Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: December | Volume: 5 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 156-165
Arsenical Disease Burden and Psychosocial, Behavioral & Economic Issues Associated with Chronic Arsenic Exposure: A Study in Malda District, West Bengal
Kunal Kanti Majumdar1, Aloke Kumar Ghosh2, Pramit Kumar Majumder3, Shyamsree Mukherjee4, Debendra Nath Guha Mazumder5
1Professor, Department of Community Medicine, KPC Medical College and Hospital, Jadavpur, Kolkata,
2Research Associate, DNGM Research Foundation, Kolkata- 700 053, India,
3Project Coordinator, 4Research Associate, 5Director,
DNGM Research Foundation, 37/C Block B New Alipore, Kolkata - 700 053.
Corresponding Author: Debendra Nath Guha Mazumder
ABSTRACT
Background: Arsenic pollution in groundwater had been causing great environmental health hazard in West Bengal, India. A study on disease burden, and psychosocial, behavioral and & economic issues related to chronic arsenic exposure were done in Malda, an arsenic affected district of West Bengal.
Methodology: An epidemiological study was carried out in all arsenic affected blocks of Malda. Information on psychosocial, behavioral & economic issues were assessed amongst surveyed population.
Results: Prevalence of arsenicosis was found to be 8.3% amongst 5355 number of people surveyed. Majority (62%) patients who were aware of their illness, felt embarrassed, many having anxiety, tension and depression. Most (93.6%) patients felt that their status had been changed within the community. Small number (3%) of patients volunteered marital problem. Not many (18.9%) patients consulted doctors for their treatment. Majority of patients had disability leading to change of occupation or loss of jobs. Small number (8.7%) participants considered arsenicosis as a communicable disease. Social exclusion was reported among small (1.4%) number of participants.
Conclusion: Significant number of arsenicosis cases was detected in the district of Malda, A wide range of psycho-social, behavioral and economic consequences were observed associated with chronic arsenic toxicity in the society.
Key words: Arsenic, disease burden, mental health; socio-economic problems behavioral issues, West Bengal
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