Illness rates highest in Mymensingh, lowest in Dhaka

A total of 332 out of every 1,000 people in Bangladesh are suffering from illnesses. Of them, 333 per 1,000 are affected in rural areas, compared to 331 per 1,000 in urban areas. Among the divisions, the illness rate is highest in Mymensingh and lowest in Dhaka.

The findings were revealed in the latest Health and Morbidity Status Survey report published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

According to the report, 364.1 out of every 1,000 people in Mymensingh Division are affected by illnesses. The figure stands at 357.3 per 1,000 in Rajshahi. In addition, 353.4 per 1,000 people are affected in Barishal, while the rate in Dhaka Division is 279.4 per 1,000.

The report noted that in most divisions, the prevalence of illness is slightly higher in rural areas than in urban areas. A review based on residence and gender shows that, at the national level, illness prevalence is higher among women than men. The illness rate among women stands at 354.6 per 1,000, compared with 309.1 per 1,000 among men.

This gender gap is consistent in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, 356.2 women per 1,000 are affected by illnesses, compared with 309.8 men per 1,000. In urban areas, the figures are 352.9 women and 308.3 men per 1,000, respectively.

Project Director Mostafa Ashrafuzzaman said the higher illness rate in rural areas could be linked to poverty. He noted that areas with higher levels of poverty tend to have higher rates of illness. In his view, education may also play a role, as regions with relatively lower educational attainment tend to record higher numbers of people suffering from illnesses.