Factors In Bangladesh Research Articles

Geographical variations of food insecurity and its associated factors in Bangladesh: Evidence from pooled data of seven cross-sectional surveys.

Food insecurity has multiple negative effects on maternal and child health and nutritional outcomes. There is a dearth of up-to-date evidence on the prevalence of food insecurity in Bangladesh based on geographical variations. We investigated the prevalence of food insecurity based on geographical variations and its associated factors. We pooled data from seven cross-sectional surveys conducted in 15,009 households from March 2015 to May 2018. This study was a part of the evaluation of the Maternal Infant Young Child Nutrition Phase 2 programme implemented by BRAC, one of the largest international non-governmental organizations located in Bangladesh that covered rural areas in 26 districts and two urban slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We used Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (a widely used scale to measure household food insecurity) to estimate the food insecurity status from the data collected through a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Hot spot analysis was conducted using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. The multiple logistic regression model was applied to explore the associated factors of food insecurity. The food insecurity hotspots were in the northwestern, central-southwestern, and coastal districts of Bangladesh. The overall prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity were 12.7%, 13.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. In the adjusted model, household heads and caregivers of children with five or more years of schooling had respectively 42% (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52, 0.64) and 46% (AOR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.61) less likelihood to suffer from food insecurity. Households in the middle (AOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.65) and rich (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.36) wealth status had lower odds of food insecurity. Food insecurity is widely spread in rural districts of Bangladesh and the degree of vulnerability is higher among the households of the northwestern, central-southwestern, and coastal areas of Bangladesh. Comprehensive interventions including strategies for poverty reduction and education for all might be effective to reduce food insecurity at rural households in Bangladesh.

Customer Satisfaction in Online Food Ordering during COVID-19: The Role of Hygiene Factors in Bangladesh

It has been self-evident that consumers are essential stakeholders in companies, and their satisfaction is management’s top concern. In recent years especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the usage of online food delivery applications has drastically increased along with the embracement of new technologies in almost every corner of Bangladesh. Thus, with increased competition in the market, quality of service has become an essential aspect of customer satisfaction. Considering the hazard of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) strictly emphasizes on maintenance of hygiene along with other guidelines. The relationship between customer satisfaction with hygiene factors has been confirmed by some researchers, although few studies have been conducted solely on the topic. This descriptive research aims to identify and examine the relationship between customer satisfaction and hygiene factors while ordering food online during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. A combination of simple random sampling under the probability sampling techniques and snowball sampling under the nonprobability sampling techniques has been used to collect quantitative data from customers of Dhaka city. Reliability tests, Multiple regression analyses, and Pearson correlation have been conducted with the help of SPSS to analyze the data. Findings suggest that hygiene factors should be prioritized to ensure customer satisfaction. Quality of food and packaging of food has been found to be two of the most important variables under hygiene factors from this study. It has provided results that could be useful to managers and employees in the online food delivery industry for strategic planning and to achieve a sustainable business model.

Prevalence of Child Functional Difficulties and Its Associated Factors in Bangladesh: An Application of Count Regression Model.

Children that are mentally and physically healthy have a higher quality of life and are better able to function in their daily lives. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating associated factors causing functional difficulties in male and female children ages 5-17 years. This study used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional household survey named the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Bangladesh 2019. A total of 58,746 children aged 5-17 were selected for the study, where 30,300 children were male, and 28,446 were female. To deal with overdispersed count data, the study used a negative binomial regression model to find the associated factors. The results show that 39.3% of the male children and 40.9% of the female children were from the age group of 10-14. Educated children had a lower risk of dysfunction. Among male children, women with a total number of children ever born of 4 or more were 1.21 times (incidence rate ratios (IRR) = 1.21) more likely to have a dysfunctional child. Children of dysfunctional mothers are more likely to be dysfunctional themselves. The incidence rate ratio for children functional difficulty among Muslim girls was 36 percent higher than non-Muslim girls in Bangladesh. When compared to the Barisal Division, female children in the Mymensingh Division had a 16% higher risk of functional problems. Based on the findings, the Bangladesh government and other development partners should initiate policies and programs to minimize the impact of functional dysfunction in children.

