Research Overview
This research addresses critical questions about the relationship between prenatal exposure to flooding and child health outcomes in Bangladesh. Using advanced data science techniques, we analyzed extensive datasets to understand the mechanisms through which environmental disasters affect maternal and child health, with implications for public health policy and intervention strategies.
Research Questions
Primary Research Question
Is prenatal exposure to flooding associated with child health outcomes?
Secondary Research Question
What are the mechanisms through which floods affect child health outcomes?
Methodology & Data Sources
Household Survey Data
Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2018-19 - Cleaned and organized household data including mother and child profiles, household demographics, and socioeconomic indicators.
Satellite Data Integration
Utilized GFD, CHIRPS, and Sentinel 1 for flood and precipitation extent mapping. Applied 20km buffer zones around flood extent pixels to identify affected households.
Technical Implementation
Used Google Earth Engine and Python for data access and visualization. Converted precipitation data into z-scores for standardized analysis.
Key Findings
Flood Impact on Stunting
Flooding during third trimesters was associated with increased prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years old.
Precipitation Effects
Women exposed to higher precipitation intensities during pregnancy experienced reduced access to antenatal care and lower consumption of essential supplements.
Water Quality Impact
Drinking untreated water during flood events increased health risks for pregnant women and developing fetuses.
Technical Deliverables
R Shiny Dashboard
Developed a user-friendly web dashboard using R Shiny to host research findings and make our work publicly accessible to researchers and policymakers.
Data Processing Scripts
Created comprehensive Python and R scripts for data cleaning, analysis, and visualization, ensuring reproducibility of research findings.
Research Documentation
Comprehensive documentation of methodology, data sources, and findings for academic publication and policy recommendations.
Research Poster
Designed and presented a comprehensive research poster at the Virginia Tech Research Symposium, showcasing key findings on prenatal flood exposure impacts and their implications for public health policy.
Impact & Significance
This research contributes to the understanding of climate change impacts on maternal and child health, providing evidence-based recommendations for disaster preparedness and public health interventions in vulnerable regions like Bangladesh.