Rajbari District Research Articles

Treatment with aquatic plants by a Bagdi tribal healer of Rajbari District, Bangladesh.

Context:Tribal healers mainly use land plants in their medicinal formulations; use of aquatic plants has been scarcely reported.Aims:The aim of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey working with a Bagdi tribal healer of Rajbari District, Bangladesh.Settings and Design:The survey was carried out working with a Bagdi healer, who lived alone in the wetlands of Rajbari District and used primarily aquatic plants for treatment.Materials and Methods:Interview of the healer was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method.Results:The Bagdi healer was observed to use seven different aquatic plant species coming from five plant families for treatment of ailments such as hemorrhoids, tonsillitis, heart disorders, burning sensations and pain in hands or legs, blurred vision, debility, sexual weakness in males, chronic dysentery, infertility in women, constipation, chronic leucorrhea, blackness and foul odor of menstrual blood, hair loss, graying of hair and to keep the head cool. One plant was used to treat what the healer mentioned as “evil eye”, this refers to their belief in black-magic.Conclusions:This is the first reported instance of a Bagdi healer who primarily uses aquatic plants for treatment. Ethnomedicinal uses of a number of the plants used by the Bagdi healer have been reported for other places in India and Pakistan. Taken together, the various uses of the different plant species opens up scientific possibilities of new drug discoveries from the plants.

The anti-ulcerogenic effect of an alkaloidal fraction from Mikania cordata on diclofenac sodium-induced gastrointestinal lesions in rats.

A decoction of Mikania cordata (Compositae) is commonly used for the treatment of gastric ulcer in the Rajbari district of Bangladesh. We have evaluated the anti-ulcerogenic effect of the alkaloidal fraction from the whole plant of M. cordata on diclofenac sodium-induced gastrointestinal lesion in rats. Long Evan's rats were divided into five groups. The control group was kept undisturbed. The vehicle group received vehicle after a 48-h fast. The diclofenac group received diclofenac sodium suspension (80 mg kg(-1)) after a 48-h fast. The diclofenac-ranitidine group (anti-ulcer drug used as a standard) received 35 mg kg(-1) ranitidine hydrochloride suspension 1 h after diclofenac sodium administration, after a 48-h fast. The diclofenac-extract group received alkaloidal fraction (50 mg kg(-1)) 1 h after diclofenac administration, after a 48-h fast. The biochemical, morphological and histological changes were studied. The data showed that the pH values of the stomach and duodenum were increased significantly (P < 0.001) in the alkaloidal-administered group compared with the control group (3.09 +/- 0.0429 vs 2.07 +/- 0.0339 and 6.79 +/- 0.1162 vs 6.19 +/- 0.1273, respectively). There were significant changes (P < 0.001) detected in the morphological study. The ulcer index of the stomach (0.268 +/- 0.0346) and of the duodenum (0.050 +/- 0.0129) in the alkaloidal-administered group were significantly lower than the diclofenac-only administered group (0.691 +/- 0.0184 and 0.0933 +/- 0.0138, respectively). According to the grading of tissue damage in the histological study, there were less or no lesions on the gastrointestinal mucosa of the alkaloidal-administered group compared with the diclofenac-only group (0 vs 5, respectively). When the results of the alkaloid extract group where compared with the ranitidine hydrochloride group a similar or more potent effect was observed with the alkaloidal extract group. The results of this study revealed that the bioactive principles of M. cordata have anti-ulcerogenic effects. The results validate the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of gastric ulcer in Bangladesh.

Evaluation of some deep and shallow tubewell irrigated schemes in Bangladesh using performance indicators

Performances of five deep tubewell (DTW) and ten shallow tubewell (STW) projects of the Rajbari district of central Bangladesh have been evaluated using some selected standard indicators, broadly classified into three groups: hydraulic, agricultural and socio-economic. For the quantitative and qualitative assessments of the indicators, field measurements and questionnaire survey of farmers and tubewell owners were made during the 1998–99 dry season. Analyses of hydraulic indicators showed that the performances of both the projects (DTWs and STWs) in terms of discharge and water delivery were better than those in the past. Equity in water delivery was not ensured in both the projects mainly because of low canal density. Agricultural performance, evaluated in terms of irrigated area, yield and production performance, was almost the same for both the projects and was greater than the respective national averages. Socio-economic indicators showed that both the projects were financially viable and sustainable. Hydraulic, agricultural and socio-economic indicators used in this study are recommended for evaluation of performances of irrigation projects and also for comparative analysis of performances of similar irrigation projects.

