Groups In Bangladesh Research Articles

Prevalence and Factors of Pregnancy Termination Among Reproductive-Aged Women: Evidence from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.

Pregnancy termination (PT) is a major public health concern in low-and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors of PT using the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data 2017-2018. A weighted population-based sample of 8759 ever-married reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) was included in the study. The outcome variable was PT in any of the following forms: miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth. A univariate analysis for mean, frequency, and percentage and multiple logistical regression were used to determine the factors associated with PT. Around 18% of the women were found to have PT. The mean age of the women in the study was 25.79 years; 65.1% lived in the rural areas, and the majority of them were Muslims. Advanced age of the women (AOR:3.49, p = 0.004), residence in the countryside (AOR:0.81, p = 0.002), higher education (AOR:0.72, p = 0.027), not being a Muslim (AOR:0.74, p = 0.010), higher socio-economic status (AOR:1.28, p = 0.027), having a job (AOR:1.15, p = 0.041), being married at the age of >22 years (AOR:0.71, p = 0.036), and using a mobile phone (AOR:1.22, p = 0.002) were significant factors of PT. This study did not find any association between PT and contraceptive use. Age, living region, education, religion, wealth index, working status, marital age, and mobile phone use are the determinants of PT. Interventions including these factors need to be made to reduce PT in Bangladeshi women. These findings could be helpful in undertaking further epidemiological studies to understand the actual causes of PT in various rural and urban settings among different socio-demographic groups in Bangladesh.

Evaluation of the relationship between xanthine oxidase activity and metabolic syndrome in a population group in Bangladesh

Xanthine oxidase (XO) is an enzyme that converts hypoxanthine into xanthine and xanthine into uric acid, which is then eliminated by the kidneys. Serum XO has been linked to diabetes, hypertension, liver dysfunction, and cardiovascular diseases. However, limited information exists on the relationship between serum XO activity and MetS. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between XO activity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in an adult population group in Bangladesh A total of 601 participants aged ≥18 years were included in the study. MetS was defined based on the criteria set by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). Serum XO activity was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while other biochemical parameters were measured using colorimetric methods. The relationship between serum XO and MetS levels was determined through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Serum XO activity was found to be significantly higher in females (6.17 ± 3.77 U/L) as compared to males (4.00 ± 2.77 U/L) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, participants with MetS had significantly higher mean levels of serum XO (5.34 ± 3.39 U/L) than those without MetS (3.86 ± 2.90 U/L) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of MetS and its components, such as blood pressure and blood glucose increased across the XO quartiles (p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that XO activity was significantly and independently associated with the prevalence of MetS (at least p < 0.05 for all cases) and its components, including elevated blood pressure, high blood glucose, and low HDL-C (at least p < 0.05 for all cases). In conclusion, individuals with MetS had significantly higher XO levels than those without MetS. Serum XO activity showed an independent association with MetS and some of its components. Therefore, XO might serve as a useful marker of MetS. Prospective studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms linking XO and MetS.

Prevalence, associated factors and consequence of problematic smartphone use among adolescents and young adults in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents, and young adults are of major concern to parents. However, the prevalence and associated factors related to these issues in Bangladeshi adolescents and young adults remain unclear to the best of our knowledge. The aim of this study is to assess PSU and ADHD in the context of adolescent and young adult age groups in Bangladesh. The present study collected data from diverse geographical locations in Bangladesh via face-to-face surveys using stratified random sampling methods. We considered age, sex, and geographic location stratification criteria. A total of 578 respondents participated in the survey initially. From this, we discarded 36 responses after screening because the information provided was insufficient or incomplete response. In the end, 542 replies were incorporated into the final analysis. PSU and ADHD depend on several factors, including the individual's demographic background. The prevalence of PSU and ADHD symptoms in adolescents and young adults in Bangladesh is 61.44% and 37.45%, respectively based on our findings. The symptoms of PSU are correlated with age, education level, family type (nuclear/joint), sleeping pattern, physical exercise, and residence area. ADHD symptoms are correlated with age, education level, living with family, smoking habit, physical disability, sleeping pattern, physical exercise, residence area, and PSU. Also, we observed that ADHD and PSU symptoms are positively correlated with each other. A large proportion of young adults and adolescents reported PSU and ADHD symptoms. The present findings have practical implications in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and related policy considerations. We propose to develop an inclusive interventional strategy and community-based programs to address PSU and ADHD-related issues.

