Morbidity and mortality patterns among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh: findings from a 2023 camp-based survey

The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, presents significant public health challenges due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare. This study aimed to describe mortality and morbidity patterns among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) residing in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, during 2023. A population-based retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using de-identified, aggregate-level data from 175 health facilities across 33 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf, collected between 1 January and 31 December 2023. Data were obtained from the Health Information System of the Health Sector Cox’s Bazar, which compiles weekly and monthly facility reports. Mortality and morbidity counts were summarized by demographic characteristics, cause categories, and time trends. A total of 2804 deaths were reported, corresponding to a mortality rate of 2.99 per 1000 population. Females accounted for 51.1% of deaths, and 58.2% occurred at home. Mortality peaks were observed in January, March, August, and November. The morbidity dataset comprised 4,209,500 reported cases. Acute respiratory infections were the most common diagnosis (19.43%), followed by diarrheal diseases (4.18%), with seasonal increases in waterborne and vector-borne diseases during the monsoon months. The “other” category represented 72.1% of morbidity cases, indicating a broad range of less frequently reported conditions. Mortality and morbidity surveillance in the FDMN camps revealed notable seasonal patterns and a predominance of respiratory and diarrheal illnesses. The high proportion of deaths occurring at home and the large share of morbidity in the “other” category highlight areas where further investigation and more granular data collection are warranted. Strengthening routine surveillance and promoting timely healthcare utilization may help inform more targeted public health interventions in these humanitarian settings.