Availability of Adequately Iodized Salt Consumption and its Association with Socio-Economic Factors in Bangladesh

For normal physiologic functions, Iodine is necessary in small amount. It sanctions the thyroid gland to creates thyroid hormones, which is essential for mature and enlargement of the brain, body structures and central nervous system (CNS). In developing countries mental impediment and insufficient commercial performance are one of the results of iodine insufficiency issue. Globally, universal salt iodization has been executed to eradicate iodine insufficiency. However, the sufficiency of iodine in salts needs close observing to match its deliberated target. From this study,we find the adequately iodized salt consumption is associated with some demographic features such as, education, region, wealth index, access to mass-media etc. These findings are important for policy makers and Government as they should take necessary steps to increase the accession to education and media and also take realistic plan to increase the availability of adequately salt in Bangladesh. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 70(2): 1-7, 2022 (July)

A Descriptive Analysis of Children’s Nutritional Status and its Associated Factors in Bangladesh: Insights from Demographic and Health Survey Data

This study was designed to close the gaps in presenting and exploring the nutritional trends and status of children in Bangladesh since there are only a few studies that can be found on the subject matter. For this, secondary data from the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) were used. Analyses were conducted using tabular and graphical analysis. This study has found that all of the significant indicators of children’s nutritional status such as stunting, wasting, underweight and mortality status in Bangladesh have improved during the last few decades though the pace of this improvement in case of wasting is somewhat slow. The study has also found variations in children’s nutritional status when the factors, such as children’s age, gender, residential location, mother’s education level, and household wealth are considered. Regarding childcare practices, there are massive improvements in terms of vaccinations compilation, ORS treatment of children with Diarrhea but the improvement in terms of feeding practices is slightly slower than satisfactory. Therefore, this study suggests that the government and non-government agencies should take proper measures to increase the pace of improvement in children’s nutritional status in Bangladesh.

A Descriptive Analysis of Children’s Nutritional Status and its Associated Factors in Bangladesh: Insights from Demographic and Health Survey Data

This study was designed to close the gaps in presenting and exploring the nutritional trends and status of children in Bangladesh since there are only a few studies that can be found on the subject matter. For this, secondary data from the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) were used. Analyses were conducted using tabular and graphical analysis. This study has found that all of the significant indicators of children’s nutritional status such as stunting, wasting, underweight and mortality status in Bangladesh have improved during the last few decades though the pace of this improvement in case of wasting is somewhat slow. The study has also found variations in children’s nutritional status when the factors, such as children’s age, gender, residential location, mother’s education level, and household wealth are considered. Regarding childcare practices, there are massive improvements in terms of vaccinations compilation, ORS treatment of children with Diarrhea but the improvement in terms of feeding practices is slightly slower than satisfactory. Therefore, this study suggests that the government and non-government agencies should take proper measures to increase the pace of improvement in children’s nutritional status in Bangladesh.

Domestic bases of foreign policy: The case of Bangladesh’s policy towards India

Foreign policy is often regarded as an extension of domestic policy. Bangladesh's foreign policy, like that of any other state, is primarily a reflection of its socio- economic and political compulsions within international politics. Therefore, the task of tracing how such domestic factors influence foreign policy poses a significant theoretical challenge. To date, the majority of studies on Bangladesh-India relations have been descriptive, chronological, and devoid of any fresh insights. Furthermore, little systematic effort has been made to study the domestic factors in Bangladesh and their implications for India-Bangladesh relations. The present paper, therefore, constitutes a modest attempt to fill this gap. The focus of this paper is not on providing a complete framework for researching domestic compulsions within Bangladesh foreign policy, but to uncover appropriate explanatory propositions for understanding the domestic roots of Bangladesh's foreign policy with regards to India. The findings of this paper highlight how Bangladesh's foreign policy has often become a device for enhancing the sectional and group interests within the domestic political and factional infighting. Various regimes in Bangladesh have not only used different internal factors to promote their own sustenance and survival but have also internal factors like external relations. Unsurprisingly, successive regimes in Bangladesh have willingly induced a dependency relationship to remain in power or deny power to their political opponents.

Factors influencing the Level of Knowledge and Practices of Newborn Care

Each year nearly 7.7 million children under five years die around the world, out of which approximately 3.1 million newborns die during the neonatal period, and almost all these (99%) deaths occur in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, neonatal deaths account for 45% of under-five deaths. More than one-third of these deaths occur in the first 24 h of birth, whereas three-quarters of the neonatal deaths occur in the first seven days of delivery. This study aims to assess mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) about newborns' care and its related factors in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the postnatal ward, DMCH, to assess the level of Knowledge and Practice regarding newborn care among postnatal mothers in the postnatal ward of DMCH. Pre-testing was done to ensure the validity and reliability of the questionnaire with five patients in the postnatal ward of the study location. Data were collected from 200 post-natal mothers who met the inclusion criteria. Structured and unstructured (closed and open-ended) MCQ for knowledge-related and 4-point Likert scale for practice-related questionnaires were used to collect data and age was distributed according to the class interval. The findings showed that there was an association between patients' knowledge and attitude regarding newborn care and their education. Postnatal mothers from urban settings had more knowledge and good practice than postnatal mothers from a rural settings. But this investigator did not compare in this area.

