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Popular Perceptions of Emerging Influences on Mortality and Longevity in Bangladesh and West Bengal

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  • Sajida Amin

Abstract

Although new environmental and pathological threats to human survival and longevity have been documented, relatively little is known about how these threats are perceived in the popular imagination. During fieldwork in rural Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, researching the changing costs of and motivations for reproduction, the authors included survey questions on respondents’ perceptions of changing mortality. Child-mortality levels were perceived to have fallen drastically in recent times, but for the middle-aged and the elderly, the past was seen as a better time in terms of health and survival. The decline in adult health is attributed to environmental deterioration and lifestyle changes associated with odernization. This paper explores the objective validity of and subjective reasons for this unexpected worldview. [Policy Research Division Working Paper 186]

Suggested Citation

  • Sajida Amin, 2008. "Popular Perceptions of Emerging Influences on Mortality and Longevity in Bangladesh and West Bengal," Working Papers id:1454, eSocialSciences.
    • Handle: RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1454
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    File URL: http://www.eSocialSciences.com/data/articles/Document1942008310.6875879.pdf
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    1. Michael D. Hurd & Kathleen McGarry, 1995. "Evaluation of the Subjective Probabilities of Survival in the Health and Retirement Study," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 30, pages 268-292.
    2. Sajeda Amin & Alaka Basu & Rob Stephenson, 2002. "Spatial variation in contraceptive use in Bangladesh: Looking Beyond the borders," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 39(2), pages 251-267, May.
    3. Mark R. Montgomery, 2000. "Perceiving Mortality Decline," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 26(4), pages 795-819, December.
    4. Koenig, M.A. & Roy, N.C. & McElrath, T. & Shahidullah & Wojtyniak, B., 1998. "Duration of protective immunity conferred by maternal tetanus toxoid immunization: Further evidence from Matlab, Bangladesh," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(6), pages 903-907.
    5. Alaka Malwade Basu & Sajeda Amin, 2000. "Conditioning Factors for Fertility Decline in Bengal: History, Language Identity, and Openness to Innovations," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 26(4), pages 761-794, December.
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