Policy Issues on Bangladesh
Paper Session
Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM (EST)
- Chair: Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Yale University
Forced Displacement, Mental Health, and Child Development: Evidence from the Rohingya Refugees
Abstract
Forced displacement is a major driver of mental disorders among refugees worldwide. Poor mental health of adult refugees, particularly mothers, is also considered a risk factor for the psychological well-being and development of their children. In this paper, we experimentally examine the extent to which a rigorous psychoeducation program promotes psychological well-being of refugee mothers and socioemotional, physical, and cognitive development of their children under the age of 2 years. Through a clustered randomized controlled trial among the severely persecuted Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh, roughly 3,500 mother-child pairs were given weekly psychosocial support for a year that includes psychoeducation and parenting counselling for mothers and play activities for children. We find that the intervention led to significant improvements in: (i) psychological trauma and depression of mothers and children, (ii) communication, gross-motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills of children, and (iii) happiness and belongingness of mothers. A causal mediation analysis suggests that the psychological well-being of mothers is the primary channel of impact on children's development. The intervention also caused the mental health of mothers to be more aligned with the mental health of their sons, but not with their daughters. Finally, we also find that the intervention had a stronger impact on the mental health of mothers that were highly exposed to violence and persecutions during the 2016-17 Rohingya genocide in Myanmar than mothers with minimal exposure.Environmental and Health Effects of Brick Kilns in Mirzapur, Bangladesh
Abstract
Coal-fired brick kilns have proliferated rapidly in Bangladesh, and across South Asia, generating substantial air pollution. The adverse health impacts of air pollution have been widely documented, however, there is minimal empirical evidence on the impacts of this important industry. We conducted a longitudinal study in Bangladesh to quantify the contribution of brick kilns to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and estimate the impact on child asthma symptoms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and general respiratory symptoms. We take advantage of variation in the timing of brick production, seasonal wind direction, and household proximity to kilns to use a difference-in-difference to isolate the causal effect of brick manufacturing. We find that PM2.5 is 72.3 Mg/m3 (95% CI: 10.2, 134.3) higher in areas 2 km downwind from a brick kiln during the brick production season. We also find 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2, 4.3) greater odds of COPD symptoms among adults over 40 and 4.2 (95% CI: 2.7, 6.8) greater odds of respiratory symptoms among adults over 18 for people living 2 km downwind from brick kilns during the brick season. We also found greater odds of respiratory symptoms (2.1, 95% CI: 0.7, 6.0) and asthma symptoms (2.5, 95% CI: 0.1, 96.1) among children under 5, but were underpowered in the smaller sample of children. We find higher PM and worse health outcomes associated both with greater intensity of kiln exposure and with downwind exposure to kilns beyond 2 km. Our results suggest that existing regulations requiring kilns to be at least 1-2 km from residential areas, schools, and health facilities are inadequate to protect population health and brick manufacturing imposes a substantial health burden on nearby communities.Can Child Marriage Law Change Attitudes and Behaviour? Experimental Evidence from an Information Intervention in Bangladesh
Abstract
The practice of child marriage is ubiquitous in developing countries, where one in three girls is married before the age of 18. Although most developing countries have a legal minimum age of marriage, in practice marriage age is determined by social norms rather than the law. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that formal laws can influence social norms and marriage behaviour in a setting with weak law enforcement. We do this by administering a randomised video-based information treatment that accelerates knowledge transmission about a new child marriage law in Bangladesh. Our information treatments led to a change in participants' own attitudes and behaviour (including reported attitudes regarding appropriate marriage age and willingness to contribute to a charity that campaigns against child marriage) but did not substantially influence their beliefs about attitudes or practices prevalent in their community. Follow-up surveys conducted 5 and 10 months after the intervention show an increase in early marriage among adolescent girls within treatment households. These perverse effects are driven by households where the father and family elders were informed about the new law but are absent in households where only the mother is informed. The findings highlight a) the existence of informational frictions within households and b) the risk of a backlash effect against a law that contradicts traditional norms and practices.Discussant(s)
Debdulal Mallick
,
Deakin University
Reshmaan N. Hussam
,
Harvard Business School
Matthew E. Kahn
,
University of Southern California
Erica Field
,
Duke University
JEL Classifications
- O1 - Economic Development
- O2 - Development Planning and Policy