Bangladeshi Residents Research Articles

Antibiotic use patterns and trends in the FDMN population and rural Bangladeshi population: a cross-sectional study

Global antibiotic resistance is a pressing issue, especially in Bangladesh, due to its widespread use, poor surveillance, and high treatment costs. This study compared antibiotic use between Rohingya and rural Bangladeshi residents, aiming to predict the frequency and tendency of commonly used antibiotics across different community levels. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using a questionnaire. It involved Cox's Bazar camp, Tangail, and Bogura rural areas. Most participants were male, with 46.8% graduates and 20.8% untrained from mixed economic backgrounds. The study revealed that 62% adhered to doctors' orders, 28.5% followed pharmacists' recommendations, 6% sourced antibiotics from various places, 3% self-medicated, and 1% relied on advice from friends or relatives. Alarmingly, 25.3% did not complete their antibiotic courses. Age, region, advisor status, and education level were correlated with antibiotic use (P<0.05), whereas socioeconomic status was not. The most commonly used medications among both rural and FDMN populations were azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. These findings highlight gaps in antibiotic use and adherence, with many not completing their treatments. Despite educational and economic variations, there is a general lack of concern about AMR, emphasizing the need for better awareness of and adherence to guidelines. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2024, 10(3), 122-130

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

Escalating antibiotic resistance presents a notable worldwide dilemma, pointing a large involvement of general population. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the utilization of antibiotics among Bangladeshi residents. A cross-sectional study, conducted from January 01 to April 25, 2022, included 1,947 Bangladeshi adults with a history of antibiotic use, via online surveys and face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate linear regression models were employed. Mean scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 6.59±1.20, 8.34±1.19, and 12.74±2.59, with correct rates of 73.22%, 92.67%, and 57.91%. Positive predictors for knowledge included being unmarried (β = 0.10, p = 0.001), higher education (College: β = 0.09, p = 0.025; Bachelor: β = 0.22, p<0.001; Master or above: β = 0.14, p<0.001), various professions (student: β = 0.57, p<0.001; housewife: β = 0.33, p<0.001; employee: β = 0.53, p<0.001; businessman: β = 0.31, p<0.001; unemployed: β = 0.15, p<0.001), and residing in semi-urban (β = 0.32, p<0.001) or urban areas (β = 0.15, p<0.001). Positive predictors for attitudes included being married (β = 0.18, p<0.001), specific professions (student: β = 1.06, p<0.001; housewife: β = 0.33, p<0.001; employee: β = 0.86, p<0.001; businessman: β = 0.37, p<0.001; unemployed: β = 0.47, p<0.001), higher SES (Lower-middle: β = 0.22, p<0.001; Middle: β = 0.26, p<0.001), and residing in semi-urban areas (β = 0.18, p<0.001); negative predictors included higher education (College: β = -0.12, p = 0.001; Master or above: β = -0.09, p = 0.008) and being rich (β = -0.13, p<0.001). Positive predictors for practices included being married (β = 0.18, p<0.001), specific professions (student: β = 0.32, p<0.001; employee: β = 0.43, p<0.001; businessman: β = 10, p = 0.034; unemployed: β = 0.11, p = 0.009), and higher SES (Lower-middle: β = 0.14, p = 0.009; Middle: β = 0.38, p<0.001; Higher-middle: β = 0.15, p = 0.008); negative predictors included higher education (College: β = -0.21, p<0.001), being rich (β = -0.12, p<0.001), residing in semi-urban (β = -0.14, p<0.001) or urban areas (β = -0.16, p<0.001). Participants exhibited adequate knowledge and positive attitudes but lagged behind in proper practice of antibiotic use. Proper initiatives should be tailored to enhance prudent antibiotic use and mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Individual-level preventive measures during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi residents