Prevalence and associated factors for elevated fear and depressive symptoms among the private service holders in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background and AimsThe ongoing public health emergency has created incredible fear of getting the infection and a terrible psychological burden among all levels. The pandemic has severely affected private job holders' economic status and lifestyle factors in Bangladesh. Here we aimed to assess fear and depressive symptoms among private job holders in Bangladesh during the Covid‐19 pandemic and associated risk factors.MethodsWe conducted this online cross‐sectional survey between January 15, 2021, and March 15, 2021, among 510 private job holders aged above 18 years. We followed the convenience sampling method for data collection. We assessed sociodemographic factors and two psychometric parameters. We applied the Fear of Covid‐19 Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 to assess increased fear and depressive symptoms, respectively. Chi‐square test, independent sample t‐test, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed for data analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of increased fear and depressive symptoms were 86.27% and 42.16%, respectively. Factors associated with increased fear among private job holders during COVID‐19 were economic class, obesity, on‐time salary, company's downsizing policy, salary reduction, home office, and transportation facilities. However, depressive symptoms were associated with marital status, education level, residence area, the organizational practice of health safety rules, company performance, on‐time salary, health insurance, downsizing, salary reduction policy, organization type, transportation, and mental health support at work. The present study also noticed some interrelations among the above factors with mental health issues.ConclusionBased on the present findings, we recommend actionable items to improve the mental health of private job holders in Bangladesh due to the ongoing pandemic. Authorities can develop mental health support programs and efficient Covid‐19 response systems. The policymakers and regulatory bodies might take some initiatives to promote mental health in the private sector in Bangladesh.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the adult population in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Studies related to the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are scanty in Bangladesh, despite the growing necessity of understanding the population behavior related to vaccination. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors in Bangladesh to fill the knowledge gap. This study adopted a cross-sectional design to collect data from 1497 respondents using online (Google forms) and face-to-face interviews from eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh between 1-7 February 2021. We employed descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 46.2%. The Muslims (aOR = 1.80, p ≤ 0.01) and the respondents living in the city corporation areas (aOR = 2.14, p ≤0.001) had more hesitancy. There was significant variation in vaccine hesitancy by administrative divisions (geographic regions). Compared to the Sylhet division, the participants from Khulna (aOR = 1.31, p ≤0.001) had higher hesitancy. The vaccine hesitancy tended to decrease with increasing knowledge about the vaccine (aOR = 0.88, p≤0.001) and the vaccination process (aOR = 0.91, p ≤ 0.01). On the other hand, hesitancy increased with the increased negative attitudes towards the vaccine (aOR = 1.17, p≤0.001) and conspiracy beliefs towards the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR = 1.04, p≤0.01). The perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR = 0.85, p≤0.001) were negatively associated with hesitancy, while perceived barriers (aOR = 1.16, p ≤0.001) were positively associated. The participants were more hesitant to accept the vaccine from a specific country of origin (India, USA, Europe). Our findings warrant that a vigorous behavior change communication campaign should be designed and implemented to demystify negative public attitudes and conspiracy beliefs regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine in Bangladesh. The policymakers should also think about revisiting the policy of the online registration process to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as online registration is a key structural barrier for many due to the persistent digital divide in the country. Finally, the government should consider the population's preference regarding vaccines' country of manufacture to reduce the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Occurrence and multidrug resistance of Campylobacter spp. at duck farms and associated environmental and anthropogenic risk factors in Bangladesh

