Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh

Abstract:: Salinity intrusion is a widespread issue across coastal areas. There remains a lack of evidence regarding awareness of the impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods in coastal areas, particularly in terms of how this awareness affects preparedness and the development of strategies. The...

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Main Authors: Masudul Alam, Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Takuji W. Tsusaka, Malay Pramanik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Environmental Sustainability
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000167
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author Masudul Alam
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Takuji W. Tsusaka
Malay Pramanik
author_facet Masudul Alam
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Takuji W. Tsusaka
Malay Pramanik
author_sort Masudul Alam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract:: Salinity intrusion is a widespread issue across coastal areas. There remains a lack of evidence regarding awareness of the impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods in coastal areas, particularly in terms of how this awareness affects preparedness and the development of strategies. The paper aims to assess the awareness of the impacts of salinity intrusion among southern coastal inhabitants in Bangladesh from a comparative perspective. A survey was conducted with 400 households in Kalapara, Taltali, and Patharghata sub-districts of Bangladesh, which was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-squared test shows that salinity intrusion is associated with factors such as saline water flow (p < 0.10). In addition, 46 % of the respondents from the high-salinity sub-districts perceive prevalence of numerous diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and skin infections (p < 0.01) significantly higher compared to moderate-salinity areas. Very high levels of awareness (WAI = 0.78, 0.76) of groundwater salinity are observed in the high-salinity sub-districts (p < 0.01). Moderate awareness of the impacts on winter season rice was found across the three areas (p < 0.01), while Kalapara showed higher awareness (WAI = 0.53, 0.65) of the impacts on cereals and health, respectively. Awareness of other impacts, such as on land use, aquaculture, mangrove, and coastal resources, was found to be lower. Significant regional differences in awareness exist across the three regions. The findings suggest improving education and access to information to increase awareness, and help communities adopt area-specific adaptation measures to alleviate adverse effects on health, agriculture, and environments.
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spelling doaj-art-eebbbb99f47d4e699afa4a0d60c346f32025-08-20T02:30:15ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Environmental Sustainability2666-04902025-01-01910029310.1016/j.crsust.2025.100293Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of BangladeshMasudul Alam0Mokbul Morshed Ahmad1Takuji W. Tsusaka2Malay Pramanik3Development and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Techonology, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand; Corresponding author at: Department of Development and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Techonology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.Development Planning Management and Innovation, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Techonology, Klong Luang, 12120 Pathum Thani, ThailandDepartment of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Techonology, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, ThailandUrban Innovation and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Techonology, Klong Luang, 12120 Pathum Thani, ThailandAbstract:: Salinity intrusion is a widespread issue across coastal areas. There remains a lack of evidence regarding awareness of the impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods in coastal areas, particularly in terms of how this awareness affects preparedness and the development of strategies. The paper aims to assess the awareness of the impacts of salinity intrusion among southern coastal inhabitants in Bangladesh from a comparative perspective. A survey was conducted with 400 households in Kalapara, Taltali, and Patharghata sub-districts of Bangladesh, which was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-squared test shows that salinity intrusion is associated with factors such as saline water flow (p < 0.10). In addition, 46 % of the respondents from the high-salinity sub-districts perceive prevalence of numerous diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and skin infections (p < 0.01) significantly higher compared to moderate-salinity areas. Very high levels of awareness (WAI = 0.78, 0.76) of groundwater salinity are observed in the high-salinity sub-districts (p < 0.01). Moderate awareness of the impacts on winter season rice was found across the three areas (p < 0.01), while Kalapara showed higher awareness (WAI = 0.53, 0.65) of the impacts on cereals and health, respectively. Awareness of other impacts, such as on land use, aquaculture, mangrove, and coastal resources, was found to be lower. Significant regional differences in awareness exist across the three regions. The findings suggest improving education and access to information to increase awareness, and help communities adopt area-specific adaptation measures to alleviate adverse effects on health, agriculture, and environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000167Bangladesh coastSalinity intrusionRural inhabitantLivelihood threat
spellingShingle Masudul Alam
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Takuji W. Tsusaka
Malay Pramanik
Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
Current Research in Environmental Sustainability
Bangladesh coast
Salinity intrusion
Rural inhabitant
Livelihood threat
title Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
title_full Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
title_fullStr Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
title_short Awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods: Evidence from southern coastal rural areas of Bangladesh
title_sort awareness of impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihoods evidence from southern coastal rural areas of bangladesh
topic Bangladesh coast
Salinity intrusion
Rural inhabitant
Livelihood threat
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000167
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