Interpersonal Violence-Related Mortality in Bangladesh: Insights from a Nationwide Survey

Talab abu; Md Al Amin Bhuiyan; Md Shafkat Hossain; Zobear Alam; Shagoofa Rakhshanda; Salim Mahmud Chowdhury; Aminur Rahman; AKM Fazlur Rahman; Saidur Mashreky Rahman

doi:10.18535/sshj.v9i03.1631

Abstract

Violence constitutes a critical global public health challenge, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death globally, with individuals aged 15–44 years being disproportionately affected. In Bangladesh, data on interpersonal violence mortality remains sparse. This study utilized a nationwide cross-sectional household survey conducted from March to June 2016, encompassing 70,000 households (299,216 individuals) from 16 randomly selected districts, employing multistage cluster sampling with a probability-proportional-to-size approach. Verbal autopsies were conducted to ascertain causes of death. The overall violence-related mortality rate was 4.0 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 2.3–7.0), with males exhibiting a significantly higher rate (7.3 per 100,000; 95% CI: 4.1–13.1). Mortality was highest among urban residents (5.7 per 100,000; 95% CI: 2.6–12.3) and transportation workers, with sharp-cutting objects accounting for 50% of deaths. Group riots or terrorist activities contributed to 58% of cases. Males were 11 times more likely to experience fatal violence compared to females. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted, evidence-based interventions to address urban violence, group riots, and associated injuries in Bangladesh.

Keywords

IncotermsTrade RisksInternational Trade

References

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[refR-3] Organization WH. Global status prevention violence report on 2014. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2014.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Dahlberg LL, Krug EG. Violence a global public health problem. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. 2006;11:277-92.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Mollah AH. Combating violence against women in South Asia: An overview of Bangladesh: UNPAN; 2005.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Dalal K, Wang S, SvanstrÃ L. Intimate partner violence against women in Nepal: an analysis through individual, empowerment, family and societal level factors. Journal of research in health sciences. 2014;14(4):251-7.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Hossain A. The impact of domestic violence on women: a case study of rural Bangladesh. Social Crimonol. 2016;4(1):135-42.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Khan NT, Begum A, Chowdhury TMJ, Das BK, Shahid F, Kabir S, et al. Violence against women in Bangladesh. Delta Medical College Journal. 2017;5(1):25-9.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Sugg N. Intimate partner violence: prevalence, health consequences, and intervention. Medical Clinics. 2015;99(3):629-49.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] de la Santé OM. World health statistics 2020: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. Geneva: World Health Organization Licence: CC BY-NC-SA. 2020.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Ali TS, Karmaliani R, Farhan R, Hussain S, Jawad F. Intimate partner violence against women: a comprehensive depiction of Pakistani literature. 2021.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Mahapatro M, Gupta R, Gupta V. The risk factor of domestic violence in India. Indian journal of community medicine. 2012;37(3):153-7.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Rahman A. Bangladesh health and injury survey: report on children: Directorate General of Health Services Ministry of Health an; 2005.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Statistics B. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved. 2018;2(2019):2019.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Mashreky SR, Shawon RA, Biswas A, Ferdoush J, Unjum A, Rahman AF. Changes in burn mortality in Bangladesh: Findings from Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey (BHIS) 2003 and 2016. Burns. 2018;44(6):1579-84.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Shawon RA, Ferdoush J, Ali AH, Biswas A, Rahman AF, Mashreky SR. Alarming rise in fatal electrocutions in Bangladesh: comparison of two national surveys. Burns. 2019;45(6):1471-6.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Organization WH. World report on violence and health: Summary: World Health Organization; 2002.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Rutherford A, Zwi AB, Grove NJ, Butchart A. Violence: a glossary. Journal of epidemiology & community health. 2007;61(8):676-80.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Krug E. World report on violence and health. World Health Organization. 2002;12.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Organization WH. Injury surveillance: a tool for decision-making: annual injury surveillance report, Egypt, 2009. 2010.Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-23] Hoque DME, Islam MI, Sharmin Salam S, Rahman QS-u, Agrawal P, Rahman A, et al. Impact of first aid on treatment outcomes for non-fatal injuries in rural Bangladesh: Findings from an injury and demographic census. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2017;14(7):762.Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-25] Bossarte RM, Simon TR, Barker L. Characteristics of homicide followed by suicide incidents in multiple states, 2003–04. Injury prevention. 2006;12(suppl 2):ii33-ii8.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] Al-Hussoni M, Rehman J, Al Himyeri N, Muhammedi R, Al Daghistani N. Injuries related mortality in Iraq 2007; a reflection on the violence related mortality in emergency and OPDs. Injury Prevention. 2010;16(Suppl 1):A24-A.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-27] Crosby AE, Mercy JA, Houry D. The national violent death reporting system: past, present, and future. American journal of preventive medicine. 2016;51(5):S169-S72.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-28] Reza A, Mercy JA, Krug E. Epidemiology of violent deaths in the world. Injury prevention. 2001;7(2):104-11.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-29] Outwater AH, Mgaya E, Jacqueline C, Becker S, Kinabo L, Menick DM. Homicide of children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. East African journal of public health. 2010;7(4).Google Scholar ↗

[refR-30] Dalal K, Rahman F, Jansson B. Wife abuse in rural Bangladesh. Journal of biosocial science. 2009;41(5):561-73.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-31] Bachman R, Meloy ML. The epidemiology of violence against the elderly: Implications for primary and secondary prevention. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. 2008;24(2):186-97.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-32] Butchart A, Mikton C, Dahlberg LL, Krug EG. Global status report on violence prevention 2014. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2015.Google Scholar ↗