Reproductive health care seeking behavior in Bangladesh: Asystematic literature review.

Maternal health, in terms of pregnancy and childbirth, is an important aspect of women's reproductive health and remains a public health concern in underdeveloped countries of the world. Reproductive health care seeking behavior (RHSB), in both men and women in society, is influenced by a variety of social and environmental factors that needs to be summarized. This review aims to enhance understanding and perception of services in relation to RHSBs in several domains such as antenatal care (ANC), delivery care, postnatal care (PNC), and family planning (FP) services, for married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. In major databases, for example, Medline, Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest and Google Scholar following keywords, timeline set as 2010 up to December 30, 2022. Articles that included discussion on married women of reproductive age, and their type of care seeking behavior for reproductive health. A systematic literature search was carried out and expected outcome was health care seeking behavior in the aspects of ANC, delivery care, PNC, and FP services. A data extraction form and quality appraisal form were used for data on RHSB of married women of the reproductive age group in Bangladesh and associated factors. A total of 245 articles were retrieved from databases; stepwise screening was done and finally 23 full-text articles were included for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used based on the included articles for narrative synthesis. In the selected articles, 17 (73.91%) were cross-sectional studies and more than half discussed both urban and rural women. Ante- and postnatal visits have proven to have positively influenced overall RHSB, as seen in Bangladesh. Grass root level workers play a major role in upgrading RHSB in women. Many factors limit rural access to mother and child health services including distance of the health facility and cost of the health service. In particular, education level, women's autonomy in family decision making and distance from health service can be considered as factors influencing RHSBs in Bangladesh. Exposure to mass media and TV watching are likely to positively impact RHSB patterns for women in Bangladesh.

Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO-defined high-risk populations in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh carries a substantial health and economic burden of seasonal influenza, particularly among the World Health Organization (WHO)-defined high-risk populations. We implemented a modelling study to determine the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in each of five high-risk groups (pregnant women, children under five years of age, adults with underlying health conditions, older adults (≥60 years), and healthcare personnel) to inform policy decisions on risk group prioritisation for influenza vaccination in Bangladesh. We implemented a Markov decision-analytic model to estimate the impact of influenza vaccination for each target risk group. We obtained model inputs from hospital-based influenza surveillance data, unpublished surveys, and published literature (preferentially from studies in Bangladesh, followed by regional and global ones). We used quality-adjusted life years (QALY) as the health outcome of interest. We also estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for each risk group by comparing the costs and QALY of vaccinating compared to not vaccinating each group, where the ICER represents the additional cost needed to achieve one year of additional QALY from a given intervention. We considered a willingness-to-pay threshold (ICER) of less than one gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as highly cost-effective and of one to three times GDP per capita as cost-effective (per WHO standard). For Bangladesh, this threshold ranges between USD 2462 and USD 7386. The estimated ICERs were USD -99, USD -87, USD -4, USD 792, and USD 229 per QALY gained for healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), children aged less than five years, adults with comorbid conditions, and pregnant women, respectively. For all risk groups, ICERs were below the WHO willingness-to-pay threshold for Bangladesh. Vaccinating pregnant women and adults with comorbid conditions was highly cost-effective per additional life year gained, while vaccinating healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), and children under five years were cost-saving per additional life year gained. Influenza vaccination to all target risk groups in Bangladesh would be either cost-saving or cost-effective, per WHO guidelines of GDP-based thresholds.

Incidence of Hospitalization due to Influenza-Associated Severe Acute Respiratory Infection During 2010-2019 in Bangladesh.