COVID-19 causes mild to severe respiratory illness in humans. Government and non-government authorities along with telecommunication, print and electronic media undertook extensive advertising campaign regarding protective measures against COVID-19 to raise the public awareness. Therefore, this web-based cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate peoples' responses towards COVID-19 during the first wave of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to estimate the association between demographic characteristics, awareness, and individual preventive measures. The overall awareness level of the majority of the respondents (89%, n=920) was good, but the overall score for individual-level preventive measures during lockdown was poor to moderate. The relation between a good level of awareness and a higher level of educational status was found statistically significant (aOR 5.87, 95% CI: 1.58-21.86). Service holders were two times more likely to follow COVID-19 prevention practices than students (aOR 2.08, 95% CI: 1.24-3.51). Despite having adequate knowledge on awareness, many respondents were reluctant to follow preventive measures during the lockdown. The outcomes of this study highlight the requirement for stringent execution of preventative measures by law enforcement agencies to stop the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Precautions Towards COVID-19 Pandemic among Bangladeshi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

In response to COVID-19 emergency outbreak, several countries took unprecedented measures and lockdown was implemented worldwide to minimize the drastic consequences. To reduce the damage, collaboration and acquiescence of people is needed to limit the spread of the virus. This study attempted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and precautions taken against COVID-19 among the Bangladeshi people. An online survey was carried out between 12th April and 4th May, 2020 using a snowball sampling technique in which 424 Bangladeshi residents participated. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, fisher’s exact test, one-way ANOVA, binary logistic regression, t-tests have been carried out. Most of the participants were concerned about the risk of COVID-19 as more than 80% people took 14 out of 18 precautions to avoid COVID-19. The attitudes toward COVID-19 showed people’s willingness to follow government guidelines on isolation (96.7%) and quarantine (97.6%). The overall mean knowledge score was 3.11 out of 4. According to the independent sample t-test, age distribution was significantly (p&lt;0.05) associated with knowledge level of the participants. Overall participants had a good understanding of the COVID-19 and a positive attitude towards preventive measures. The basic knowledge on COVID-19 among the people is acceptable which indicates that the timely dissemination of the information by the government of Bangladesh had a positive impact on people’s behavior. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 26(1): 56-66, 2023 (January)

Evaluating knowledge, awareness and associated water usage towards hand hygiene practices influenced by the current COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Hand hygiene is considered as one of the most effective ways for preventing transmissible diseases, especially for preventing virus-borne diseases. The study has been conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, awareness and practices of hand hygiene due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangladesh. The potential factors influencing human behaviours for maintaining hand hygiene have also been explored. Moreover, a probable increase in daily water demand associated with the changed situation has been assessed. An online survey was performed among a total of 367 Bangladeshi residents about their practices of hand hygiene during pre-corona, corona, and of their perceived future practices at post-corona period. It has been observed that a significant percentage (62.1%) of the respondents have received basic hygiene education at any level of their academic education. Nevertheless, their hygiene practices were very poor before the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 has reinforced their previous knowledge and greatly influenced their behavioural changes towards practicing hand hygiene as per World Health Organization guidelines for preventing the virus outbreak. The changes, however, have created increased water demand. The estimated water usage is found to be 2.68 times (9.15 L/c/d) and 2.52 times (8.59 L/c/d) higher in the corona and post-corona period respectively than that of the pre-corona situation (3.41 L/c/d). The principal component analysis (PCA) elucidated that an individual's practice of hand hygiene was associated with income, level of academic and hygiene education, and the COVID-19 outbreak itself. Moreover, the influence of hygiene education and COVID-19 outbreak affecting the duration of handwashing are found highly significant (p-value < 0.001) from the regression analysis. Raising awareness towards behavioural change of an individual about water usage, improvement of academic curriculum regarding hand hygiene and provision of water pricing are recommended to attain sustainable development goals of the country.