BackgroundThe alarming rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) zoonotic pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., has been threatening the health sector globally. In Bangladesh, despite rapid growth in poultry sector little is known about the potential risks of zoonotic pathogens in homestead duck flocks. The aim of this study was to understand the occurrence, species diversity, and multi-drug resistance in Campylobacter spp., and identify the associated risk factors in duck farms in Bangladesh.MethodsThe study involved 20 duck farms at 6 sub-districts of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Monthly occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in potential sources at the farms during February-September, 2018, was detected by culture and PCR-based methods. Campylobacter isolates were examined for resistance to different antimicrobials. Risk factors, concerning climatic and environmental disposition, farm management, and anthropogenic practices, of Campylobacter infection were estimated by participatory epidemiological tools.ResultsOccurrence of Campylobacter spp. was detected in overall 36.90% (155/420) samples, more frequently in drinking water (60%, 30/50), followed by cloacal swab (37.50%, 75/200), egg surface swab (35%, 35/100) and soil of the duck resting places (30%, 15/50) but was not detected in feed samples (n = 20). PCR assays distinguished the majority (61.30%, 95/155) of the isolates as C. coli, while the rest (38.70%, 60/155) were C. jejuni. Notably, 41.7% (25/60) and 31.6% (30/95) strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, were observed to be MDR. The dynamics of Campylobacter spp., distinctly showing higher abundance during summer and late-monsoon, correlated significantly with temperature, humidity, and rainfall, while sunshine hours had a negative influence. Anthropogenic management-related factors, including, inadequate hygiene practices, use of untreated river water, wet duck shed, flock age (1–6 months), and unscrupulous use of antimicrobials were identified to enhance the risk of MDR Campylobacter infection.ConclusionThe present study clearly demonstrates that duck farms contribute to the enhanced occurrence and spread of potentially pathogenic and MDR C. coli and C. jejuni strains and the bacterial dynamics are governed by a combined interaction of environmental and anthropogenic factors. A long-term holistic research at the environment-animal-human interface would be integral to divulge health risk reduction approaches tackling the spread of Campylobacter spp. from duck farms.

Menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh: do socio-economic factors really matter?

PurposeThis study aims to explore whether socio-economic factors determine the level of menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to understand how knowledge and perceptions vary with variations in the different socio-economic factors in a schoolgirl’s life such as place of residence, religion, age, grade, parents’ education, parents’ occupation, family income and even family size.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from four schools (two in urban areas and two in rural areas). A total of 450 schoolgirls from grades V–X were interviewed to examine how knowledge and perceptions varied with different socio-economic aspects. Multiple logistic regression models were used to measure the associations between various socio-economic variables and perceptions of and knowledge about menstruation.FindingsRespondents from urban areas were 4.75 times more likely and those 14–16 years old were two times more likely to report higher levels of knowledge about menstruation compared to their counterparts. Based on the father’s occupation, respondents whose father was engaged in a professional occupation were 1.983 times more likely to have a higher level of knowledge on menstruation compared to those whose fathers were in an unskilled profession. Similarly, the odds of positive perceptions on menstruation were 1.456 and 1.987 times higher, respectively, among respondents living in urban areas and those 14–16 years old, compared to their counterparts.Originality/valueThis study provides evidence that different socio-economic and even demographic factors are important in the development of menstrual knowledge and perceptions. Policy formulation and development actions related to adolescent girls’ physical and reproductive health development need to consider these factors in Bangladesh and in other developing countries, where poor knowledge and perception related to menstruation are hindering girls’ mental and physical development. This is expected that better knowledge and perception will facilitate girls’ right to have better health and social lives.

Appointment Length with Patients in Medical Consultations in Bangladesh: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

In medical consultations, the length of the visit has a significant impact on the quality of care. It is significantly associated with a better quality of treatment and better health outcomes. In this study, we analyzed doctors’ consultation length with patients and associated factors in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the patients (N = 763) who visited the doctors in six district/upazila (sub-district) hospitals in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) area. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify the determining factors associated with the length of doctors’ appointments with patients. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24.0. Among the patients, 319 (41.8%) were female and 688 (90.2%) lived in rural/suburban areas. This study revealed that the average length of medical consultations was 9.10 min. Additionally, our findings illustrated that doctors’ patient-centered communication behavior (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) appeared to be the strongest predictor of longer visit length. It was also found that patients’ higher education level (β = 0.10, p = 0.006), having adequate knowledge about the health problem (β = 0.13, p < 0.001), follow-up visits (β = 0.13, p < 0.001), and the presence of female doctors (β = 0.19, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with longer interview times between doctors and patients in primary care settings. Given that doctors’ patient-centered communication behavior appears to play the most important role, this study suggests that practicing professionalism in medical consultations, developing effective communication skills and increasing awareness of sociodemographic discrepancies are important to ensure longer appointment lengths and better health outcomes of patients, regardless their sociodemographic and socioeconomic status.