Global influenza-associated acute respiratory infections contribute to 3-5 million severe illnesses requiring hospitalization annually, with 90% of hospitalizations occurring among children < 5 years in developing countries. In Bangladesh, the inadequate availability of nationally representative, robust estimates of influenza-associated hospitalizations limits allocation of resources for prevention and control measures. This study used data from the hospital-based influenza surveillance (HBIS) system in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2019 and healthcare utilization surveys to determine hospital utilization patterns in the catchment area. We estimated annual influenza-associated hospitalization numbers and rates for all age groups in Bangladesh using WHO methods, adjusted for a 6-day-a-week enrollment schedule, selective testing of specimens from children under five, and healthcare-seeking behavior, based on the proportion of symptomatic community participants seeking healthcare within the past week. We then estimated national hospitalization rates by multiplying age-specific hospitalization rates with the corresponding annual national census population. Annual influenza-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population for all ages ranged from 31 (95% CI: 27-36) in 2011 to 139 (95% CI: 130-149) in 2019. Children < 5 years old had the highest rates of influenza-associated hospitalization, ranging from 114 (95% CI: 90-138) in 2011 to 529 (95% CI: 481-578) in 2019, followed by adults aged ≥ 65 years with rates ranging from 46 (95% CI: 34-57) in 2012 to 252 (95% CI: 213-292) in 2019. The national hospitalization estimates for all ages during 2010-2019 ranged from 47,891 to 236,380 per year. The impact of influenza-associated hospitalizations in Bangladesh may be considerable, particularly for young children and older adults. Targeted interventions, such as influenza vaccination for these age groups, should be prioritized and evaluated.

Genetic landscape of the people of Bangladesh depicted with 17 Y-Chromosome-Specific microsatellites

Seventeen microsatellite loci from the non-recombining region of the human Y chromosome were typed using AmpFlSTR® Yfiler® PCR amplification systems in 404 male subjects belonging to the three largest ethnic groups in Bangladesh. A total of 150 haplotypes from the Chakma, 144 from the Tripura, and 110 from the Khasia were detected with a corresponding discrimination capacity of 73.885%, 65.563%, and 81.250%, respectively. The highest allele frequency of 0.828 was detected in DYS391 locus in the Tripuras, while the lowest allele frequency of 0.009 was detected at the same locus for the Chakma population. The highest gene diversity (0.964) was observed at DYS385a/b locus in the Khasias, while the lowest gene diversity (0.301) was detected at DYS391 locus in Tripuras population. The overall haplotype diversity for the studied populations was 0.986141. Both the Neighbour-Joining tree and pairwise genetic distances showed that Chakma lies closer to a clade consisting of Tripuras (Khagrachari, Bangladesh) and Tripuri (Tripura, India). In contrast, the Khasias demonstrated a close affinity with the Oraon (Chhattisgarh, India), followed by the Santals. The Y-STR haplotype matching probabilities within and between populations demonstrated that the Chakma, Tripura, and Khasia were 100% genetically distinct. The studied ethnic populations exhibited higher frequency for haplogroups L and Q as opposed to haplogroups R1a, H, and L found in the mainstream Bengali population. The Median-joining networking showed haplogroups L and R1a have the most compact clustering within populations, followed by haplogroups Q and H. The presence of haplogroup R1a suggests that Bengali may have originated through west-to-east migration, whereas haplogroups L and Q distribution in the studied tribes reveal a very significant affinity with the South-East Asian populations and may have shared a common ancestral origin with the Mongoloid stock populations. Bioresearch Commu. 10(2): 1482-1488, 2024 (July)

Islamic Radicalisation in Bangladesh: An Analysis of Political Islamism in Bangladesh

Islamism in the modern world is clearly portrayed as a notion of religious extremism. Bangladesh on the other hand as a young developing nation finds its root into two different branches of ideology: Bengali cultural and Muslim ideology. The militant groups in Bangladesh have been found active recently specially after 2015 when international media spotted Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State’s (IS) presence in the country. This study, however, aims at understanding the Islamic radicalisation in Bangladesh through the analysis of Islamist political and non-political groups’ functions and propaganda. In this article the ideas of Islamic radicalisation, mutations and role and function of Islamist militant as well as political group have been discussed. The role of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing in the radicalisation have been discussed. The disputed relationship of Jamaat and the radical extremists as well as ban on their politics have created a complex scenario in Bangladesh. The political polarisation and politicising of counter terrorism effort have weakened the government’s effort to tackle radical organisation. Honest and tolerant political intervention by welcoming different views regarding the solution of the radicalisation problem can help address it effectively.

