Disorders In Bangladesh Research Articles

Effectiveness of a package of community-based mental healthcare services to address perinatal mental disorders in Bangladesh: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPerinatal mental disorders of women have an impact on their pregnancy and their child’s brain development across low and middle-income countries. However, to address this issue, there are no specific guidelines for community-level service providers in Bangladesh. Therefore, we aimed to develop a community-based mental healthcare (CBMHC) service package and test its effectiveness in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among mothers during the perinatal period. MethodsA cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) was applied to test the CBMHC package in 2017 and 2018. It was provided to one group of mothers along with routine maternal care while another group received only routine maternal care. Paired sample t-test was applied to assess mean changes at baseline and endline in the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and EuroQol-5 Dimension and 3 Level (EQ5D3L) scales. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the relationship between the DASS-21 score and EQ5D3L. Results1,215 participants were enrolled, including 605 in the intervention group and 610 in the control group. Measures of depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly decreased in both groups. Reduction in the levels of stress, as measured by changes in the stress score, were significantly greater in the intervention than in the control group (diff: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.1, 2.2). The EQ5D3L index improved significantly, 0.02 units more at endline in the intervention group than in the control group (diff: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.03). The levels of mobility, usual activities, pain or discomfort, depression, and anxiety improved by 1.4%, 7.6%, 4.4%, 2.6%, and 0.4% more, respectively, in the intervention group compared to the control groups. These improvements were statistically significant. The DASS-21 score was negatively and significantly correlated with both the EQ-5D3L index and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for the intervention group as well as for the usual care group, indicating that EQ5D3L improved when common mental disorders decreased. ConclusionAlthough the improvements were modest, a CBMHC service package was effective in reducing perinatal levels of stress among Bangladeshi rural women. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03678415

Mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum in Bangladesh: A narrative review.

Bangladesh has made significant progress in declining maternal mortality in recent decades. However, the available evidence on the various maternal mental disorders in the country has not been comprehensively and critically reviewed to date. This narrative review aimed to assess the mental disorders and associated factors during pregnancy and postpartum in Bangladesh. A thorough search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL with search terms at the end of January 2024 to identify the original articles published on psychiatric morbidities during pregnancy and postpartum. This review included 28 empirical studies published between 2007 and 2023 with a sample size ranging from 100 to 39,434. Two studies were published before 2010, 16 studies were published between 2011 and 2020, and 10 studies were published between 2021 and 2023. No countrywide study was noted, the Bangla Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-B) was used in 57% of studies, suicidal behavior was assessed in three studies, postpartum depression (PPD) was featured in 16 studies, and three qualitative studies were noted. The prevalence of PPD ranged from 9% to 51.7%. About 46% of mothers had positive scores for common mental disorders. The prevalence of mental disorders was 14.2%; among them mood disorders were present at 6.1% and psychoses were noted at 4.5%. There are wide variations in the prevalence of maternal mental disorders in Bangladesh from study to study; a lower prevalence was noted when diagnostic tools were used even though no nationwide study with confirmatory diagnostic tools was noted. Studies with nationwide distribution and diagnostic tools are warranted to understand the problem precisely.

Vitamin D status in patients with mental disorders in Bangladesh: a cross sectional study

Vitamin D status in patients with mental disorders in Bangladesh: a cross sectional study

Approach to management of hypo and hyperthyroidism in Bangladesh: a nationwide physicians' perspective survey.

Thyroid disorders are common clinical conditions globally. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the physicians' approach to the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders in Bangladesh. The present nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted among 662 physicians of different levels (general practitioners as well as specialists) from different hospitals in Bangladesh from January to June 2023. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire including information about demographics and practice patterns for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines were the most commonly followed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders (60%), followed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) guidelines (18%) and the European Thyroid Association (ETA) guidelines (9%). Serum TSH, free T3 and free T4 levels were the most frequently used diagnostic tests for the evaluation and follow-ups of both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states in adults, pregnant women and children, followed by total T3 and total T4 levels. Other tests, such as anti-TPO antibody, anti-TG antibody, anti-TPO, ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland, etc., were rarely used by the participating physicians. Levothyroxine at a dose of 25 to 50 mcg and carbimazole at a dose of 30 to 45 mg were the most frequently used drugs for hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients, respectively. Almost 65% of the physicians suggested routine thyroid function tests before surgery. In addition, more than 90% of the physicians agreed that thyroid screening for pregnancy, neonates, school children and adults would be mandatory. The majority of the physicians participating in our study followed relevant guidelines for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders in Bangladesh. However, there are still some gaps to be improved, as a good number of physicians did not follow specific guidelines for these disorders.