Beliefs, barriers and hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine among Bangladeshi residents: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundCOVID‐19 vaccination acceptance is important, and combating hesitancy which is generally based on the individuals’ beliefs and perceptions is essential in the present pandemic. This study assesses COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy and associated factors, beliefs and barriers associated with COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out among 492 Bangladeshi residents (76% male; mean age = 24.21 ± 4.91 years; age range = 18–50 years) prior to the nationwide mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign (September 28, 2021). A semi-structured e-questionnaire included three sections (demographic variables, beliefs around the vaccination, and perceived barriers regarding COVID-19 vaccination).ResultsMore than a quarter of participants (26.42%) were hesitant, 70.33% reported to accept the vaccine, and 3.25% refused to be vaccinated. While (54%) believed that mass vaccination would be the most effective method to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns regarding the side effects of the vaccine (58%), inadequate vaccine trials before human administration (43%), commercial profiteering (42%), and mistrust of the benefits of the vaccine (20%) were also reported. In addition, other barriers including a short supply of vaccines, unknown future adverse effects (55%), low confidence in the health system (51%), doubts regarding its effectiveness (50%) and safety (45%), and insufficient information regarding potential adverse effects (44.7%) were reported. In bivariate analysis, variables such as current political affiliation, previous vaccination history, and health status were significantly associated with the COVID-19 vaccine uptake variable (acceptance, hesitancy, refusal). Regression analysis showed that participants who identified with the opposing current political parties, and not having been vaccinated since the age of 18 years were significantly more likely to report vaccine hesitancy.ConclusionsThe current findings relating to COVID-19 vaccination demonstrate that government and policy makers need to take all necessary measures to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccination program among the Bangladeshi people.

Lead (Pb) Contamination in Agricultural Products and Human Health Risk Assessment in Bangladesh

Lead (Pb) is a widely occurring heavy metal employed in industrial products and hence released into the environment, causing several environmental health risk concerns. This study comprehensively surveyed the literature on Pb contamination in different agricultural foods and food products commonly consumed by Bangladeshi inhabitants and assessed associated cancer and non-cancer health risks. Cereals (i.e., rice, wheat and maize) contained very high concentrations of Pb among the selected food items, the highest was found in wheat (4.04 µg g−1), while rice and maize were 2.22 and 1.43 µg g−1, respectively, that exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC, 0.20 µg g−1) for cereals. Vegetables contained higher Pb than the MAC of 0.01 µg g−1, except for mushroom, green banana, cauliflower and arum. In addition, pulses also contained a moderate amount of Pb; however, fruits contained a low level of Pb, except for mangoes. When examining spatial differences in Pb contamination, most districts exhibited high Pb content in cereals; however, vegetables of the Tangail district exhibited the highest Pb concentrations (2.17 µg g−1), originating from industrial operations and vehicular emissions. In terms of human health risk assessment, it was observed that consumption of rice, zucchini, tesla gourd, sponge gourd, okra, drumstick lib, chili and cabbage might pose non-cancer health risks (THQs > 1); however, fruits and pulses do not pose any non-cancer health risks to Bangladeshi residents. Most of the cereals and vegetables showed a higher value than 10−6, indicating a potential cancer risk; however, fruits and pulses showed lower risk only marginally exceeding the lower allowable limit (i.e., 10−6).Graphical abstract

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of Bangladeshi residents during COVID-19 pandemic.

Bangladeshi government has adopted some special steps to control the quick spread of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. However, the residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the disease directly impact the success of the controlling measures taken by the state. This article explores knowledge (K) about preventions, attitude (A) to the disease, and practices (P) of preventing the COVID-19 infection risks of different age groups residing in Bangladesh. Quantitative data were collected online using a KAP questionnaire from 932 participants. Also, statistical t and F tests have been used and analyzed and p-value, 95% Confidence Interval, Odd Ratio (OR), KAP scores, and multiple logistic regression analysis, are presented in this research. Results show the population is generally aware of the symptoms and social distancing. They are concerned about re-spreading and positive about staying home. The most significant findings of the study reveal that the old age group (age 50 or over) is the most alert group, male population are the most vulnerable with less care, people living outside Dhaka take less care and fewer preventive measures against the deadly virus, the young age group (age 18-25) is most optimistic while the female respondent group is best prepared among all the participants.

The Effect of Socio-Demographic Factors in Health-Seeking Behaviors among Bangladeshi Residents during the First Wave of COVID-19.