Examining Religious Coexistence: Perspectives from the Quran and Hadith in the Context of Bangladesh

Historically, Bangladesh has been host to numerous religious minorities, such as Buddhists, Hindus, Sheiks, Animists, and Atheists. It made a significant contribution to the continuation of social, political, and religious concord among people of many religious views after the liberation war. In varied communities like Bangladesh, religious concord is especially dependent on religious cooperation. This study used a mixed-method approach to investigate the dynamics of religious cohabitation in Bangladesh, depending on Islamic texts, particularly the Quran and Hadith, to provide background. In this study, the concepts and ideals that facilitate peaceful coexistence among various religious groups in Bangladesh are examined through an analysis of pertinent passages and teachings. The study also evaluates Bangladesh's current state of minority groups’ social, political, and religious rights. The study’s conclusions add to the conversation on religious coexistence and provide useful advice for promoting interfaith harmony and understanding in Bangladesh and elsewhere. The outcome demonstrates that Islam places a strong emphasis on treating minorities and individuals of all religions with respect and decency. Bangladesh is a multicultural country that is suitable for coexisting peacefully with individuals of different backgrounds. Regardless of caste or religion, people here are kind and considerate of one another. At times conflicts are seen between Muslims and non-Muslims as people think most of them are personal and political provocations.

Self-reported suicidal behaviour among people living with disabilities: prevalence and associated factors from a cross-sectional nation-wide survey in Bangladesh

BackgroundDisability marginalises a large portion of Bangladesh’s population. Global pre- and post-pandemic research evidently states that, this group is more prone to develop mental health problems, which increases the risk of self-harm and suicide among them. It is crucial to comprehend and mitigate the mental health challenges among the people with disabilities which in turn can promote their greater participation in community, and in national socioeconomic development. However, currently there is limited information available, regarding the suicidal behaviour of this group in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of suicidal behaviour among people with disabilities.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted during September and October 2022, among the participants who had selected disabilities, by using probability proportional to size sampling technique across all eight divisions of Bangladesh. A semi-structured questionnaire comprising information about sociodemographic, lifestyle, health; and Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revision (SBQ-R) was used. The association between the determinants and mental health outcome was investigated using the Chi-square test, and the contributing factors were investigated using the multiple binary logistic regression.ResultAbout 10.45% of the participants reported to have suicidal behaviour (e.g., suicidal ideation, attempts, completed suicide), considering the cut-off score as 7 for the SBQ-R in the study period. Approximately, 40% respondents mentioned suicidal ideation in their lifetime, whereas, 9.01% had suicidal ideation over the past 12 months. Additionally, 8.87% of the person with disabilities, mentioned about their suicidal intent to the family members, and 5.94% reported the likelihood of suicide in the future. Being female, having multiple disabilities, and not being connected with family and friends were found to be significantly associated with suicidal behaviour.ConclusionThis research demonstrates the significance of treating mental health issues and expanding accessibility to pre-existing services to lessen the impact of the limitations generated by disabilities. Policymakers can utilize this baseline findings to design large scale research and develop measures for suicide prevention, and management for at-risk groups.

