Dhaka City Research Articles

Status of Dental Caries and Oral Health Behaviour among 6 to 9 Years Children Attending at a Dental College Hospital in Dhaka City

Background: Oral hygiene is the method that is used to `prevent pathological condition that affect mouth like gum disease, cavities, mouth sores and ulcers. Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe oral health behavior among the children of 6 to 9 years’ old such as regular tooth brushing, uses of oral hygiene aids and dental attendance to maintain their good oral health for a life time. Methodology: This cross-sectional study conducted in Dhaka Dental College and Hospital, Bangladesh study was carried out from October 2019 to September 2020. A total of 175 participants’ children aged 6 to 9 years attending at the OPD with dental Caries in Dhaka Dental College Hospital were the study population. The study population were included children aged 6 to 9 years in Dhaka dental college and hospital who were available and wished to participate. The questionnaire was used in this study pre-tested before the data collection, data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Results: A total of 175 children were examined during the study. Among them 65.13% were suffering from caries teeth. Among the majority of children (40.57%) dental caries was from government primary school as compare from private primary school (15.43%). The dmft score of 1 or higher increases with the increasing age of the children. 7 to 8 years’ children (20.57%) had high dmft score. High DMFT score indicates significant relation between age of children and dmft scores (P=.000, <0.01). Among them 66.86% children brush their teeth regularly whereas 33.14% followed irregularly brush their teeth and only 20.4% brush their teeth twice daily which are recommended whereas majority 79.6% brush their teeth once daily. Among them had habit of snacking aftermeal observed in 87.43% of the participants but only 15.43% of children cleaned their teeth after snack food. Conclusion: Good oral health behavior plays a fundamental role for general wellbeing by preventing common oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, especially in children who live in developing countries. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, January 2024;10(1):38-43

Role of Low Dose Aspirin with Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) in the Management of Recurrent Missed Abortion: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Management of recurrent missed abortion is very crucial. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the outcome of combined treatment of low dose aspirin with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in recurrent missed abortion cases. Methodology: This non-randomized clinical trial was performed in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh between January 2018 and December 2019. The samples were collected from Central Police Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh and in a private hospital in Dhaka city. The patients who were able to give clear history of missed abortion, who had no endocrine and hypertensive disorders and who conceived spontaneously or after fertility treatment were selected as study population. After positive pregnancy test all patients started taking oral progesterone (Allylstrenol 5 mg TDS), folic acid and aspirin 75 mg daily. Patients were advised to come for ultrasonography at 6 weeks of pregnancy. After confirming intrauterine viable pregnancy by ultrasonography we started injection enoxaparin (LMWH) 40 mg subcutaneous daily to all patients and continued till 34 completed weeks. The primary end point was the live birth rate and secondary end points were the side effects, late pregnancy complications and neonatal outcome in the study population. Results: Fifteen (50.4%) patients had antiphospholipid syndrome. Among them antiphospholipid subgroup antibody found in 40.4% cases, ACLA found in 27.5% cases, LA found in 18.3% cases and both ACLA and LA found in 13.8% cases. Antinuclear antibody was positive in 10% cases. No abnormality was identified in 40.1% cases. Pregnancy continued successfully in 97.0% cases. There were no maternal and foetal complications. Except failed cases there was no need to discontinue the treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion it has found a satisfactory outcome with low dose heparin therapy. Large, well-designed randomized trials are needed to establish the heparin therapy in recurrent missed abortion. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, January 2024;10(1):57-63

Complications of Menstrual Regulation in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka city of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Menstrual regulation is an alternate important way of reproductive life of females. Objective: The purpose of this present study was to find out the outcomes of complications of menstrual regulation. Methodology: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 unsafe MR cases were included in this study in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, over the period of 12 (twelve) months, dated from January 2011 to December 2011.A data collection sheet was formed which included all the parameters and variables of interests. After selection, eligible women were informed about the study and a written consent was taken. In this observational study all women were to be interviewed, their detail history, findings of physical examination and investigation reports were checked and the information’s were recorded in the data collection form. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 40 years and most of the patients belonged to ’26 to 30 years’ age group is 31.8%. The mean duration of stay was 7.32 days and the total duration ranged from 1 to 28 days. In spite of the large range of stay, more than half 53.3% of the respondents were released from the hospital within 3 days. In this study shows that the respondents were having various difficulties following abortion induction; most of them were suffering from abdominal pain was the most prevailing condition [358 (93.2%)] followed by per vaginal bleeding 90.1%. The complications of the patients developed following unsafe abortion. The most complications found Four-fifth of the cases 80.2% were found with retained product of conception. More than one-fifth were in shock 21.6%and another one-fifth were suffering from per vaginal bleeding 20.0%. Conclusion: Menstrual Regulation happens mostly in unsafe abortion leading to comorbidity of life even death. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, January 2024;10(1):64-69

