Groups In Bangladesh Research Articles

Landlessness as the key challenge to climate change adaptation of the rural poor in Bangladesh: an empirical study

ABSTRACT Bangladesh is ranked top among the locations most affected locations by extreme weather events over the last two decades and one of the potential victims of the consequences of climate change. Around 3.26 million rural Bangladeshi households are landless. These landless households usually constitute the poorest and most vulnerable groups in Bangladesh and are the first victims of climatic hazards. Despite the adaptation measures taken by the government and non-governmental organizations, landlessness generates constraints to adapt to the changing environment. Taking the above premises, this paper principally aims to unveil how landlessness poses challenges for the rural poor of Bangladesh in their endeavor to adapt to already emerging conditions of climate change. Based on qualitative interviews of relevant stakeholders, this paper finds that landlessness is a key challenge to the climate change adaptation process as it hinders livelihoods and income-generating activities of the people living in rural and coastal regions. Moreover, this study finds that landless people living near urban spaces are better placed to migrate to the cities for livelihoods and shelter. This study also adds insightful evidence suggesting that lack of access to land or land entitlement is a major setback to the existing climate change adaptation policy in Bangladesh.

Adopting Andersen's behavior model to identify factors influencing maternal healthcare service utilization in Bangladesh.

Equitable maternal healthcare service access and it's optimum utilization remains a challenge for many developing countries like Bangladesh, and different predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors affect the level of maternal healthcare use. The evidently poor maternal healthcare service utilization and disparities among groups in Bangladesh are concerning considering its effect on maternal health outcomes. The study aimed to identify the factors that influence maternal healthcare service (MHS) utilization in Bangladesh by adopting Andersen's behavior model of health service use as the theoretical framework. The 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (2017-18 BDHS) data were used which is nationally representative. The survey study used two-stage stratified sampling to select study households, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The desirable, moderate, and undesirable maternal health service (MHS) package was developed based on antenatal, and delivery care services use during pregnancy and childbirth. Multinomial logistic regression and discriminant analysis were performed to analyze the factors that affect MHS use. Out of 5,011 ever-married women, only 31.2% of women utilized the desirable level of MHS. The likelihood of using the desirable level of MHS package, relative to the undesirable category, was 9.38 times (OR: 9.38, 95% CI: 4.30-20.44) higher for women with a higher level of education compared to illiterate women, and the same trend was noticed for husband's education. The wealth index had the highest standardized function coefficients (Beta coefficient: 0.49) in discriminatory function. Women with the richest wealth index were more than 23 times (OR: 23.27, 95% CI: 12.69-42.68) likely to have utilized desirable MHS than their poorest counterparts. The likelihood of service uses also varied according to the child's birth order, administrative regions, and area of residence (rural vs. urban). Policies and interventions directed towards poverty reduction, universal education, and diminishing geographical disparities of healthcare access might influence the desirable use of maternal healthcare services in Bangladesh.

Ethnobotanical study of plants used by the Munda ethnic group living around the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest in southwestern Bangladesh