Pattern of Breast Cancer in Women at Child-bearing Age, its Risk Factors and Clinicopathological Evaluation in Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Carcinoma breast is the leading cancer in female in Bangladesh, increasing significantly due to urbanization and adoption of western life style. Objective: This study aimed to systematically understand the pattern of breast cancer, its risk factors and clinicopathological evaluation in women at their childbearing age. Methods: A cross sectional observational study, data was collected from 50 patients of histopathologically confirmed breast cancer in the department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from 2022 to 2023. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-45(42%) years age with mean presentation was 43.55 (SD-/+9.63) years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype 86%, followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (8%). Of the cases 2% were nullipara and 46% had two children. Median age of at 1st birth was 21 years. A significant proportion (16%) had family history of breast cancer. 98% patients gave history of breast feeding. Conclusions: Breast cancer is increasingly occurring in younger age groups in Bangladesh, results suggested a mixture of different factors in women like age of menarche, age of first child birth, parity, history of breast feeding and family history poses higher risk for breast cancer. J Rang Med Col. March 2024; Vol. 9, No. 1:16-21

Assessment of the Relationship Between Liver Enzymes and Cardiovascular Disease: A Study in Bangladeshi Adults.

Elevated liver enzyme levels are suggested to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few studies have explored the relationship between liver enzymes and myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to evaluate the potential association of elevated liver enzymes with MI within a population group in Bangladesh. In this cross-sectional study, 348 participants were enrolled, 189 with MI in the CVD group and 159 in the control group. Serum levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT) and other biochemical parameters were measured using standard methods. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to determine the associations between elevated liver enzymes and CVD. In the CVD group, 51.6%, 30.9% and 67.7% of individuals had elevated serum AST, ALT and GGT levels, respectively. On the contrary, the control group had 17.0%, 15.1% and 35.2% of individuals with high serum AST, ALT and GGT levels, respectively. Overall, 71.8% of the subjects in the CVD group and 44.7% of the subjects in the control group had at least one or more elevated liver enzymes (p < 0.001). The mean level of all three liver enzymes was significantly higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). In both the CVD and control groups, males had higher levels of liver enzymes than females. In the regression models, the serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT showed a positive and independent association with the prevalence of CVD (p < 0.001). However, GGT showed the strongest association among the three enzymes. This study shows a high prevalence of liver enzyme abnormalities in individuals with CVD. Serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT were independently associated with the prevalence of CVD. This suggests that measuring liver enzyme levels could be a useful marker in predicting CVD at an early stage.

Review of the Lifestyle Issues of the Khumi Community

The Khumi community is primarily patriarchal and is a notable ethnic group in Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. They reside in the western part of Myanmar, specifically in the Arakan hill region. Their settlements are found in the hilly areas adjacent to the India-Bangladesh border. The data analysis reveals the comprehensive insights into the socio-demographic, health-related, education-related, income, and livelihood characteristics of the Khumi community in remote hilly regions of Bangladesh. Most of the participants are male, farmers, and Christian. Health issues, such as their eye problems and ankle pain, vary between the genders, with a notable reliance on local pharmacies for their healthcare services. Education-wise, illiteracy is prevalent, and economic and teacher-related obstacles hinder their education accessibility. Monthly and yearly income distributions highlight their economic disparities, with a significant proportion earning between the ranges of 3,001 to 5,500 Taka monthly. Livelihood-related characteristics showcase a heavily reliance on solar power, diverse agricultural practices, and predominantly nuclear family structures. The various challenges in livelihood, including economic, cultural, healthcare, education, communication, and linguistic issues, are addressed through the community-driven solutions. There are various notable efforts focus on water drainage, transportation system improvement, electricity infrastructure enhancement, primary school education, and agricultural training. Therefore, the study concludes that the Khumi community faces various economic vulnerability, educational disparities, and cultural erosion while the recommendations include community-centric development programs, education enhancement, healthcare access improvement, agricultural support, infrastructure development, preservation of culture, social welfare programs, government-community collaboration, research and data collection, and awareness and advocacy efforts. Implementing these numerous recommendations can contribute to the overall development of the Khumi community with addressing their various unique challenges and fostering the sustainable progress.