Concurrent transmission of Zika virus during the 2023 dengue outbreak in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

During the 2023-dengue outbreak in Bangladesh, a diagnostic evaluation study was conducted to investigate concurrent Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) transmission in Dhaka in 2023. The study explored to simultaneously detect the presence of ZIKV, DENV, and/or CHIKV while considering relevant clinical and epidemiological risk factors, using a real-time multiplex RT-PCR system. Following this, it was planned to sequence the selected samples to identify genetic variations of the ZIKV infections within the population. This study was designed as a diagnostic evaluation, where participants meeting the inclusion criteria were prospectively recruited with written informed consent. A total of 399 febrile individuals were screened, with 185 meeting the inclusion criteria of having a fever onset within 2-5 days, along with one of the following clinical features, e.g. headache, myalgia, arthralgia or bone pain, rash, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and 152 undergoing real-time RT-PCR testing. Five ZIKV-positive cases were identified, including one DENV-ZIKV co-infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the ZIKV strains were part of the Asian lineage, closely related to Cambodian and Chinese strains from 2019. All ZIKV-positive cases were male, residing within a one-kilometer radius, with no prior travel history, suggesting community-level transmission. This study marks the first identification of ZIKV in Dhaka city and the first report of ZIKV-DENV co-infection in Bangladesh that highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by the symptomatic similarities between ZIKV and other arboviruses and underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and public health interventions to mitigate the spread and impact of ZIKV in dengue-endemic regions.

Ocular Status, Ocular Health Seeking Behavior and Barriers to Uptake Eye Care Services among Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the ocular status, ocular health-seeking behaviors and barriers to the uptake of eye care services among garment workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: This is a descriptive community-based study. The study was conducted at Savar and Narayangonj in Dhaka city where garment workers are living. There were 260 garment workers aged from 18 to 60 years were screened their eyes. They were also interviewed face to face in a structured questionnaire to collect information about health-seeking behaviors and identify the barriers to the uptake of eye care services. Result: Among 260 respondents, about 45.77% were male and 54.23% were female. About 45.4% had ocular complaints and 54.6% had no complaints. Among the respondents (n=260), related ocular abnormalities were 37.70%, (n=98), the diagnosed problems were Refractive error (10.0%), Allergic conjunctivitis (1.5%), Squint (0.4%), conjunctivitis (0.4%), cataract (1.9%), However (10.40%) were referred to the eye care center, 31.90% were given optical correction and 57.70% were given general measure. 86% never went to hospital. The main reasons assigned for not going to an eye doctor 6.7% were financial constraints, 67.9% did not feel necessary, 3.1% were lack of escort, 16.1% had lack of time, the traditional belief was 2.2%, and 4% were not aware of a hospital doctor. Most of the workers conceived that the recent cost of treatment is very high. They desired low treatment costs, free spectacles, and free eye camps including more facilities. Conclusion: Relative to studies of other occupational groups in middle-income countries, these garment workers reported overall good health; their most notable problem was musculoskeletal symptoms and refractive error and the near point of convergence insufficiency which means early presbyopia. Keywords: Refractive Error, Presbyopia, Eye Care, Barriers.

Clinical epidemiology of dengue and COVID-19 co-infection among the residents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2021-2023: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 has increased the health burden worldwide. We found a significant knowledge gap in epidemiology and risk factors of co-infection in Bangladesh. Methods This study included 2458 participants from Dhaka city from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2023. We performed Kruskal-Walli’s test and χ2 test. Multivariable logistic regression was also performed. Results Co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 was found among 31% of the participants. Co-prevalence of dengue and COVID-19 was found in higher frequency in Jatrabari (14%), and Motijhil (11%). Severe (65%, p-value 0.001) and very severe (78%, p-value 0.005) symptoms were prevalent among the participants aged >50 years. Long-term illness was prevalent among the participants with co-infection (35%, 95% CI 33%- 36%) and COVID-19 (28%, 95% CI 26%- 30%). Co-infected participants had a higher frequency of heart damage (31.6%, p-value 0.005), brain fog (22%, p-value 0.03), and kidney damage (49.3%, p-value 0.001). Fever (100%) was the most prevalent symptom followed by weakness (89.6%), chills (82.4%), fatigue (81.4%), headache (80.6%), feeling thirsty (76.3%), myalgia (75%), pressure in the chest (69.1%), and shortness of breath (68.3%), respectively. Area of residence (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.96-2.49, p-value 0.01), number of family members (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08-1.87, p-value <0.001), and population density (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.15-3.01, p-value 0.001) were associated with higher odds of co-infection. We found that coinfected participants had a 4 times higher risk of developing severe health conditions (OR 4.22, 95% CI 4.11-4.67, p-value 0.02). Conclusions This is one of the early epidemiologic studies of co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 in Bangladesh.