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIndigenous knowledge of medicinal plants is an integral part of the primary health care (PHC) system in almost every society. For more than two centuries, Munda, a small ethnic group in Bangladesh, has lived around the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. This mangrove is rich in biodiversity but is threatened by global climate change. Information on the therapeutic use of plants by Munda ethnic minorities remains completely unknown. Therefore, it needs urgent documentation. Aim of the studyThe purpose of the study is (1) to search and compile data on the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Munda people for PHC needs, and (2) Quantitative analysis of these data to identify important medicinal plants and diseases related to treatment by this species. Material and methodsWe conducted repeated field surveys and interviews among 79 Munda informants to collect ethnobotanical data. Informants were selected through random sampling techniques and interviewed using an open and semi-structured questionnaire. We reported the primary (absolute) data as use reports (URs) with frequency citation (FC). The International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) was followed to categorize the therapeutic use of medicinal plants, and quantitative analysis was performed using the FC and informant consensus factor (ICF). ResultsThe present study explored and compiled a total of 3199 medicinal URs for 98 medicinal plant species to treat 132 ailment conditions under sixteen (16) ICPC-2 pathological groups. The highest URs (948) were noted for the digestive (D) group treated by 69 plant species, where the highest ICF value was measured for the social problem (Z) disease category (ICF: 1.00). Of the recorded medicinal plants, 17 were identified as true Mangrove (MNG), 24 as Mangrove Associates (MNA), and 57 as Non-Mangrove (NMG) species. Fabaceae (13 species) represented the leading family, followed by Lamiaceae and Compositae (5 species). Herbs (43%) have shown dominant life forms, and the leaves (41%) were frequently used plant parts. The most commonly cited preparation method was juice (24%), and the prevalent mode of administration was oral (62%). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. was the most widely used therapeutic plant species based on FC (39) values. The comparative literature review study reveals that the practices of 15 plants and their ethnomedicinal use by the Munda people are still entirely unexplored and newly reported in Bangladesh. Additionally, therapeutic use of 2 species, Brownlowia tersa (L.) Kosterm., and Dalbergia candenatensis (Dennst.) Prain has not been previously reported worldwide. In addition, 51 plant species (52%) of the total plants studied enlisted on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first ethnobotanical study on the Munda ethnic group in Bangladesh. This study indicates that Munda people still rely on medicinal plants for PHC and have a rich and varied traditional knowledge about the therapeutic use of plants. This study also warns of the high risk of the current availability status of plants in the study area. Therefore, this study calls for urgent steps to protect and conserve high-risk plants that can be done by taking both in-situ and ex-situ measures. In addition, further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of the important medicinal plants cited in the study have been suggested.

The current state of mental healthcare in Bangladesh: part 1 - an updated country profile.

Mental health is a significant factor for a sound and productive life; nevertheless, mental disorders do not often receive adequate research attention and are not addressed as a serious public health issue in countries such as Bangladesh. Part 1 of this two-part profile describes the current situation of mental health in Bangladesh in its wider sociocultural context, outlining existing policies and highlighting mental illness as a neglected healthcare problem in the country using a narrative synthesis method. The prevalence of mental disorders is very high and augmented in nature among different population groups in Bangladesh. A lack of public mental health facilities, scarcity of skilled mental health professionals, insufficient financial resource distribution, inadequately stewarded mental health policies and stigma contribute to making current mental healthcare significantly inadequate in Bangladesh. The country has few community care facilities for psychiatric patients. Furthermore, the current mental health expenditure by the Bangladeshi government is only 0.44% of the total health budget. Less than 0.11% of the population has access to free essential psychotropic medications.

COVID-19 Related Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping: Identification of High-Risk Groups in Bangladesh.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed psychological distress and fear across the globe; however, factors associated with those issues or the ways people cope may vary by country or context. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies for people living in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in August-September 2020 using online platforms in Bangladesh. People residing in Bangladesh, aged ≥18 years, who were proficient in English and able to respond to online questionnaire. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess the psychological stress. Level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and strategies to cope were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale.Results: Of the 962 participants, half of them were aged between 30 and 59 years. Being born in Bangladesh, having graduate education, perceived distress due to employment change, effect of COVID-19 on financial situation, having multiple comorbidities, and visiting a healthcare provider in the last 4 weeks were associated with higher levels of both psychological distress and fear of COVID-19. Furthermore, higher psychological distress was associated with being a female (AOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.33–2.47, p < 0.001), being a frontline worker (AOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.04–2.15, p < 0.05), having pre-existing psychiatric problems (AOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.19–13.7, p < 0.05), being a smoker (AOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.32–3.09, p < 0.01), providing care to a known/suspected COVID-19 patient (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.40–2.72, p < 0.001), having a recent overseas travel history and being in self-quarantine (AOR 4.59, 95% CI 1.23–17.2, p < 0.05), self-isolation without COVID-19 (AOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.68–4.13, p < 0.001) or being COVID-19 positive (AOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.19–5.34, p < 0.05), and having high levels of fear of COVID-19 (AOR 3.27, 95% CI 2.29–4.66, p < 0.001). A higher level of fear was associated with moderate to high levels of psychological distress (AOR 3.29, 95% CI 2.31–4.69, p < 0.001). People with pre-existing mental health problems were less likely to be resilient (AOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11–0.54, p < 0.01), whereas those with having an income were more likely to be resilient (AOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.11, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Effective interventions to support the vulnerable groups including improved access to mental health services are of utmost importance during the pandemic.