Background: Socio-demographic variability among nations and cultures highly influences health-seeking behavior (HSB) in managing endemic or pandemic diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of socio-demographic factors on HSB among Bangladeshi residents during the first wave of COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was performed with Bangladeshi residents (60% male and 40% female; age range: 10–60 years or above) from May to July 2020. Information was collected from the participants who resided in slum areas or did not have internet access through face-to-face surveys, maintaining spatial distancing and proper preventive measures. A self-reported and structured questionnaire, including socio-demographic and HSB, was undertaken, and the data was analyzed using a convenience sampling method. Finally, among the 947 participants, 20 were selected using a stratified random sampling technique for in-depth-interview (IDI). The linear regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors on HSB. Results: Only about 4.2% of respondents did not wear masks, but nearly half of the participants (46.6%) did not use hand gloves. The mean score of HSB was 9.98 (SD = 2.01) out of 16, with a correct overall rate of 62.4%. As per regression analysis, higher HSBs were found among participants who reported older age (>50 years) (9.96 ± 2.45), educated unemployed students (10.1 ± 1.95), higher education (10.5 ± 1.76), and higher-income (10.4 ± 1.59); in contrast, participants living in slum areas (8.18 ± 2.34) and whose source of income was business (8.46 ± 2.04) exhibited lower HSBs. Females, compared to men, showed better HSB in every aspect, apart from online food ordering. Qualitative data showed that the younger generation is more aware because of their access to information and persuaded the older generations to follow health-seeking protocols. The results also showed that some lower-income slum-dwellers have access to information and healthcare through their employers. IDIs also found cultural, religious, and mental-health affect people’s adherence to health-seeking guidelines and regulations. Conclusions: The findings suggest that socio-demographic factors significantly influenced HSBs during COVID-19 in the Bangladeshi population. Authorities can use these observations to systematically manage future endemics or pandemics.

Financial Difficulties Correlate With Mental Health Among Bangladeshi Residents Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat which has challenged mental resilience and impacted the psychological well-being of people across all age groups globally. The present study aimed to investigate how financial difficulties during the pandemic correlate with mental health among residents of Bangladesh.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 4,020 residents from different parts of Bangladesh between July and September 2020, during a period of elevated risk of COVID-19 infection. A self-reported online questionnaire comprising socio-demographic, financial difficulties and psychometric measures (to assess depression, anxiety and stress) was used to gather information from participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with mental health consequences.Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in the sample were 71.1%, 62.3%, and 56.7%, respectively. Levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly higher among participants who reported female sex, being unmarried, smaller families, higher monthly family income, poor self-perceived health status, living near people who had been infected by COVID-19, probability of decreased income, food scarcity (both during the pandemic and in the future) and the possibility of unemployment. However, due to the nature of the cross-sectional study performed with a convenience sampling method, the causal relationship between variables cannot be justified.Conclusions: After several months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, more than half of the respondents rated their mental health concerns as moderate to severe. The findings highlight the contributing factors of poor mental health which warrant the creation of interventions that address the economic, financial and mental health impacts of the pandemic.

Investigating Poor Sleep Quality and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Survey in Bangladesh.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected the sleep quality of individuals, and is a poorly investigated area. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence estimate of poor sleep quality and its associated factors among Bangladeshi residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was carried out from July 20 to August 5, 2020, involving 975 Bangladeshi residents (male: 54.2%; mean age: 26.7 ± 9.4 years; age range: 18–75 years). A self-reported questionnaire was answered by the respondents, covering information on demographic characteristics, perceived physical health status, COVID-19-related factors, COVID-19-induced anxiety assessment, and sleep quality. To assess sleep quality, the Bangla version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used. Logistic regression models were performed to analyze the factors associated with sleep quality.Results: The prevalence estimate of poor sleep quality was 55.1% among the Bangladeshi people during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the multiple regression analysis, poor sleep quality was significantly higher among respondents who reported female gender, moderate/poor health status, indirect contact with COVID-19 infected patients, decreased household income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of infection, and COVID-19-induced anxiety.Conclusion: Poor sleep quality was slightly prevalent among general people in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate an immediate response for this vulnerable group to improve the sleep quality during the public health emergency of COVID-19.