The Growth of Tourism and ‘Development’ in an Indigenous Setting: Exploring a Case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

Summary This case study examines the process of tourism development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, where multidimensional concerns related to Indigenous communities are coming to the fore. This area contains valuable natural resources that provide huge potential for the growth of tourism. However, accounts of discrimination and violations by the state towards Indigenous peoples indicate the potential for inequality and exploitation while developing tourism. Eleven Indigenous groups live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a historically conflict-ridden area where there is tension between the dominant ethnic Bangalee and the Indigenous groups due to the latter's limited control over their way of life and the environment. Structurally, the state endorses mass tourism, where powerful actors – government, military, politically influential individuals, and companies – are engaged in determining the ‘development’ for the Indigenous people and modernising the place as a part of capitalist ventures to gain profits. Given that state actors or private investors wield power and control over tourism, exploitation ranges from Indigenous peoples' lack of control over the planning to limited participation in tourism. Therefore, this case study explores the implications of tourism development for Indigenous peoples, analysing the state’s economic intervention in favour of the Bangalee people, who are an ethnically dominant group in Bangladesh. Moreover, this case study raises questions about how the ‘development’ is taking place and identifies the practice of ‘development’ in an Indigenous setting and how the Indigenous peoples are situated in this capitalistic venture in a post-conflict setting. The case study is based on empirical findings collected through an ethnographic study as part of a PhD. The study followed ethical guidelines approved by the Macquarie University Ethics Committee in 2017. Information © The Author 2024

Significance of Serum Biomarkers in Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Fisher Groups

Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between serum biomarkers and the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in different fisher groups in Bangladesh. The research adopts a descriptive and experimental approach to demonstrate the health risks faced by fishermen, including tobacco consumption, polluted drinking water, and insufficient sunlight exposure. Method: We used serum biomarkers such as vitamin D, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), creatinine (Cr), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) to evaluate their significance in distinguishing between different categories and sexes. Result: We determined a strong and direct correlation between insufficient vitamin D levels and an increased risk of liver cancer. The combination of AFP, vitamin D, and Cr (AFP+Vit-D+Cr) emerges as a highly predictive tool, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and providing a reliable means of identifying hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: The identified correlation showed the significance of addressing lifestyle factors and promoting nutritional support to mitigate the risk of liver cancer among fisher groups. The AFP+Vit-D+Cr combination is a promising diagnostic tool for hepatocellular carcinoma, offering an improved early detection and intervention approach.

Prevalence, trends, and inequality in noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh: Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys 2011 and 2017–2018

AbstractWe investigated the change of the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh from 2011 to 2018 across different socioeconomic groups as well as the factors associated with the changes in prevalence. We used the two waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2011 and 2017–2018. Modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate the prevalence rate and ratio of NCDs and to test the association with different demographic and socioeconomic variables. The study found an upward trend of NCDs from 2011 to 2017 in which overweight and obesity, hypertension, and diabetes increased by 1.8, 1.5, and 1.1 times, respectively. In 2011, people from the richest households had 5.6 higher odds of being overweight compared to the poorest, which was reduced to 3.0 in 2017. However, the increment for overweight and hypertension was the highest among the poor and manual workers from 2011 to 2017. The age‐adjusted prevalence ratio of overweight increased 4.4 times for the poorest, compared to 1.7 times for the richest. For manual workers, overweight increased 3.8 times, whereas hypertension increased by 2.4 times. The pooled analysis revealed that participants from the richest households have the highest risk of NCDs, with 3.3 times for overweight, 2.3 times for diabetes, and 1.3 times for hypertension, compared to the poorest. However, the prevalence of NCDs is rising quickly among the low socioeconomic groups in Bangladesh, narrowing the gap with higher socioeconomic groups. Our findings call for immediate policy interventions and targeted programs to curb NCD escalation in Bangladesh.