Scars of the Battlefield: Analyzing the Psychological Impact of War on Women in Humayun Ahmed’s Jochna O Jononir Golpo

The Bangladeshi Liberation War of 1971 is significantly celebrated and remembered as it marks the indelible history in the lives of the people who sacrificed their existence physically, emotionally, and mentally for the love of their motherland. In this context, Jochna O Jononir Golpo's (2004) is a widely read narrative as it offers a poignant depiction of the chaos of war from a bird's-eye perspective. The title translates to “The Story of Moonlight and Motherhood,” where the moon stands for a metaphor of beauty in Asian literature and shares a great similarity with motherhood embracing the world with the soft touch of the celestial body. The novel can be defined as a fictional autobiography as it delves into the author’s experiences alongside the central protagonists of the novel. The havoc of the war is reflected as Shahid’s wife and daughter walk out of the house with anger and are lost in the curfew of Dhaka city. The moment's intensity is demonstrated as Naimul, a calm student and the newlywed husband of Moriom, transforms into a ruthless soldier. Moriom’s eternal longing for her husband while filling her diaries with letters provides a flicker of hope for the soldiers at war. This paper aims to analyze how these characters’ traumas are amplified by their roles as women in a patriarchal society in the Bangladeshi Liberation War of 1971. Drawing on feminist theory, this paper analyses the emotional isolation, loss of identity, and societal negligence against women. Furthermore, the paper will also regain strength by exploring the resilience of these characters against the backdrop of a hostile environment amid war. The significance of this paper lies in acknowledging the pain and trauma endured by women during 1971 that are often silenced by the grand narratives of the political context.

Eroding Social Capital and Increasing Divorce in Dhaka City

In the pursuit of gaining financial solvency and for so doing keeping utmost focus on career development, family value, the hallmark of social capital, is seemingly getting less focus in the present capitalist social structure of Dhaka city. The paper argues that modern couples’ ignorance towards developing social capital is a major factor behind the alarming increase in the divorce rate in Dhaka City. This study intends to explore how the culture of extreme individualism is causing a profound negative impact on strengthening social capital and the marital bondage is getting weaker which provokes couples to terminate their conjugal bondage even on trifle issues without considering deeply on social norms, values, obligations - the core features of social capital. In line with a comprehensive content analysis of the relevant secondary data, qualitative interviews of eight scholarly participants - four PhD Fellows of Dhaka University and four advocates in the High Court Division- have been arranged with semi-structured questionnaires to get the insights regarding the relevance of eroding social capital and the tendency of divorce among the couples in Dhaka city. The study findings suggest that the policymakers concerned with social stability in Bangladesh need to adopt policies keeping social capital into consideration along with financial capital – economic solvency- and human capital –education-; and for that, a more comprehensive study regarding the significance of social capital is needed to develop a pragmatic and time- worthy strategy to check the reckless increase of divorce rate in Dhaka city. Social Science Review, Vol. 41(1), June 2024, Page 161-178.

Knowledge, attitude, and preventive measures of common people about chronic kidney diseases in Dhaka City of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most populated countries in the globe. The yearly budget for the people of this country is not satisfactory in the health and education sector. Among the chronic diseases chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the major issue for the common people. CKD is defined as a persistent abnormality in kidney structure or function (e.g., glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or albuminuria ≥30 mg per 24 hours) for more than 3 months. CKD affects 8% to 16% of the population worldwide. In 2017, CKD resulted in 1.2 million deaths and was the 12th leading cause of death worldwide. However, by taking adequate preventive measures, CKD can be prevented for which proper knowledge about the disease is necessary. This study was carried out to gather information about the knowledge and attitude regarding CKD among the common people of Dhaka city. It is a cross-sectional type of descriptive study conducted for 10 months from March to December 2022 taking responses from 405 correspondents conveniently. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview. The collected data was computed and analyzed.

