Spatial Modeling of Households’ Knowledge about Arsenic Pollution in South Asia: Evidence from Bangladesh

Md.Mizanur Rahman Sarker, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University

Arsenic in drinking water is an important public health issue in Bangladesh, which is affected by households’ knowledge about arsenic threats from their drinking water. In this study, spatial statistical models were used to investigate the determinants and spatial dependence of households’ knowledge about arsenic risk. The binary contiguity matrix and inverse-distance spatial weight matrix techniques are used to capture spatial dependence in the data. A positive spatial correlation was found in households’ knowledge across neighboring districts at district, divisional and regional levels, but the strength of this spatial correlation varies considerably by spatial weight. Literacy rate, daily wage rate of agricultural labour, arsenic status, and percentage of red mark tube well usage in districts were found to contribute positively and significantly to households’ knowledge. These findings have policy implications both at regional and national levels in mitigating the present arsenic crisis and to ensure arsenic-free water in Bangladesh.