Overcoming Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccination among Ethnic Minority Groups in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration

Overcoming Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccination among Ethnic Minority Groups in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration

Evaluation of Textile Wastewater Treatment via ETP in Bangladesh

Textile liquid waste possesses a substantial biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, hence posing a significant risk of contaminating adjacent water bodies if not appropriately managed. The primary aim of the study is to examine the pH condition of water from the inlet and outlet of the ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) in two specific regions. Two natural groups in Bangladesh include Tonga Bari, Ashulia, Savar, and Dhaka. Another natural group is “The Emakulet Textile Ltd,” located in Purboponchash, Dhamrai, Dhaka. Raw liquid waste was collected from two textile industry and applied some test procedure in the laboratory by varying different design parameters such as pH, DO (Dissolved Oxygen), BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), TSS (Total Suspended Solids), Turbidity, Fe2+, pH was tested by a pH meter at 25℃ temperature. DO also tested by a sensor machine (FLEXA) which shows the values of dissolved oxygen in ETP waste water. To collect BOD5 value needed 5 days minimum also used MnSO4, H2SO4 to get BOD5 value from the incubator. Turbidity was tested by Digital Turbidity meter. The results showeds that the pH condition of water from the inlet is satisfied but others parameter from the inlet sample is not in the range of ECR, 1997. The selected two areas of ETP given the maximum and minimum parameters found, DO in the inlet of two selected areas was (0) from the inlet. The maximum BOD5 value was 126 mg/l from the inlet which crosses the limit of ECR-1997 but after treatment it was 47 mg/l. The detailed experimental results demonstrated that, ETP water is fully treated and all parameter acceptable according to ECR, 1997. In this analysis, it is anticipated that the implementation of a cost-effective treatment approach could serve as an incentive for industrial proprietors to engage in effluent treatment, so contributing to the enhancement of water body quality in Bangladesh.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers regarding Oral Rehydration Solution in Acute Diarrhoea at Monno Medical College Hospital

Background: Diarrhoea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among the under-five age group in Bangladesh. Effective by ORS treatment can reduce diarrhoea-related mortality and unnecessary hospitalization, for which role of mothers is important. The use of oral rehydration saline (ORS) is greatly affected by mothers’ knowledge and attitude towards using it in treating their children. Objectives: Assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practice of the mothers about ORS for better management of diarrhoea in children. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the department of Paediatrics of Monno Medical College Hospital, Manikganj, during the period from January to December, 2022. Data were collected from 300 mothers by face-to-face interview by a questionnaire. Finally, collected data were analyzed, using SPSS software version 20. Results: Majority (195, 65.0%) of the children’s age were in between 6 month to 2 years. Most (143, 47.7%) of the mothers completed primary education. About two-thirds of the mothers (193, 64.3%) resided in rural areas. In this study, most (213, 71.0%) of the mothers always used ORS during the attack of diarrhoea, 281(93.7%) mothers had adequate knowledge about ORS, 253(84.3%) had knowledge about preparetion of ORS, 235(78.3%) informed to know when to administer ORS and 170 (56.7%) knew the exact amount of ORS to administer. Conclusion: Positive attitude was seen among the participant mothers regarding the use of ORS. But mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding its administration was insufficient. Journal of Monno Medical College, June 2023; 9 (1): 03-06

Trends and inequity in improved sanitation facility utilisation in Bangladesh: Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys

Improved sanitation is indispensable to human health. However, lack of access to improved sanitation remains one of the most daunting public health challenges of the twenty-first century in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to describe the trends in access to improved sanitation facilities following the inequity gap among households in different socioeconomic groups in Bangladesh. Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017-18 were extracted for this study. Inequity in access to improved sanitation was calculated using rich-poor ratio and concentration index to determine the changes in inequity across the time period. In Bangladesh, the proportion of households with access to improved sanitation increased steadily from 25.4% to 45.4% between 2007 and 2014, but slightly decreased to 44.0% in 2017-18. Age, educational status, marital status of household head, household wealth index, household size, place of residence, division, and survey year were significantly associated with the utilisation of improved sanitation. There is a pro-rich situation, which means that utilisation of improved sanitation was more concentrated among the rich across all survey years (Concentration Index ranges: 0.40 to 0.27). The government and other relevant stakeholders should take initiatives considering inequity among different socioeconomic groups to ensure the use of improved sanitation facilities for all, hence achieving universal health coverage.