Barriers to Accessing Dengue Healthcare: A Multicenter Survey from Dhaka, a Major Den- gue Hotspot in Bangladesh

Introduction: Dengue fever in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka, faces significant healthcare access barriers. Understanding these barriers is crucial for targeted interventions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the barriers to accessing dengue healthcare through a multicenter survey in Dhaka, a major dengue hotspot in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was employed throughout the study. The study was conducted in Dhaka City. This study used two-stage stratified sampling based on hospital type (public/private) and randomly selected 16 hospitals (7 public and 9 private), focusing on patients admitted with dengue. A total of 101 patients comprised the final sample. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that focused on patient characteristics and challenges in accessing dengue treatment. The main outcomes measured included availability and accessibility access barriers, access barriers related to knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, or practices (KAP), and financial access barriers. Statistical analysis assessed the influence of demographic factors on these access barriers. Results: The study reveals overall 96.04% of participants perceived dengue as a serious threat. Demographically, the patients mostly lived in urban (85.15%) and varied in education. MANOVA indicates that demographic variables significantly impact access barriers, highlighting age, and education status as influential factors (P-value <0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of age and education as key determinants of access barriers in dengue healthcare. Addressing the unique needs of children and older adults, as well as enhancing educational opportunities, could be pivotal in mitigating these barriers.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health among the Medical Students at Dhaka City

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health among the Medical Students at Dhaka City

The Impact of Watching English Cartoons on Preschoolers’ Language Acquisition and Behavioural Development in Dhaka

Being a critical development period, childhood shapes behaviors and language skills through interaction and observation. These days, the majority of the children spend a notable amount of time watching and enjoying English cartoons in Dhaka City. Watching cartoons has a significant impact on children in the development of their attitudes, actions, and skills. This study investigates the effects of watching English cartoons on preschoolers in Dhaka City. The study uses a triangulation method with a diverse sampling of 40 participants—20 preschoolers and 20 parents—combining questionnaires, semi-structured interviews of parents and children, and observation. To ensure the diversity of the sampling, we adopted convenience sampling and selected respondents from Dhaka City- North and South. The findings show that the impacts of watching English cartoons are both beneficial and concerning; children display impressive linguistic growth in English, particularly in applying lexis and understanding even complex contexts. On the other hand, exposure to violent content raises concerns about hazardous behavior and its imitation. We argue that it is important for parents to maintain national identity, cultural sensitivity, and awareness while letting children watch English cartoons. Parental monitoring is also necessary to select content that is in accordance with morals, educational activities, and critical thinking and to improve preschoolers’ education quality. We urge researchers to conduct further studies on the area to dive deeper into the facts.

Inadequate wastewater management in Dhaka’s major hospitals: A socio-technical systems analysis of leadership, policy, and technological challenges

Unsafe hospital wastewater (HWW) is a significant concern, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the health impact is often underreported. Socio-technical systems (STS) theory, which examines the interplay between social and technical elements within complex systems, is widely used in developed countries but rarely applied in LMIC hospitals. STS theory was employed to evaluate the social and technical aspects of HWW treatment and management in Dhaka City, alongside a comprehensive assessment of WWT processes. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative (structured observations) and qualitative interviews. Structured observations assessed the availability and functionality of WWT systems in selected hospitals. The fieldworkers conducted 30 key-informant interviews across 13 hospitals, including 21 respondents from government and nine from private hospitals. The respondents were cleaners, key health professionals, and public works department (PWD) engineers. We also analyzed relevant government reports and policies. Among the hospitals surveyed, 10 had some form of WWT system, while the remaining three lacked any treatment infrastructure. Of those with WWT, seven utilized anaerobic baffled reactors and three had septic tanks. Interviews revealed that hospital authorities prioritize patient care and medical equipment maintenance over WWT, with limited understanding among hospital staff regarding WWT. PWD-engineers reported frequent staff shortages and bureaucratic delays, affecting the efficiency of WWT system repairs and desludging. Our study identified significant gaps in WWT in Dhaka hospitals, including the limited use of adequate treatment technologies, poor wastewater management knowledge, and many systems in disrepair, leading to hazardous liquid being discharged directly into the environment. The STS approach highlighted the need for policy formulation for HWW regulation, government leadership, adequate financing, technical assistance, and staff capacity building. Addressing these issues comprehensively can lead to safer and more sustainable wastewater management practices in HCFs, ultimately benefiting public health and the environment.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of doctors and nurses about the disposal of expired and unused medicines in Dhaka city

