Pond Water Contamination And Incidence of Disease in Rural Bangladesh

Azizur R. Molla, Pennsylvania State University

This study is to examine the effects of contaminated pond water on incidence of diarrheal disease in rural Bangladesh, and explore how the incidence of diarrhea is associated with socio-economic status of the villagers. A 1998 study of eight rural villages provides information describing households, villages, and water source quality derived from surveys, focus groups, and laboratory analyzes of tube-well and pond water samples. Chi-square and logistic regression results suggest that pond water contamination contributes to incidence of diarrheal disease in rural Bangladesh. There is less disease with open latrines than with sanitary ones; as population density increases, incidence of disease decreases. There is a strong village effect on the incidence of diarrheal disease in the country. Logistic regression findings further suggest that household demographic, socio-economic and village factors are important in shaping health related water source decisions in rural Bangladesh. Key words: Bangladesh, Coliform, Diarrhea, latrine, Pond.