Indigenous ethnic languages in Bangladesh: Paradoxes of the multilingual ecology

Languages are at the centre of nationalistic discourses across South Asia since they have played a historically and politically significant role in defining nationhood and both uniting and dividing countries throughout the British Empire. Despite multilingualism and multiculturalism, and vast differences in individual access to, and command of, mother tongue, national and official languages, paradoxically a collective language is always considered as an important imagined marker of ‘national’ identity. It is this latter point I explore by drawing on ethnographic fieldwork amongst Bangladeshi youths from indigenous ethnic communities who are designated as ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh. Positioning the paper at the nexus of multilingual ecology, I thereby investigate how youths from the indigenous ethnic communities perceive themselves with reference to their mother tongue, national language, and foreign language, and what impact their relationships, their preferences, and use have on the maintenance and sustainability of their mother tongue in the multilingual ecology. A qualitative content analysis of the data demonstrates that it is only by taking the varying potential scopes of language into account that we can fully appreciate these complex Asian multilingual ecologies, where the mother tongues, indigenous ethnic languages, national languages, and English have specific historical, political, and sociocultural significances. The discursive claims of Bangladeshi ethnic youth participants indicate that the presence of the ‘mother-tongue’ and ‘national language’ in these contexts is ideologically infused, layered, value-laden, relational, and paradoxical at the microlevel – as these languages are practiced and nurtured by the linguistically minoritized subjects themselves. They negotiate their relationship with these languages, strictly keeping in consideration the existence of other languages and their social, cultural, economic significance in the multilingual ecology. It is via the paradoxical role of these languages in contexts that the paper aims to identify the socio-psychological reasons behind language loss in Bangladesh.

Prevalence and determinants of eating disorder risk among Bangladeshi public university students: A cross-sectional study.

Eating disorders among university students have been increasing day by day in developing countries. However, there is a dearth of existing literature that assessed eating disorder risk among this population group in Bangladesh. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of eating disorder risk and its associated factors among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 Bangladeshi public university students from October to December 2019. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, risk of eating disorder, and nutritional status of study participants. The respondents' eating disorder risk and nutritional status were assessed using the validated eating attitudes test-26 (EAT-26) tool and anthropometric measurement, respectively. A cut-off score of ≥ 20 based on EAT-26 indicates the presence of an eating disorder risk. Finally, a binary logistic regression was employed to identify the determinants of an eating disorder. The prevalence of 'eating disorder risk' was 23.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.6 to 27.4). Being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4 to 4.2), aged between 17-21 years (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.6), overweight (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.6 to 14.9) and obese (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI: 1.9 to 31.4) showed a higher odds of having an eating disorder risk in the present study. The higher prevalence of eating disorders in the study indicates that psychological intervention and health awareness programs, particularly to younger age, female, and overweight and obese students at the university level, would effectively prevent the eating disorder risk.

Posterior Fossa Tumors in Pediatric Age Group, an Epidemiological Study

Background: There are no data so far relating posterior fossa brain tumors in pediatric age group in Bangladesh. We are dealing with this type of tumors regularly. So an attempt has been made to document these tumors in respect to their incidence in our country, mode of presentation, age and sex distribution, treatment offered to them and their complication and outcome. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital. It was a retrospective study and cases were collected from 2013-2020. Result: We dealt with 60 cases of posterior fossa brain tumors. Out of them 21 were medulloblastoma,19 pilocytic astrocytoma, 11ependymoma and rest are other tumors. Almost all patients presented with hydrocephalus and in most cases CSF diversion was done before definitive tumors surgery. Conclusion: This is only a partial picture of total posterior fossa tumors in pediatric age group. This type of study should be done in a larger scale and newer modalities of diagnostics should be widely practiced for a better post-operative treatment and better prognosis. Bang. J Neurosurgery 2021; 10(2): 182-184