Influence on attitudes and lifestyle due to lockdown amidst COVID-19 pandemic: a perception-based analysis among Bangladeshi residents

BackgroundCountrywide lockdown or stay-at-home order has been implemented to slow down the transmission of emergent coronavirus. However, the influence on attitudes and lifestyle due to lockdown amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the influence on attitudes and lifestyle due to lockdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi residents.MethodsA cross-sectional survey carried out involving 1635 community dwellers across eight divisions in Bangladesh conducted from April 15, 2020 to May 10, 2020. A structured questionnaire incorporating socio-demographic, attitudes towards lockdown and adverse lifestyle amidst lockdown measures was employed to collect data using the Google Forms. Multiple regression analyses were executed to determine the associated factors of positive attitudes towards lockdown and adverse lifestyle.ResultsThe mean scores of attitudes towards lockdown were 67.9 (SD = 8.4) out of 85 with an overall correct rate (positive attitudes) of 79.9%; whereas the mean scores of adverse lifestyle amidst lockdown were 16.1 (SD = 4.8) out of 34 with an overall rate of 47.4%. The factors associated with more positive attitudes towards lockdown included being female, divorced, higher educated, and students. Conversely, being male, having no formal education, and rural residence were associated factors of adverse lifestyle amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsThe findings reflect how the COVID-19 lockdown has preciously impacted the attitudes, and lifestyle of Bangladeshi citizens, which will contribute to promoting appropriate measures during a subsequent zonal or complete lockdown.

Public Trust in COVID-19 Prevention and Responses Between January and May 2020 in Bangladesh.

Background and AimsAlthough the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) developed some policy initiatives during the first phase of COVID-19, their efforts were questioned due to indecision, late policy decisions and implementation, and a proliferation of fake testing and fake news. As such, this research aims to examine public trust in preparedness and response measures undertaken by both the GoB and private sector organisations in Bangladesh between January and May 2020.MethodsA cross-sectional survey method was applied to a sample of Bangladeshi residents using a questionnaire distributed between April and June 2020. Three hundred and seven respondents participated in an online questionnaire that was disseminated on online outlets, such as e-mail, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. The survey questionnaire was distributed to potential respondents, and continuous-chain messages were provided. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA).FindingsOf the 307 participants, 77% were male and 23% were female. Findings suggest that the participants showed greater approval of private sector responses than of governmental preparedness and response activities. For preparedness activities, participants were negative about both the GoB efforts to organize and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors in time as a safeguard against COVID-19, and also the lack of coordination and informed decision-making in relation to facing COVID-19. Respondents were asked to share their perception of the suitability of GoB pandemic management plans, as evidenced by plan effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionA lower level of trust was demonstrated by the Bangladeshis with regard to preparedness and response measures taken in Bangladesh. Based on participants’ concerns and suggestions and a review of drawback of policy responses in the early stage, a set of recommendations are provided for future pandemics like public health emergency risk management in Bangladesh.

Side Effects Following Administration of the First Dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield Vaccine in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In response to the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh started its vaccine administration in early 2021; however, due to the rapid development and launch of the vaccines in the market, many people had concerns regarding the safety of these vaccines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the side effects that were experienced by the Bangladeshi residents after receiving the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine (ChAdOx1nCoV-19). The study was conducted using both online and printed questionnaires and the data were analysed using SPSS. The results included the responses of 474 vaccine recipients from March–April 2021. Pain at the site of injection, fever, myalgia, fatigue and headache were the most commonly reported symptoms, and the overall side effects were found to be significantly more prevalent in the younger population (p ≤ 0.05). These findings were consistent with the results indicated by the clinical trial of ChAdOx1nCoV-19. Logistic regression analysis further revealed that compared to people aged 70 years or above, the incidence of reported side effects was significantly higher in people aged 18–30 years (odds ratio (OR) = 8.56), 31–40 years, (OR = 5.05), 41–50 years (OR = 4.08), 51–60 years (OR = 3.77) and 61–70 years (OR = 3.67). In addition, a significantly higher percentage of female participants suffered from post-vaccination side effects compared to males (OR = 1.51). It was concluded that the Covishield vaccine was well-tolerated among people of different age groups. Nevertheless, further long-term follow-up study with a larger sample size is warranted to establish the long-term safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Association between indoor green environment and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown period in a low-middle income country