Incidence of common goat diseases and disorders in Bangladesh

Aim: Goat farming is becoming more popular, but many diseases and disorders are limiting its growth. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and patterns of clinical cases of goat diseases and implement appropriate preventative measures. Methods: A study on the incidence of goat diseases and disorders was conducted on 2107 goats (Black Bengal, Jamunapari and Boer) at Goat research farm in Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2018 to December 2022. Clinical records and diagnoses of diseases and disorders have been determined on the basis of relevant clinical history, clinical findings and appropriate laboratory test. Goat diseases and disorders were categorized according to the following variables: seasons, breed, sex, year, and age. MS Excel 2021 and SPSS (20.0) were used to determine the incidence rate of goat diseases. Results: The predominant clinical diseases and disorders observed were diarrhoea (29.38%), pneumonia (22.69%), Malnutrition (9.59%), Bloat (6.60%), Caprine Pasteurellosis (6.17%), Contagious Ecthyma (3.80%), and Abscess (3.08%). In case of seasons, the winter season exhibited the highest incidence rate (37.38%), followed by the rainy season (32.13%) and summer (30.19%). In terms of breed, Black Bengal goats exhibited the highest incidence rate (74.70%), followed by Jamunapari (21.21%) and Boer (4.09%). Regarding age groups, the growing goat had the highest incidence rate (46.13%), followed by adults (32.56%) and kids (21.31%). Lastly, with regard to the sex of the animal, female goat exhibited the highest incidence rate (54.01%) compared to male goats (45.99%). Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is necessary to implement proper actions to prevent the occurrence of these diseases and their manifestations in the future.

Reporting Two Rare Mutations With Associated Clinical Features in Bangladeshi Hb E/B Thalassemia Patients

Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic disorders in Bangladesh. We have performed an investigation among 360 patients with Hb E/β-thalassemia to understand the heterogeneity in thalassemia severity among Bangladeshi patients. The analysis revealed that one of the common mutations CD26 (G>A) is found with two rare mutations HBB: c.-79A>G (-29A>G) and HBB: c.45_46insG (CD14/15 (+G)) in two patients individually which are not prevalent in geographically adjacent populations. Among these two rare mutations, -29A>G is located at the ‘TATA’ box region of the promoter sequence regulating transcription initiation and CD14/15 (+G) leads to a premature stop codon. We performed transcription factor binding site prediction analysis and found that ‘AP-1’, ‘c-Jun’, and ‘kr’ transcription factors bind at the ‘TATA’ box region. From this analysis, we can predict that -29A>G mutation can alter the level of HBB transcription whereas the CD14/15 (+G) mutation causes a truncated (and possibly non-functional) HBB protein. Aligned with such assumption, it was observed from patients’ medical history that, the patient who had CD14/15 (+G) and CD26 (G>A) mutations was severely blood transfusion-dependent whereas the patient carrying -29A>G and CD26 (G>A) mutations was moderately transfusion dependent. The comprehensive analysis of the mutations offers crucial insights and approaches for enhanced management of thalassemia among the Bangladeshi population. Bioresearch Commu. 10(1): 1442-1448, 2024 (January)

Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy prevalence in a community-based sample in Sylhet, Bangladesh

