Waterlogging exposure and mental well-being: a cross-sectional study in rural southwest Bangladesh

The study examined the impact of waterlogging on mental well-being among 1,260 respondents from 595 households in southwest Bangladesh during August and September 2022. Waterlogging is chronic, stagnant flooding that is increasing in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta due to land-use changes, shrimp farming expansion, and changing rainfall patterns. The research confirmed that mental well-being was lower among disadvantaged groups including women, older people, the poorest, and religious minorities. Chronic illnesses significantly worsened the impact of waterlogging on mental well-being - individuals with chronic illness had WHO-5 scores that were 18.31 points lower. Among people without chronic illness, this impact was markedly attenuated. The results suggest that chronic illnesses increase vulnerability to mental health problems caused by waterlogging.