Study of Age-Related Finger Span and Hand Grip Strength of Adult Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Background: Age related hand anthropometry is important for the effective designing of dimensionally compatible hand tools, gloves, machine access spaces and hand-held devices. The present study was designed to measure and compare finger spans and the hand grip strength of both hands of adult female garment workers of different age groups in Bangladesh and to establish correlation between finger spans and the hand grip strength of same hand.&#x0D; Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive, observational and cross sectional in nature with some analytic component; carried out in the Department of anatomy, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, from January 2015 to December 2015. A purposive non random convenient sampling was done to select 300 female garment workers, age ranging from 21-35 years. Hand grip strength and 5 finger spans were measured. ANOVA test was performed to correlate of finger spans and hand grip strength of different age groups.&#x0D; Results: Difference of hand grip strength with age showed significant in both hands. Difference of finger spans with age showed non-significant. There was positive correlation between finger spans and hand grip strength of the same hand.&#x0D; Conclusion: Study of age related anthropometric measurements of hand can play an important role to design same workplace, same hand tools, and same access spaces for the hand of the age group (21-35) years of adult female garment workers in Bangladesh and increase the usage of human resources.&#x0D; Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (1); January 2021; Page 62-66

Factors influencing eco-friendly apparel purchase behavior of Bangladeshi young consumers: case study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence eco-friendly apparel purchase behaviors concerning Bangladeshi young consumers in light of the theory of planned behavior. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected by a survey among 198 respondents in Bangladesh in terms of consumer attitude, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), environmental concern (EC), environmental knowledge (EK) and purchase intention (PI). Structural equation modeling approach was used to find out the influencing factors. Findings The study reveals that purchase intention is significantly influenced by attitudes, SN, EC and EK of consumers. Consumers perceived behaviors variable is always not an accurate predictor to control actual purchase behavior. SN and EK were found to be highly influential to eco-friendly apparel purchase patterns among young consumers in Bangladesh. Research limitations/implications This study provides key marketing insights for retailers and practitioners on how strategically they can decide for fashion consumers, specifically the young group in Bangladesh. Eco-friendly apparel purchase behaviors will gradually influence the retail business contexts for retailers. The study reveals the need for eco-labeling and marketing strategies of eco-friendly apparel products among young consumers to communicate benefits and green values among wider consumers. Findings were restricted to specific young consumers group in Bangladesh and did not examine purchase behaviors of other consumer segment. Originality/value The study reveals that Bangladeshi young consumers are becoming concerned about purchasing apparel products. It provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs, practitioners and marketers to trace and perceive purchase behavior of the Bangladeshi young consumers while adopting a strategic marketing approach.

Determinants of Early Refractive Error on School-Going Children (10-12 Years) in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Background: Refractive Error is a common health issues among young school-aged children in Bangladesh.Present study focused on determinants of refractive error among school-going children (class II-V) and theassociated factors.Method: Data were collected from 200 school-going children and their parents in a cross-sectional studyusing purposive sampling from Cambrian School, Dhaka city. A semi-structured questionnaire wasadministered to collect socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical information related to prevalence ofrefractive error at this age of children.Results: Study revealed that, among 200 participants, 54.5% children had refractive error and the youngera child is, the more there was possibility of having this issue. A positive association was found betweenmeal intake, duration of using computer games or watching television and genetic factor (parents’ wearingspectacles) with the occurrence of having this error in children (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Findings of this study revealed, unhealthy life-styles and physical inactivity at this age maylead to refractive error among school aged children and early detection with medical advice as well as lifestyle modification might play a significant role not only in improving children’s learning ability but also inreducing the incidence of refractive error in this age group in Bangladesh.

Effects of Graphic Health Warning on Tobacco Packs: A Cross-Sectional Study among Low Socioeconomic Group in Bangladesh.