BackgroundInherited blood disorders affect 7% of the population worldwide, with higher prevalences in countries in the “thalassemia belt,” which includes Bangladesh. Clinical management options for severely affected individuals are expensive; thus, targeted government policies are needed to support prevention and treatment programs. In Bangladesh, there is a lack of data, in particular community-based estimates, to determine population prevalence. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of a wide range of hemoglobinopathies and their associations with anemia in a community-based sample of women and young children in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh.MethodsCapillary blood samples from 900 reproductive-aged women and 395 children (aged 6–37 months) participating in the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) trial in two sub-districts of Habiganj, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh were analyzed for alpha thalassemia, beta thalassemia, and other hemoglobinopathies. We examined the association of each inherited blood disorder with hemoglobin concentration and anemia using linear and logistic regression.ResultsWe identified at least one inherited blood disorder in 11% of women and 10% of children. Alpha thalassemia was most prevalent, identified in 7% of women and 5% of children, followed by beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E in 2–3%. We also identified cases of hemoglobin S and hemoglobin D in this population. Having any of the identified inherited blood disorders was associated with lower hemoglobin values among non-pregnant women, largely driven by alpha and beta thalassemia. Pregnant women with beta thalassemia were also more likely to have lower hemoglobin concentrations. Among children, we found weak evidence for a relationship between hemoglobinopathy and lower hemoglobin concentrations.ConclusionsWe found a high prevalence of alpha thalassemia among both women and children in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh–higher than all other identified hemoglobinopathies combined. Community-based estimates of alpha thalassemia prevalence in Bangladesh are scarce, yet our findings suggest that alpha thalassemia may comprise the majority of inherited blood disorders in some regions of the country. We recommend that future research on inherited blood disorders in Bangladesh include estimates of alpha thalassemia in their reporting for public health awareness and to facilitate couples counseling.

Thyroid Disorders in Bangladesh

Thyroid Disorders in Bangladesh

Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Children with Communication Disorders in Bangladesh

The outbreak of COVID-19 imposed an adverse effect on mental health across the globe, and when it comes to children with special needs facing a rapid change in their daily routine, an unfulfillment of their higher healthcare needs and inability to communicate appropriately may increase the risk. This study aims to examine the effect of COVID-19 on mental health in children with Communication Disorders in Bangladesh. Data were collected over the phone among 210 parents from urban and rural areas having a child with Communication Disorders. The child’s general socio- demographic information and clinical characteristics were reported through a bivariate test, while the risk factors associated with developing anxiety were measured using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-6) scales. The result shows that children aged 11-15 suffer from severe anxiety (28.6%), and children who do not possess any language level 20(9.5%) have severe anxiety. Similarly, among children from families with Covid-19 positivity, 42(20.0%) of them have a severe level of anxiety. Therefore, counseling services should be provided to the families of COVID-19 positivity. Besides, speech and language therapy services must be ensured, as children without a language level are more prone to anxiety. Social Science Review, Vol. 39(1), June 2022 Page 1-14

Child marriage in Bangladesh during COVID-19 (2020-2022): A Study on Secondary High School in Rajshahi

Child marriage is one of the social disorders in Bangladesh which is barrier to overall progress of the country. It is a social circumstance in Bangladesh that might be defined in many ways such as ; a legal problem, social problem, health problem, population problem and gender discrimination problem. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how lockdown affects child marriage or mandatory marriage. However, many studies show that in pandemic period because of child marriage implementation, it is heavily affecting the girls. The survey report of the Pannapara High School shows that about 35% girls are married in covid-19 period. The study also aims at determining the immediate causes of forced marriage during Covid-19 as well as how the lockdown period due to Covid-19 influenced the decision of marriage. School closures and declining family incomes have direct connection with child marriage which also put additional pressure on families.

Community-based decentralized mental health services are essential to prevent the epidemic turn of post-Covid mental disorders in Bangladesh: A call to action.

Community-based decentralized mental health services are essential to prevent the epidemic turn of post-Covid mental disorders in Bangladesh: A call to action.