Knowledge And Awareness About The Risk Of HIV/AIDS Among Truck Drivers Of A Selected Area

This cross- sectional study was conducted among the truck drivers at Daulatdia Ghat, Goalanda, Rajbari district. The objective of this study was to find out the knowledge and awareness about the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission among the truck drivers .Out of 226 respondents, 37.3% were within the age group 25 to 35 years. Most of the respondents (74%) were married and 44% were educated up to primary level. Half of the respondents (50%) had monthly income from taka 10,000 to taka 15,000 per month. From this study, it was found that 97% respondents had heard the name of HIV/AIDS, 61.8% had known about HIV/AIDS from media and newspaper. In respect of the route of HIV transmission, 39.8% of respondents thought that HIV is transmitted by sexual activities and 58.7% thought the disease is transmitted by syringe, transfusion. About 47.8% respondents thought that HIV can be detected from blood and 76% knew the fate of HIV/AIDS is death. Majority (82.5%) of the respondents obtained correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and 13.2% of them knew the place where test of HIV can be done. Key words: Knowledge; HIV/AIDS; Risk; Truck drivers DOI: 10.3329/fmcj.v5i2.6820Faridpur Med. Coll. J. 2010;5(2):46-49

HOST DETERMINANTS BASED COMPARATIVE PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN LACTATING HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CROSS COWS AND RED CHITTAGONG COWS IN BANGLADESH

A comparative prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) based on host risk factors was studied by using California Mastitis Test (CMT) in 96 Holstein-Friesian cross cows (HFCC) of Abu Baker Dairy Farm at Pansha Upazilla in Rajbari district and 20 Red Chittagong cows (RCC) of Bangladesh Agricultural University Dairy Farm (BAUDF), Mymensingh during the period from January to June 2008. Out of the 116 lactating cows examined, 51 (43.97%) showed positive reactivity to CMT. Similar prevalence rate of SCM was recorded in both the HFCC (43.75%) and RCC (45.0%). The overall prevalence of SCM on the basis of lactation stages showed that all the three lactation stages had SCM but there was a tendency to increase its prevalence rates from early (30.43%), mid (32.26%) to late (69.23%) stages. The highest prevalence of SCM was recorded at late lactation stage in both the HFCC (68.75%) and RCC (71.43%) in comparison to their respective mid and early lactation stages. The parity-wise prevalence of SCM was recorded as 18.42%, 55.0%, 66.67%, 75.0% and 75.0% in HFCC whereas, it was 20.0%, 20.0%, 66.67%, 75.0% and 66.67% in RCC at their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th parity, respectively. This study recorded a relationship between the increased prevalence of SCM with decreased of milk production in both the groups of lactating cows. The respective prevalence of SCM at high, medium and low level of milk production in HFC (14.29%, 33.33% and 70.59%) and RCC (14.29%, 50.00% and 71.42%) were found significantly (p &lt; 0.01) correlated with milk production. An overall 19.18% quarters was affected with SCM, of which 4.31%, 7.33% and 7.38% showed mild, moderate and severe reaction to CMT. However, comparatively, higher percentage of quarter infection was recorded in HFCC (20.31%) than RCC (13.75%). It may be concluded from these observations that both the HFCC and RCC should be monitored by using CMT for the detection of SCM in order to provide rational treatment and control it to make the dairy farming profitable. DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v8i1.7397 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2010). 8(1): 17-21

An economic study of small scale cattle fattening enterprise of Rajbari district

The small scale cattle fattening enterprise is represents an important component of the agribusiness sector of the economy with great economic, income, poverty reduction and social implications. A large number of farmers involved in cattle fattening just before 3 or 4 months of Eid-ul-Azha (Muslim festival), when they sell the animals with profitable prices. Cattle fattening for beef production have become an important business of the small farmers in Bangladesh. This study examined the profitability as well as operational economics efficiency of cattle fattening enterprise of Rajbari District. Data used to achieve this objective was obtained from 120 nomadic farmers, which were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were generated using a survey schedule as well as direct observation (cost-route method). Descriptive statistics, economics analysis as well as operational efficiency index were used to analyze the data. Results showed that small scale cattle fattening enterprise were profitable and flexible. A net enterprise income of BDT 5559 per cattle was realized by an average enterprise in study area. It was also shown that operational efficiency was not generally high among the entrepreneur. Based on these results, the study advised less efficient entrepreneurs to adopt the practices of the efficient ones in order to make the enterprise more profitable. The study shows that small scale cattle fattening enterprise is profitable due to agribusiness context. Farmers used three years old cattle for beef fattening. Cattle fattening period is 4.5 months in rural study areas of Rajbari district in Bangladesh. Keywords: Economic efficiency; Cattle farming; Profitability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v9i1.8756 JBAU 2011; 9(1): 141-146

Status And Utilization Of Maternal Health Care Services In A Selected Rural Area Of Bangladesh

Improvement of maternal health care services is regarded as an important component for achieving targets of MDGs by the year 2015. A cross-sectional community based study was carried out to find out the status and utilization of maternal health care services in Pangsa Upazilla of Rajbari District among 517 mothers who had at least one child up to 1 year of age. The study was conducted from June to August in the year 2008. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using purposive sampling technique. Most of the respondents were in the age group of 20-29 years (69.05%) and 35.01% of them had received primary education. Sixty seven percent of them had average monthly income of Taka 3001-5000. Eighty percent of the respondents were at the age group of 15-19 years when they got married. Most of the mothers (71.57%) got antenatal care during their last pregnancy and more than 80% of them had completed their TT vaccination schedule during pregnancy period. More than 80% of the deliveries were taken place at home. Eighty five percent of the deliveries were normal delivery and most of them (77.76%) were attended by the untrained traditional birth attendants (TBA). Hemorrhage was found to be the highest reported obstetric complication (37.50%). This study offered a picture of the maternal health care services in rural Bangladesh and detected the need for future work in this area. Key words: Maternal health care service; ante-natal care; delivery; rural area; Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/fmcj.v5i1.6808Faridpur Med. Coll. J. 2010;5(1):17-20