Background Tobacco use is a significant health concern in Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, where the greatest incidence of tobacco consumption occurs in a number of forms smoking, smokeless, and indigenous. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires tobacco product packaging to include adequate health warnings (text and visual). The study's objective is to investigate the effects of graphic health warnings on tobacco packs among Bangladeshi low socioeconomic groups. Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Methods The study was conducted with 400 participants (low socioeconomic people) by using the systematic sampling technique through a semistructured questionnaire in Demra and Tongi industrial areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh during September 2019-November 2020. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential analysis (i.e., chi-square tests) were performed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25.0) to explore the relationship between the graphic warning and the use of tobacco. Results This study illustrates that 89% of respondents smoke only cigarette or bidi, where 95.1% were daily smokers. About 72.2% reported pictorial warning message was more understandable while 90.8% reported the existing text warnings explicitly visualize the health harms. It has been found that there was a significant association between the respondent's opinion on the text warning that encouraged the respondent to quit tobacco use and the text messages “smoking causes throat and lung cancer” (p < 0.001) and “smoking causes respiratory problems” (p < 0.001). Around 96.7% knew about the graphic health warnings on the cigarette packets where 99.2% reported graphic warning explicitly visualizes the health harms. In graphical warnings, text messages have a great influence on quitting smoking where “smoking causes throat and lung cancer” (p < 0.001) and “smoking causes stroke” (p < 0.001). Nearly 79.2% of respondents thought the color of the graphic warning should be “Red” and a significant association between the color and the education level of the respondents explored here (p < 0.05). Conclusions GHWs are more understandable on tobacco packets, and it has significant impacts on being aware of health consequences from tobacco consumption.

An Assessment of Pre-diabetic and Diabetic Conditions among the Garo Population in Bangladesh

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases and has a major impact on public health worldwide. It causes a vast contribution to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several factors like age, sex, BMI, hypertension, dyslipidemia may be potentially controlled or minimized leading to huge benefits in the management and prevention of prediabetes and diabetes. Many diabetes studies have been conducted in Bangladesh among the general population, but only a few have been conducted among the indigenous population. Garos are one of the important ethnic groups in Bangladesh but major non communicable disease, diabetes has not been assessed among them. The present study was undertaken to assess the diabetic and prediabetic conditions of the Garo population in Bangladesh. It was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design conducted among 106 Garo people from Mymensingh and Tangail districts of Bangladesh. The result of the study shows that 7.5% of the study population had a family history of diabetes and mean± SD fasting blood glucose level (mmol/L) was 5.42 ± 2.83. The study found that 13.2% had impaired fasting glucose or prediabetic and 7.6% was diabetic based fasting blood glucose (FBG). Among the study population, 2.8% of the diabetic patient took insulin. The study also revealed gender-based distribution of diabetes mellitus among males and females, where 9.6% of the female participants were diabetic, based FBG. In association with nutritional status, it was found that 9.5% of the underweight 5.7% of the normal weight individuals, 10.8% of the overweight participants were diabetic based on FBG. Positive correlation was observed between waist hip ratio (WHR) and fasting blood glucose level (r=0.23, p&lt;0.05). The SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure) had a positive correlation with fasting (r=0.22, p&lt;0.05). Hypertension, WHR and diabetic conditions were found to be correlated in this community. Bangladesh J. Nutr. Vol. 33, December 2020, P: 11-19

Socio-Economic Instance of Ethnic Group in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Dhaka City

In Bangladesh, an ethnic community such as barber, cobbler, washerman, porter become victims of severe discrimination despite the constitutional declaration that protects citizen's equal rights regardless of their race, caste, religion. This study focuses on various minor and untouchable groups in our society. Due to various reasons like lack of education, extreme poverty, lack of proper healthy atmosphere, etc. they could not organize themselves to establish their rights. Consequently, they remain in the darkness of the community. They also remain out of development efforts, untouchable and downtrodden. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from 12th February to 27th February 2020 in different areas in the capital city. The purpose of the study is to determine the lifestyle, family background, education level, and socioeconomic impact to access credit among these groups of people.