Improper medicine disposal practice has become a major concern in South Asian countries. Many healthcare professionals are not aware of safe medicine disposal practices. This survey study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of unused and expired medicines among doctors and nurses in Dhaka City. A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 respondents. Respondents were classified into two categories: doctors = 100, and nurses = 50. Data collection was done using a pre-validated, structured questionnaire. Collected data were added to the MS Excel spreadsheet and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science version 23.0. Two-thirds of the nurses kept expired medicines in their houses as they did not want to waste them whereas 50% of doctors had expired medicines. Remarkably, 42.86% of nurses responded to immune system deficiencies resulting from improper medicine disposal, while it figured 28.16% among doctors. Alarmingly, 95.46% of nurses disposed of medicines via flush in the toilet/basin or dump in the dustbin, and 69.79% of doctors followed similar practices. 27.43% of doctors and 13.85% of nurses recommended reducing the number of medicines from prescription. It has been suggested that health policymakers work together with healthcare professionals and general people by launching public awareness campaigns.

Sources and distribution of potentially toxic elements in urban road dust: A comparative insights and risk assessment of two polluted cities.

This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of seven potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from thirty samples using instrumental neutron activation analysis on the roadside dust samples collected from a south-western city (Khulna) and a highly urban megacity (Dhaka), Bangladesh. The mean concentrations (μg.g-1) of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, and Sb in the analyzed dust samples were 68±33.2, 386±136, 25648±534, 7±2, 98±63, 3±1, and 1±1, respectively in Khulna city and 67±7, 547±110, 25150±1723, 8.0±0.7, 125±17, 4.0±0.6, and 1.0±0.3, respectively, in Dhaka city, showing uneven distribution in both cities. PMF modelling and multivariate statistical approaches demonstrated that 65.68% anthropogenic and 34.32% geogenic sources for Khulna city, whereas 64.93% mixed (anthropogenic and geogenic) and 35.07% anthropogenic sources were the main contributors of measured elements in Dhaka city. In both cities, anthropogenic contributions were primarily linked to traffic emissions and industrial activity. Various geo-environmental indicators, including element-specific (Igeo, EF, CF), site-specific (Cd, mCd, PLI, NIPI), and ecological indices (Eri, RI), were used to assess the contamination characteristics of PTEs and contamination levels in both cities were in the following decreasing order: Sb>Zn>Cr>Fe>As>Mn>Co, whereas individual ecological risks were in the following decreasing order: Sb(34.28) >As(6.28) >Co(1.98) >Cr(1.47) >Zn(1.46) >Mn(0.50) in Khulna, and Sb(18.64) >As(7.56) >Co(2.43) >Zn(1.86) >Cr(1.45) >Mn(0.71) in Dhaka. The study site demonstrated lower potential ecological risks, even though non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from various exposure pathways appeared minimal. Notably, children in both urban cities exhibited heightened vulnerability compared to adults.

The Impact of Chemical Composition of Processed Foods on Human Health in Bangladesh

Processed foods have become a staple in the diet of many Bangladeshis due to urbanization and changing lifestyles. However, their chemical composition raises significant public health concerns. Investigating chemical composition of processed food consumption in Bangladesh and evaluating its relationship to dietary quality are the goals of this study. This study applies data from a nationwide household food budget survey to a classification of foods based on the kind, degree, and purpose of food processing. Foods are divided into three categories: chemical composition of processed food (Group 3), processed culinary components (Group 2), and unprocessed or slightly processed foods (Group 1). The population was selected from Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The result of this study is the average per capita energy availability from food purchases was 8908 (SE 81) kJ/d (2129 (SE 19) kcal/d). Chemical composition of processed foods accounted for more than 61.7 percent of dietary energy (Group 3), compared to 25.6 percent from Group 1 and 12.7 percent from Group 2. The total diet included less fiber than advised and surpassed WHO upper limits for fat, saturated fat, free sugars, and sodium density. Additionally, it surpassed the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research's average energy density goal. When combined, Group 3 products are higher in fat, sugar, salt, and energy density than Group 1 and Group 2 products alone. According to the current analysis, any significant dietary change would need consuming significantly fewer chemical composition of processed food and a greater number of meals and dishes made with minimally processed foods and processed culinary components.

E-waste recycling in an optimized way for copper recovery by leaching and a case study on E-waste generation and management in Dhaka city.

