Pediatric Health, Climate Perceptions, and School Absenteeism Across Three Regions of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional...

Children remain underrepresented in environmental health studies, and evidence on how climate-related exposures affect pediatric health and school absenteeism is limited. This pilot cross-sectional study reports pediatric symptoms, school attendance, and perceptions of climate change among 300 Bangladeshi children ages 6-12 years old in three sites: Barhatta, Galachipa, and Sarankhola. Health status, climate-related perception, and educational disruption were assessed with validated questionnaires. Clinical staff measured peak expiratory flow rate, hemoglobin, and blood lead concentrations. Rash (48%), asthma (21%), and positive screening for epilepsy (17%) were most prevalent in Sarankhola. Mean hemoglobin was lower in Sarankhola (11.0 g/dL) than in the other sites. Awareness of climate change was 100% in Galachipa and Sarankhola, while 32% in Barhatta, with television and health workers being the common sources of information. Almost one in every three children missed at least three days of school in the last month with illness, climate-related emergencies, and unexpected school closures being frequent causes. These findings indicate that Bangladeshi children, especially those living in coastal areas, face the health and educational risks related to climate change, and that longitudinal and environmental monitoring studies are needed.