A perception-based study to explore COVID-19 pandemic stress and its factors in Bangladesh

Background and aimsWorldwide the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated sufferings of mental health and behaviour attitudes of people. Many countries, including Bangladesh, reported suicide as extreme consequences of the psychological burden influenced by COVID-19. The present study explores human stress and its factor influenced by COVID-19 in Bangladesh, which significantly affect the quality of life. MethodsAn online-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 651 adult Bangladeshi populations by capturing socio-demographic information, possible human stress, and consequences of the pandemic. A set of statistical tools such as Pearson's Correlation Matrix (PCM), T-test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were applied to identify the relationship between different factors and influential factors increasing human stress. ResultsMore than 83% of the participants are facing COVID-19 related mental stress, which results in short temper, sleep disorder, and family chaos. PCA and HCA outcomes indicated a significant relationship between the respondents' opinions and human stress factors, which harmonized with the country's existing scenario. PCM results enlighten the relationship between human stress factors and found financial hardship, cutting back daily spending, and food crisis are interconnected together causes stress. Also, hampering students' formal education and future career plans significantly contribute to mental stress. ConclusionBased on the above findings, it's crucial to introduce a time-oriented strategy and implement precaution monitoring plans for Bangladesh. The rescue plan will help people to manage the pandemic and improve mental health to fight against psychological challenges related to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among general Bangladeshi population: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesMental health problems significantly increased worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the early stage of the outbreak, the government of Bangladesh imposed lockdown and quarantine approaches to prevent the...

Spatiotemporal trends in reference evapotranspiration and its driving factors in Bangladesh

This research investigates spatiotemporal variations in ETo and the controlling factor of those variations using the modified Mann-Kendall test, empirical Bayesian kriging model, Morlet wavelet analysis (MWA), and cross-wavelet transform (XWT) model relying on daily climate data sets obtained from 18 meteorological stations for the period 1980–2017. Additionally, the stepwise linear regression analysis and partial correlation coefficient (PCC) were employed to determine the variables driving the changes in ETo. The investigation exhibited a decline in annual for −1.19 mm year−1 and seasonal (−0.40 mm decade−1 during pre-monsoon, −0.47 mm decade−1 during post-monsoon, −0.50 mm decade−1 during winter) ETo, which indicates the existence of “evapotranspiration paradox” in Bangladesh, similar to many regions across the globe. The trend test depicted that despite the increase in mean temperature (MT), a noteworthy decrease in sunshine duration (SD), and wind speed (WS) are the main reasons for the reduction in ETo. Spatial analysis of ETo revealed the highest annual values in the southwest while the lowest in the northwest. Two cycles, 1–3 and 3–5 years were found significant in the annual and seasonal ETo. The outcomes revealed coherence among ETo with meteorological factors at different time-frequency bands, which is noteworthy. Stepwise regression and PCC showed that the impact of meteorological factors on ETo varies on the annual and seasonal scales where MT, RH, and SD are the major factors responsible for the variations of ETo in both annual and seasonal scales. These outcomes of the research can be advantageous for designing irrigation and management of sustainable water resources to mitigate climate change impacts as well as controlling anthropogenic activities.

Breastfeeding Practices among Adolescent Mothers and Associated Factors in Bangladesh (2004-2014).

Optimal breastfeeding practices among mothers have been proven to have health and economic benefits, but evidence on breastfeeding practices among adolescent mothers in Bangladesh is limited. Hence, this study aims to estimate breastfeeding indicators and factors associated with selected feeding practices. The sample included 2554 children aged 0–23 months of adolescent mothers aged 12–19 years from four Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys collected between 2004 and 2014. Breastfeeding indicators were estimated using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators. Selected feeding indicators were examined against potential confounding factors using univariate and multivariate analyses. Only 42.2% of adolescent mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 53% exclusively breastfed their infants, predominant breastfeeding was 17.3%, and 15.7% bottle-fed their children. Parity (2–3 children), older infants, and adolescent mothers who made postnatal check-up after two days were associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. Adolescent mothers aged 12–18 years and who watched television were less likely to delay breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of birth. Adolescent mothers who delivered at home (adjusted OR = 2.63, 95% CI:1.86, 3.74) and made postnatal check-up after two days (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.30) were significantly more likely to delay initiation breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. Adolescent mothers living in the Barisal region and who listened to the radio reported increased odds of predominant breastfeeding, and increased odds for bottle-feeding included male infants, infants aged 0–5 months, adolescent mothers who had eight or more antenatal clinic visits, and the highest wealth quintiles. In order for Bangladesh to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 3 by 2030, breastfeeding promotion programmes should discourage bottle-feeding among adolescent mothers from the richest households and promote early initiation of breastfeeding especially among adolescent mothers who delivered at home and had a late postnatal check-up after delivery.