Prevalence and associated risk factors for mental health problems among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-Sectional study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive endocrine problem worldwide. The prevalence of mental disorder is increasing among PCOS patients due to various physical, psychological, and social issues. Here we aimed to evaluate the mental health and associated factors among women suffering from PCOS in Bangladesh. We performed an online cross-sectional survey among 409 participants with PCOS using Google Forms. We used structured questionnaires to collect socio-demographic information and lifestyle-related factors. Also, we applied patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scale, and UCLA loneliness (UCLA-3) scale for psychometric assessment of the participants. Finally, we applied several statistical tools and performed data interpretations to evaluate the prevalence of mental health disorders and associated factors among patients with PCOS in Bangladesh. Prevalence of loneliness, generalized anxiety disorder and depressive illness among the women with PCOS were 71%, 88%, and 60%, respectively. Among the mental illness, mild, moderate, and severe cases were 39%, 18%, and 14% for loneliness; 39%, 23% and 26% for generalized anxiety disorder; and 35%, 18%, and 7% for depressive disorder. According to the present findings, obesity, financial condition, physical exercise, mealtime, food habit, daily water consumption, birth control method, and long-term oral contraceptive pills contribute to developing mental health disorders among females with PCOS in Bangladesh. According to present study results, high proportion of women suffering from PCOS experience several mental disorders in Bangladesh. Although several socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors were found to be associated with the poor mental health of women with PCOS; however, PCOS itself is a condition that favors poor physical and psychological health. Therefore, we recommend proper treatment, public awareness, and a healthy lifestyle to promote the good mental health of women suffering from PCOS.

Bangla version of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS): validity, measurement invariance and normative data in non-clinical sample

Mood assessment is an effective way to monitor mental health states and detect potential psychiatric symptoms. The Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) is one of the most widely used self-report measures for assessing mood responses. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Bangla version of BRUMS and validated it with the Positive Mental Health scale (PMH-scale). The participants were 1015 Bangladeshi university students (62% men) aged from 18 to 27 (M = 21.95, SD = 1.95). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach was used to test the factor structure of the BRUMS and measurement invariance for sex. The CFA revealed that the originally proposed 6-factor model of BRUMS had an acceptable fit which confirms factorial validity. Moreover, each subscale (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigor) of the BRUMS showed high internal consistency (α ranged from .77 to .87) and retest reliability (ICC ranged from .71 to .91). Concurrent validity of the BRUMS was supported through the hypothesized relationships with mental health (PMH-scale). Full measurement invariance by sex was confirmed for the 6-factor model indicating that the BRUMS is equally applicable to men and women. Finally, normative data were established which allows group comparison of mood scores. This study indicates that the Bangla version of BRUMS can be reliably used to assess mood response which facilitates mood-related research and intervention to improve mental health and reduce psychiatric disorders in Bangladesh.

Anti-Inflammatory Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh-A Pharmacological Evaluation.

Inflammatory diseases are considered major threats to human health worldwide. In Bangladesh, a number of medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine from time immemorial in the treatment of diverse diseases, including inflammatory disorders. This assignment aims at providing the status of the medicinal plants of Bangladesh which are traditionally used in the management of inflammatory disorders and are investigated for their anti-inflammatory prospects using different preclinical studies and future research directions. The information of medicinal plants assembled in this review was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect up to December, 2020 from publications on plants investigated for their anti-inflammatory activities, in which the place of plant sample collection was identified as Bangladesh. Keywords for primary searches were “anti-inflammatory,” “Bangladeshi,” and “medicinal plants.” Criteria followed to include plant species were plants that showed significant anti-inflammatory activities in 1) two or more sets of experiments in a single report, 2) same or different sets of experiments in two or more reports, and, 3) plants which are traditionally used in the treatment of inflammation and inflammatory disorders. In this study, 48 species of medicinal plants have been reviewed which have been used in traditional healing practices to manage inflammatory disorders in Bangladesh. The mechanistic pathways of the in vivo and in vitro study models used for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory properties of plant samples have been discussed. Selected plants were described in further detail for their habitat, anti-inflammatory studies conducted in countries other than Bangladesh, and anti-inflammatory active constituents isolated from these plants if any. Medicinal plants of Bangladesh have immense significance for anti-inflammatory activity and have potential to contribute toward the discovery and development of novel therapeutic approaches to combat diseases associated with inflammation. However, the plants reviewed in this article had chiefly undergone preliminary screening and require substantial investigations including identification of active molecules, understanding the mechanism of action, and evaluation for safety and efficacy to be followed by the formulation of safe and effective drug products.