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There is increasing evidence that exposure to greenspaces promotes psychological well-being. The COVID-19 control measures restricted public greenspaces, which is likely to impact the people's psychological well-being. However, evidence on how the indoor or surrounding green environment might benefit mental well-being is limited when access to public greenspaces is restricted. As such, this research aims to examine the relationship between the presence of green environment (house and surroundings) and mental health in a low-middle income country during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The following hypotheses were tested: Is there any association between indoor green features (H1) and residential outdoor greenery access (H2) with psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown period? METHODS: An online cross-sectional study was conducted with Bangladeshi residents (N=500) between February 2 to April 5, 2021. The psychological outcomes measured were anxiety (GAD-2) and depression (PHQ-2). Logistic regression estimated the association between green features and psychological outcomes after adjusting for the socioeconomic status, house type, crowding, long-standing illness and COVID-19 diagnosis information. To test for effect modification, interaction terms between sleep quality and green features, and between social interaction and green features, were added to models. RESULTS:We found that the presence of more plants at home (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.46-1.71, p0.05), window views of outdoor greenery (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.61-1.12, p0.05), access to balcony (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.18-1.18, p0.1) and visits to open space (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.40-1.07, p0.1) were associated with less anxiety and depressive symptoms during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown. Interaction terms showed that sleep quality has a modifying effect on the relation between window green view and mental anxiety. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings suggest that exposure to indoor greenery may be a valuable resource to improve mental health during social isolation at home. KEYWORDS: Greenspace, indoor greenery, COVID-19, mental health, Global south

Knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices toward the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey among Bangladeshi residents.

AimThe novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly infected people worldwide, leading to a massive public reaction. Peoples’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are the most important for the control and prevention of the infectious disease pandemic. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices (KAP) toward the COVID-19 among Bangladeshi residents during the lockdown situation.Subjects and methodsAn online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1765 Bangladeshi adults through the social media networks of the authors.ResultsThe respondents were older than 18 years, with an average age of 24.88 years (SD 6.30). Approximately 15% of our participants received online training. The mean knowledge score was 14.49 (SD 1.8, range 0–17), and the overall correct response rate on this knowledge test was 85%. Approximately 67.2% scored well (above the mean 4.5, range 1–5) regarding the practices. To avoid the infection, 96.6% wore masks outside the home, and 98.7% washed their hands with soap when they came back. COVID-19 knowledge score was significantly associated with a lower odds of (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79–0.92) negative attitudes. Again, the awareness score was associated with a lower likelihood of (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.87–0.98) poor practices.ConclusionOnline health education programs focusing on young people, housewives, and people with less education may potentially improve the attitudes and practices to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term in such a low-resource setting.

Quality of life among Bangladeshi Youth during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-site survey

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological, mental health and quality of life among Bangladeshi residents. Study designA purposive cross-sectional study of quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed. MethodsRespondents completed a modified questionnaire that determined the Impact of Event Scale (IES), indicators of psychological distress impact, impact on government strategies, awareness and lifestyles, and impact on expectation of quality life change. A total of 465 (male = 330 and female = 135) respondents participated in this study. ResultsThe overall mean age of respondents was 28.42 ± 7.07 years, and 63.4%, 44.1% and 50.3% were unmarried, were in the middle-income family group and had a masters or PhD qualification, respectively. The overall mean IES score of respondents was 80.89 ± 8.91, which reflects a stressful impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health problems. Only 27.75% of respondents had an IES score ≥75. More than half of respondents (57.8%) reported that they did not feel lonely and hopeless. In terms of preventative measures, the majority of the respondents (80.2%) reported that they did not wash their hands frequently with soap and sanitiser for at least 20 s to reduce spread of the virus. During the pandemic, more than half of the respondents (56.8%) claimed that they faced serious problems in education. ConclusionsThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant mental and physical health problems.

