Shamsudduha, University College London
Sharif Mohammed Ismail Hossain, Population Council
Abdullah Al Mahmud Shohag, Population Council
Charlotte Warren, Population Council

Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. This analysis explores spatio-temporal patterns of PE/E in relation to drinking water salinity and risk factors for this exposure. National DHIS2 data was extracted to the district level (n=64), for monthly reporting of total deliveries, PE/E cases, low birthweight births, and maternal and neonatal deaths. These were overlaid with the low elevation coastal zone, proximity to rivers, electrical conductivity of groundwater, and monthly rainfall data. Controlling for total population, referrals, and other factors, spatial and cluster detection analysis methods were implemented to measure the association between drinking water salinity and PE/E. Hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal death in low-income countries and may increase as drinking water salinity increases due to flooding and coastal intrusion. This study will identify spatio-temporal trends using surveillance data to potentially inform targeting of interventions to improve maternal outcomes.

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 Presented in Session 61. Geographic Patterns of Morbidity and Mortality