Prevalence of preeclampsia and the associated risk factors among pregnant women in Bangladesh

Preeclampsia is a multi-organ system disorder of pregnancy and is responsible for a significant rate of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Bangladesh, a large number of obstetric deaths occur every year but the exact reasons are not well investigated. The data regarding preeclampsia and its associated risk factors are scarce or limited in pregnant women in Bangladesh. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of preeclampsia and identify the possible risk factors in a pregnant women cohort in Bangladesh. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 111 participants were enrolled and asked to include their anthropometric, socio-demographic, and other related lifestyle information in a standard questionnaire form. Blood samples were also collected from each participant to analyze serum levels of lipid profile, liver enzymes, uric acid, and creatinine by using standard methods. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with preeclampsia. The overall prevalence of preeclampsia was 14.4%. About 10% of the pregnancies were found to have preeclampsia after 20 weeks of gestation without a previous history of hypertension. On the other hand, the prevalence of preeclampsia that superimposed on chronic hypertension was found to be 5.4%. Serum levels of TC, LDL-C, ALT and uric acid were significantly higher and HDL-C was significantly lower in preeclamptic pregnancies than the non-preeclamptic pregnancies. Respondents who required to take antihypertensive medications (AOR 5.45, 95% CI [1.09, 27.31]) and who never took antenatal care (AOR 6.83, 95% CI [1.00, 46.48]) were more likely to be preeclamptic. In conclusion, the present study showed a comparatively high prevalence of preeclampsia among pregnant women in Bangladesh. Some programmatic interventions such as medication for hypertension, antenatal visits to doctors, delivery and postnatal care services should be considered to reduce and prevent the hypertensive pregnancy disorders in Bangladesh.

Socio-Environmental Factors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Bangladesh

Background: Autism is a complex disorder resulting from the combination of genetic and environmental factors. Though various genetic factors are involved in expression of autism, exogenous factor can modify and control gene expression.
 Objectives: To find out the socio-environmental factors which may contribute to early development and expressions of autism in children of Bangladesh.
 Materials &Methods: Autism cases (n=652) were diagnosed clinically and by applying ICD10 criterions in Child Development Centers (CDCs) of 15 tertiary medical college hospitals of Bangladesh. A retrospective analysis was done on collected data of detailed history and clinical notes of those children.
 Results: Among total 652 children with autism, 71.9% were from 2-5 years’ age group at diagnosis, with a male predominance (79%). Seventy-two percent were from middle to higher income family groups, 68% from urban areas and maximum children from nuclear families (77.5%). ‘Less interactive family’ was found in 67.50%. Play opportunity was absent in 60.60%. All the children watched TV and 85.6% watched TV for more than 2 hours/day.
 Conclusion: Children from urban area, higher income and nuclear family, lack of interactive play opportunity may play important role to develop autism in Bangladeshi children.
 Bangladesh J Child Health 2020; VOL 44 (2) :78-81

Ethnobotanical Study on Medicinal Plants for Dermatological Disorders at Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

Background: Dermatological disorders affect people in all age groups and prevail all around the globe. In this regard, medicinal plants play a significant role as they are usually the first line of treatment in dermatological disorders. Because traditional healers in Bangladesh know little about the use of plants to treat different skin diseases, we carried out an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to explore the traditional uses for healing wounds and skin problems.
 Objectives: This study aimed to list the plants employed as remedies against various dermatological disorders in CHT.
 Methods: The survey was performed from January 2016 to December 2017 with fieldwork undertaken in CHT of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari. Open-ended and semi-structured questionnaires were used for interviewing a total of 387 people comprising traditional healers, Ayurvedic/Unani drug manufacturers, and local inhabitants. A total of 56 plant species of 32 families were documented. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves. The majority of the species were shrub in nature, while paste represented their main mode of drug preparation. Most plants grew wild in forests, with some cultivated in homestead and gardens.
 Results: There was remarkable diversity in the doses of different plant preparations for various treatments. The presence of identified active compounds can rationalize the conventional use of many plants to treat dermatological disorders in Bangladesh.
 Conclusion: This documentation accounts for the preliminary information necessary to perform future phytochemical investigations and is vital for the conservation of these plants.