Nutrition Intervention Using Behavioral Change Communication without Additional Material Inputs Increased Expenditures on Key Food Groups in Bangladesh

ABSTRACTBackgroundBehavioral change communication (BCC) promotes skills and knowledge to improve infant and young child feeding, but without additional material inputs, recipients must develop strategies to translate knowledge into action. Using data from the Alive & Thrive initiative in Bangladesh (2010–2014), we aimed to test whether households receiving the intensive intervention (opposed to the nonintensive intervention) increased expenditures on key foods for mothers and children (e.g., foods that were promoted by the intervention and also changed in maternal and child diets).MethodsThe intensive intervention provided interpersonal counseling, community mobilization, and mass media campaigns to promote breastfeeding and complementary feeding. A cluster-randomized design compared 20 subdistricts randomly assigned to the intensive (4281 households) or nonintensive (4284 households) intervention. Measures included food and nonfood expenditures, dietary diversity, and women's economic resources. Linear and logistic regression tested difference-in-differences (DD) in expenditures and dietary diversity, accounting for subdistricts as clusters, and the association between maternal and child consumption of specific food groups and corresponding food expenditures.ResultsExpenditures on eggs and flesh foods increased more in intensive areas than in nonintensive areas by 53 (P < 0.01) and 471 (P < 0.01) taka/mo, respectively. Household food expenditures increased more in intensive areas by 832 taka (P = 0.02), whereas changes in nonfood expenditures did not differ. Women's employment and control of income increased more in intensive areas by 12 (P = 0.03) and 13 (P < 0.01) percentage points, respectively, while jewelry ownership decreased more by 23 percentage points (P < 0.01). Higher expenditures on food groups were reflected in higher consumption by women and children.ConclusionsRecipients in the intensive intervention mobilized additional resources to improve diets, reflected in increased expenditures and consumption of promoted foods. BCC interventions should document how recipients produce desired results without additional material inputs, particularly for behaviors that likely require additional resources. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01678716.

Variation in Coronary Artery Disease Pattern and Risk Factors among Female Patients of Dierent Age Groups in Bangladesh

Background &amp; objective: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a devastating life-threatening condition which varies with respect to age and sex. In Bangladesh a large number of patients currently undergoes coronary angiography for a variety of indications. Due to physiological changes after menopause, the females are more prone to develop CAD. So, the risk factors and pattern of CAD in female are subject change with changing ages. The objective of this study was to compare the risk factors and pattern of CAD in female patients of different age groups.&#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital &amp; Research Institute (ICHRI), Dhaka, Bangladesh between September 2005 to August 2016. All female patients (n = 7,627) who underwent coronary angiography during the period were included. They were identified from ICHRI dedicated Cath-lab Database. The patients were divided into three groups based on their age (Group-I ≤45 years, Group-II from age 46 to age 60 and Group-III from age 60 years onwards). A stenosis of ≥ 70% in any of the three major coronary arteries like Left Anterior Descending (LAD), Right Coronary Artery (RCA) and Left Circumflex Artery (LCX) was considered as significant stenosis, while a stenosis of ≥ 50% in left main stem (LMS) was considered significant for left main disease. The data pertaining to their risk factors and angiographic profile were compared among the three age groups to find the association of risk factors and angiographic pattern of the CAD at different age groups.&#x0D; Result: All the risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and CKD) demonstrated their significant presence in Group II and III compared to those in Group I, while they were almost identical between Group II and III. More than 40% of the patients were overweight in all age groups and around 20% were obese including a negligible proportion with morbid obesity. ST-segment elevation MI, NSTEMI (Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction), prior MI (Myocardial infarction), and ALVF (Acute left ventricular failure) were significantly higher in Group III than the two other groups had. However, unstable angina was significantly higher in age-group I &amp; II and atypical chest pain in Group I. Incidence of Single vessel disease (SVD) was considerably higher in group II. Double vessel diseases DVD), Triple vessel disease (TVD), LM disease was significantly higher in group III compared to two other groups. Normal CAG (Coronary angiography) finding was higher among group I, although it was not significantly different from other two groups.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of conventional risk factors including overweight/obesity is almost similar between middle-aged and elderly women, while they are significantly lower in early middle-aged group. The elderly women usually present with STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction), non-STEMI, stable CAD, ALVF, while middle-aged women commonly present with UA (Unstable Angina) and early middle-aged women with atypical chest pain. Severe CAD including and LM disease is relatively common in elderly women than those in their early middle-aged and middle-aged cohorts. Coronary artery disease advances with advancing age. Health-care providers should not underestimate the cardiac health of women.&#x0D; Ibrahim Card Med J 2019; 9 (1&amp;2): 60-66

