The effect of spouses on the mortality of older people in rural Bangladesh

This paper uses prospective data to show that older widowed and divorced individuals in rural Bangladesh have significantly higher mortality than their currently married peers. In contrast to Western societies however, women suffer more from widowhood (in terms of decreased survival) than men. This disparity can plausibly be attributed to the greater poverty associated with widowhood for women than for men. However the effect of adverse selection into widowhood on the basis of poor health for both men and women cannot be ruled out nor can the effects of adverse changes in lifestyle. Although those aged 45 and above represent a relatively small fraction of the population of South Asia, they constitute a sizeable number and are expected to increase significantly in the next three decades1 (United Nations 1986). South Asian society however, like many of its Asian neighbours, has paid little attention to this segment of society. Because of the lack of formal social support networks, insurance and pension schemes, in this part of the world, older men and women are largely dependent on spouses for support and those without spouses are considered to be very vulnerable, particularly older women (Cain 1985, 1986). As Sout