Effect of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Challenge and Overcome

To control and minimize, many countries have to try to impose radical lockdown, red zone and movement control or stay on their residents. The effectiveness of these alleviation measures is highly dependent on collaboration and the fulfillment of all members of a civilization. The knowledge, attitudes and practices people hold toward the disease play a vital role in determining a society’s willingness to accept behavioral change of the people. This study was to determine the Effect of COVID-19 in among the Bangladeshi public. A cross-sectional online survey of 260 Bangladeshi residents of various sectors and professions was conducted via Google form. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted. Principal component analysis (PCA) was considered to design a standardized scale to measure the mental stress and socioeconomic crisis. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the statistically significant association between different variables on awareness level of the country and cluster analysis (CA) was applied to examine the reliability of each item according to the components to develop a composite score. The overall rate of the level of awareness of Bangladeshi people was only 25%, although 96.9% knowing COVID-19 epidemic. The 33.5% maintain lock down and 40.0% people maintain social distance. We found lack consciousness of People spreadCOVID-19that maybe increase about 68.1% over the country and there is positive correlation between people knowing COVID-19 and awareness level. Losses in education sector are found statistically significant. The PC 1 (first principal component) explained 9.328 % of the variance which was moderate positive loaded with locality people maintain social distance (0.568) and strong positive loaded with people maintain lockdown in locality (0.619). Moreover, result shows that, stay at home was the best method to reduce this pandemic situation, and agriculture sector may overcome this economic distress. However, Meta-Analysis showed that there is strong association between awareness levels of COVID-19 and washing hands daily in the lockdown area.

Impact of Covid-19 outbreak on psychological health–The case of Bangladesh

BackgroundThe outbreak of COVID-19, a profoundly contagious disease has unnerved the world in a calamitous manner from diverse aspects. The present study ventures to expand the literature by exploring loneliness, social isolation, risk perception, financial distress, and psychological distress amidst the lockdown phase of the general population of Bangladesh. MethodsThrough an online survey among 474 respondents (between April 17th and April 23rd, 2020), data were collected from the Bangladeshi residents (21 years or above). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Warp-PLS. ResultsFindings suggest a strong positive correlation among the factors and social isolation, risk perception, financial distress are manifested as the predictors of psychological distress. Besides, females, aged people, and lower-income group are found to be more psychologically distressed. ConclusionThis study yields new insights into the psychological facets of a lower-middle-income earning country, Bangladesh.

Transformation of Sociocultural Integration Policy and Inherent Political Theories in the United Kingdom: A Way Forward

The contemporary integration policies (Community Cohesion Agenda [CCA]) of the United Kingdom have been criticized for their foundational weaknesses, conceptual inadequacies, myopic views with regard to the complexity of the issue, lack of evidence, and so on. Vast majority of the studies conducted to verify this discourse have been done in the line of theoretical arguments of diversity management rather than exploring their connections to a target community in reality. This study aims at establishing a linkage between the growing theoretical arguments of the integration discourse with empirical data in light of the policy framework of the CCA. We have selected the fastest growing Bangladeshi community of the CCA-adapted Aston City of Birmingham as the representative group of the ethnic minority communities of the United Kingdom. Qualitative data collection approach has been followed, where primary in-depth interviews were conducted on various policy actors, social workers, faith leaders, and Bangladeshi residents of Aston. The entire policy instrument, starting from its broad purposes to operational strategies, has been severely challenged by both residents of the community and relevant policy-implementing bodies in Aston. CCA policies appear to be largely inclined toward the interculturalism/communitarianism ideology rather than to multiculturalism. However, the empirical evidence shows that the need for multiculturalism, to be more specific—Bristol School of Multiculturalism, as a political theory remains in the integration discourse in the context of the United Kingdom. Findings are expected to have implications on practitioners and policy makers in designing diversity management policy instruments by having a wider synthesized view on both theoretical argument and empirical data.