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children (9-14 Years) in a Selected Area of Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction:Childhood obesity is a threat worldwide; notably, some Asian nations are experiencing a shift toward obesity at a younger age. The context of overweight/obesity remains unexplored, more among younger age groups in Bangladesh. This study assessed prevalence and factors associated with overweight/obesity among 9–14-year-old school-going children studying in public and private primary schools in a selected area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.Materials and Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 150 children recruited from four purposively selected primary schools, following simple random sampling technique. Body mass index was assessed to classify children following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention age and sex-specific cutoff points. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20, and Chi-square/Fisher's exact test was done to determine association.Results:A higher prevalence of overweight/obesity was observed among boys (67.1%) compared to girls, and the mean age was 11.6 years. Overweight and obesity were prevalent among girls (35.7% and 17.9%, respectively) in public schools and boys (38.8% and 32.7%, respectively) in private schools. The magnitude was higher (>80.0%) among those not participating in sports at school (P = 0.002) or outside school (P < 0.001). They exposed (97.5%) to sedentary behaviors (P < 0.001) and preferred fast food (60.8%) as regular meals (P = 0.001). Their dietary chart lacked an adequate serving of vegetables and fruits in a week.Conclusions:Overweight/obesity is prevalent among 9–14-year-old school-going children, and behavior factors are major determinants of childhood obesity. Effective public health interventions are required to address this emerging health problem.

Commercial Micro-Credit, Neo-Liberal Agriculture and Smallholder Indebtedness: Three Bangladesh Villages

ABSTRACT Evidence suggests that smallholders are fast becoming one of the largest micro-credit recipient groups in Bangladesh. However, the literature on the effects of micro-credit use among smallholders is surprisingly deficient. This article seeks to rectify this gap by highlighting the ramifications of micro-credit’s foray into the subsistence agriculture sector. It analyses the ostensibly disparate processes of mounting smallholder indebtedness and the phenomenal rise of micro-finance institutions in Bangladesh in light of the country’s broader context of agricultural commoditisation, input subsidy reduction and a systematic lessening of the subsidised agricultural credit system. The article uses the concept of “accumulation by dispossession/encroachment” to argue that persistent borrowing from micro-finance institutions (MFIs) exposes smallholders to the risks and volatilities of the market. Using qualitative insights from a case study of three villages, it demonstrates how the capital accumulation model of Bangladeshi MFIs marginalises smallholders and ensnares them in a perpetual cycle of debts.

Understanding and promoting ethics and values education: The methodological challenge

Two studies were undertaken recently to examine how schools promote SDG Target 4.7—including ethics and values. UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of International Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in Delhi examined to what extent concepts and competencies related to Target 4.7 are mainstreamed in education policies and curricula in 22 countries across Asia. Education Watch, a civil society group in Bangladesh that monitors progress in pretertiary education in the country, took the promotion of ethics and values through school education as the subject for its 2017 report. This article describes the methodological concerns and how the MGIEP comparative study and the Bangladesh study address those concerns. The SDG agenda, particularly Target 4.7, constitutes a frame of reference for both studies. The article discusses the relevance of SDG Goal 4 and Target 4.7 for the two studies, and briefly presents the objectives, the methodology, and the nature of conclusions derived from those studies. Next, it takes a comparative view of the two studies’ methodologies and analyses. Finally, the conclusion points to implications for further research and policy discourse.

Entrepreneurship, State–business Ties and Business Groups in Bangladesh

This study analyses how domestic companies in Bangladesh emerged as major conglomerates, despite little help from a weak state that could hardly nurture its enterprises. Using a business history approach, this study traces the development of Bangladesh’s leading business groups. The history indicates that the entrepreneurial capacity and the creation of close ties with the State were the core factors that helped these business groups survive and grow in an economy led by a state that could do little to promote and offer policies that help in fostering the growth of domestic companies in an emerging economy.