Levels, Trends and Socioeconomic Differentials of Adult Mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh

Abdur Razzaque, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research
Peter K. Streatfield, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research
Mamunur Rashid, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research

This study examined levels, trends and socioeconomic differentials of adult mortality using data from the Matlab area, where the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh has maintained a Demographic Surveillance System since 1966. Two cohorts were followed for three years to ascertain subsequent status. After controlling for all variables in the regression model, mortality of young and elderly adults declined significantly over the period. Mortality was higher for the poor and illiterate compared to wealthier and some educated respectively; such relationships did not change over time. Male-female mortality was similar for young but for elderly adult, male had higher mortality than female in both cohorts. Mortality was lower in treatment than comparison area, and such differences disappeared over time for both age categories. Muslims had lower mortality than Hindus in earlier cohort for both age categories, but in recent cohort Muslims had lower only for the elderly adults.