Depression, sleeping pattern, and suicidal ideation among medical students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional pilot study

Depression is a major morbidity and the most common mental disorder among the medical students in medical schools globally. Undergraduate students suffer stress more due to their academic curriculum than the students of other faculties. In low-resource settings like Bangladesh, there is a dearth in research on the mental health of undergraduate medical students. This pilot study was conducted to add to the existing limited evidence by reporting the prevalence of depression and describing sleeping pattern and suicidal tendencies among medical students. Relevantly, we have investigated the overall mental health status among the medical students in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two medical colleges of Dhaka between July 2013 and December 2013, among 221 Bangladeshi medical students from first to fifth year. By the convenience sampling technique, data were collected by a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done by SPSS version 18.0. Depression was assessed by the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) tool among the respondents. Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for assessing overall mental health status. Depression was found in 38.9% of participants, with 3.6%, 14.5%, and 20.8% being severe, moderate, and mild depression, respectively. 17.6% of medical students had suicidal tendency or attempted suicide at least once after attending medical school. The sleeping hours were inadequate and altered after starting this stressful academic course. 33.5% of medical students had poor mental health status. There was a statistically significant association between poor mental health status in the age group less than 22 years old and initial academic study year (1st to 3rd of MBBS). The findings are suggestive of a higher prevalence of depression among early-year medical students and marginal predominance in males. Suicidal tendency is also higher. This calls for further investigation with situation analysis, qualitative explorations, and surveys to explore the burden of such disorders in Bangladesh.

Mothers Initial Challenges Having Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Bangladesh

Background: Autism, one of the most widespread problems in the world, is rising alarmingly in Bangladesh day by day. Over the most decade autism has become one of the most visible and articulated social issues in Bangladesh. Besides, in our country, journey of a mother with a special child is a challenge.
 Objectives: To find out the experiences and challenges of mothers having children with ASDs.
 Materials and Methods: The study was based on case study method where 20 mothers were selected purposively from Dhaka division. Data was collected using an open ended questionnaire and in depth interviews.
 Results: In this study though majority of the mothers reported having a typical pregnancy with little or no complications. Majority of the mothers had no knowledge about autism before. The average age of children when they diagnosed was 2.9 years. In response to their initial reactions to diagnosis of their child, mothers reported the following emotional states: shock, depression, self-blamed, sadness. Prayer was a clear coping strategy for parents of an autistic child. Most of the mothers reported passing many days with depression and frustration. All the mothers were satisfied with the activities of the current special school.
 Conclusion: Mothers reported about their most challenging part of raising their autistic child were to manage their hyperactivity and social interaction. They realize a strong familial and social support are necessary as it was found as a key factor in adjusting and coping a mother to her challenging life with her autistic child.
 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(2) 2020 p.268-272

Problematic internet use in Bangladeshi students: The role of socio-demographic factors, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) has become a concern for public mental health across the globe. However, there are few studies assessing PIU in Bangladesh. The present cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence rate of PIU and its associated risk factors among 405 university students in Bangladesh between June and July 2018. The measures included sociodemographic questions, internet and health-related variables, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The prevalence of PIU was 32.6% among the respondents (cut-off score of ≥50 on the IAT). The prevalence of PIU was higher in males in comparison to females, although the difference was not statistically significant. Internet-related variables and psychiatric comorbidities were positively associated with PIU. From the unadjusted model, more frequent use of the internet and more time spent on the internet were identified as strong predictors of PIU, whereas the adjusted model showed depressive symptoms and stress only as strong predictors of PIU. It is hoped this preliminary study will facilitate further study on PIU along with other psychiatric disorders in Bangladesh.