Lived experiences of arsenic-related psychosocial distress in rural Bangladesh

Thesis

Arsenic occurs naturally in the groundwater across much of Bangladesh, with millions exposed through drinking water. It has wide-ranging health effects, including skin lesions, cancers, heart disease, and cognitive impairment. There is also emergent but limited literature on its effects on psychosocial well-being. This paper advances the understanding of the relationship between arsenic exposure and psychosocial distress. An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken, where interviews were conducted with 23 members of an affected community in a village in southwestern Bangladesh. Results show that arsenic exposure is linked both directly and through mediated pathways to psychosocial distress. There are significant impacts on the participants’ lives, including inability to access safe water, lack of agency, chronic pain and discomfort, difficulty performing everyday tasks, lost productive time, issues of marriageability, among others – all of which contributed to psychosocial distress, both individually and compounded together. The findings indicate a need for more comprehensive understanding of arsenicosis when designing safe water interventions.

Authors: Khan, N

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-rv9rko4qb
• Type of award: MSc
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: psychosocial distress; arsenic; health; water quality
• Subjects: Water quality; Health