Assessment of standard precaution related to infection prevention readiness of healthcare facilities in Bangladesh: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey.

Baseline assessment of standard precaution relating to infection prevention and control (IPC) preparedness to fight health crisis within healthcare facilities at different levels and its associated factors in Bangladesh remains unknown. We analyzed the nationally representative Bangladesh health facility survey (BHFS) data conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) during July-October 2017. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) manual to determine the standard precautions related to the IPC readiness index. Using a conceptual framework and multivariable linear regression, we identified the factors associated with the readiness index. We analyzed data for 1,524 surveyed healthcare facilities. On average, only 44% of the standard precaution elements were available in all facilities. Essential elements, such as guidelines for standard precautions (30%), hand-washing soap (29%), and pedal bins (38%), were not readily available in all facilities. The tuberculosis service area was least prepared, with 85% of elements required for standard precaution deficient in all facilities. Significantly lower readiness indexes were observed in the rural healthcare facilities (mean difference, -13.2), healthcare facilities administered by the MoHFW (mean difference, -7.8), and private facilities (mean difference, -10.1) compared to corresponding reference categories. Our study revealed a severe lack of standard precaution elements in most healthcare facilities, particularly in rural health centers. These data can provide a baseline from which to measure improvement in infection prevention and control (IPC) in these facilities and to identify areas of gaps for targeted interventions to improve IPC strategies that can improve the Bangladesh health system.

Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Bangladesh: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to summarise the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes and their associated risk factors in Bangladesh.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.ParticipantsGeneral population of Bangladesh.Data sourcesPubMed, Medline, Embase, Bangladesh Journals Online, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were used to search for studies, published between 1st of January 1995 and 31st of August 2019, on the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes and their associated risk factors in Bangladesh. Only articles published in the English language articles were considered. Two authors independently selected studies. The quality of the articles was also assessed.ResultsOut of 996 potentially relevant studies, 26 population-based studies, which together involved a total of 80 775 individuals, were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of diabetes in the general population was 7.8% (95% CI: 6.4–9.3). In a sample of 56 452 individuals, the pooled prevalence of pre-diabetes was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.7–14.0; 17 studies). The univariable meta-regression analyses showed that the prevalence of diabetes is associated with the factors: the year of study, age of patients and presence of hypertension. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher in urban areas compared with rural areas, while there was no significant gender difference.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests a relatively high prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes in Bangladesh, with a significant difference between rural and urban areas. The main factors of diabetes include urbanisation, increasing age, hypertension and time period. Further research is needed to identify strategies for early detecting, prevention and treatment of people with diabetes in the population.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019148205.

Exploring COVID-19 stress and its factors in Bangladesh: A perception-based study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has aggregated mental health sufferings throughout the entire world. Suicide completions are the extreme consequences of COVID-19 related psychological burdens, which was reported in many countries including Bangladesh. However, there are lack of study assessing COVID-19 related human stress and its’ associations with other relevant factors affecting quality of life in the country, and which were explored in the present study. MethodsAn online based survey was carried out among 340 Bangladeshi adult populations (65.90% male; mean age 26.23 ± 6.39) by utilizing the socio-demographics, possible human stress due to COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. Dataset were analysed through a set of statistical tools e.g., T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Matrix (PCM), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Cluster Analysis (CA). ResultsAbout 85.60% of the participants are in COVID-19-related stress, which results in sleep shortness, short temper, and chaos in family. Fear of COVID-19 infection (i.e., self and/or family member(s), and/or relatives), hampering scheduled study plan and future career, and financial difficulties are identified as the main causes of human stress. Results of PCM explain the relationship among the factors of human stress, and found economic hardship and food crisis are linked together causes stress of mass people, while hamper of formal education and future plan create stress of career seeker. T-test, and one-way ANOVA illustrate demographic characteristics (i.e., occupation, age, gender, and marital status) have significant effects on elevated mental stress. Moreover, PCA and CA results revealed significant interface among the respondents’ perception and factors of human stress, which matched with the existing scenario of the country. ConclusionsConsidering the present findings, it is essential to introduce time-oriented policy, and implement care monitoring plans in the country, which may help in managing the pandemic as well as nurturing the public mental health to combat COVID-19 related psychological challenges.