The widespread adoption of electronic devices has enhanced living standards but has also led to a surge in electronic waste (e-waste), creating serious environmental and health challenges. Although various methods exist to recover valuable metals from e-waste, each has notable drawbacks. Among these, chemical leaching with aqua regia is widely used but is both highly corrosive and hazardous. This study introduces a safer, more environmentally friendly approach to copper recovery from e-waste using an iron-based leaching solution. A combination of experimental procedures and computational modeling was employed to optimize copper extraction from printed circuit boards (PCBs). The experiments involved treating PCBs with iron-based solutions of different concentrations and testing the effectiveness over two distinct time periods. The most effective recovery rate, 72.69% over five days, was achieved using a 50:50 mixture of ferrous and ferric sulfate. Computational analysis with Python's SciPy library further identified 5.92g of PCB as the ideal input quantity for the process. In addition to the lab-based work, a survey of Dhaka's primary e-waste recycling hubs, Nimtoli and Elephant Road, revealed that approximately 1173 tons of e-waste are processed in these areas each year. Based on experimental findings, the survey findings have a projection to generate over 35 million BDT annually through copper recovery. However, despite government initiatives to regulate e-waste management, unsafe handling practices remain widespread. These practices not only endanger workers and the environment but also hinder regulatory efforts. The study emphasizes the urgent need for stricter regulations, greater public awareness, and the adoption of eco-friendly methods, like the proposed iron-based solution, to ensure safer and more effective copper recovery.

Level of awareness about vitamin D among adolescent college students

Vitamin D deficiency is a significant health problem for men and women in certain South Asian countries due to a lack of vitamin D-rich diets, dark skin color, cultural and spiritual practices that encourage the wearing of concealing garments. The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness about vitamin D among adolescent college students in Dhaka City. This descriptive type of Cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka from June 2022 to August 2022. 16 to19 years adolescent college students (n=384) were the study population. Purposive sampling was done according to availability of the subjects. All the data were compiled and sorted properly and the quantitative data was analyzed statistically by using Statistical Package for Social Science. Most of the participants (n=265, 69%) belongs between the age group 17-18 years of age. Most of the participants (85%) were female. Most of the respondents (97.4%) were from the Muslim community. Most of the participants (72%) were HSC first-year students in college. In our study about half (47.9%) of respondents’ family income was between 21,000 BDT to 30,000 BDT. In our study 100% participants heard about Vitamin D. 90.1% participants knows about Vitamin D deficiency. 95.8% of participants know about sources of vitamin D. 92.5% of participants know about the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. One relationship was found where a good knowledge of Vitamin D deficiency was found among the participant whose family incomes were higher and it is statistically significant (p-value <0.000). This study revealed that there is a tremendous opportunity to raise students’ awareness about vitamin D.

Heat Wave Adaptation Strategies among Informal Workers in an Urban Setting: A Study in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Heat Wave Adaptation Strategies among Informal Workers in an Urban Setting: A Study in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Risk of Dementia and Its Associated Factors Among the Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Attending a Tertiary Cardiac Hospital of Dhaka City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Bangladesh, data related to the future risk of dementia and its associated factors are scarce. Furthermore, no dementia risk prediction tool has yet been applied to estimate the risk in any population in Bangladesh. Therefore, our objective was to assess the risk of dementia and its associated factors among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This cross-sectional study conveniently recruited 280 stable patients with CAD who were admitted for coronary revascularization at a tertiary cardiac hospital situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected face-to-face using a pretested questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEP-wise Approach to Surveillance (STEPS) of Noncommunicable Diseases Risk Factors questionnaire (Version 3.2). The questionnaire included background information (sociodemographic, comorbidity), behavioral and metabolic risk factors, physical and biochemical measurements. The next 20 years' risk of dementia was estimated using the "Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia" score. The risk score, risk levels, and risk factors were presented descriptively. The associated factors of dementia risk were elucidated using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The mean ( ± standard deviation) risk score for dementia was 6.26 ± 2.28. The predicted "at-risk" population was 63.6%. The prevalent risk factors were unhealthy diets (84.3%) presented by inadequate fruit/vegetable consumption (70%) and added salt intake (46.4%). In the final model of hierarchical multiple regression, the risk score showed a significant association with several risk factors: family history of diabetes (p = 0.03), alcohol intake (p = 0.03), current smoking (p = 0.03), estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02). A substantial proportion of patients with CAD had a future risk of dementia which demands an urgent risk reduction strategy in Bangladesh. Future longitudinal studies may more precisely justify the current findings.