Rural Community Of Bangladesh Research Articles

Evaluating the Performance of Five Asset-based Wealth Indices in Predicting Socioeconomic Position in Rural Bangladesh

Social scientists have developed numerous asset-based wealth indices to assess and target socioeconomic inequalities globally. However, there are no systematic studies of the relative performance of these different measures as proxies for socioeconomic position. In this study, we compare how five asset-based wealth indices—the International Wealth Index (IWI), the Standard of Living portion of the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI-SL), the Poverty Probability Index (PPI), the Absolute Wealth Estimate (AWE), and the DHS Wealth Index (DHS)—predict benchmarks of socioeconomic position across 11 communities in rural Bangladesh. All indices were highly correlated. The IWI best explained variation in individual and community ranking of economic well-being, while the PPI best explained variation both between and within communities for total household wealth and a general measure of subjective social status.

Access to Maternal Healthcare in Rural Bangladesh: A literature-based Analysis on Factors Affecting Maternal Healthcare Utilization in Bangladesh

In the last decade, Bangladesh has made substantial improvements of maternal and newborn mortality, such the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) had dropped from 574 per thousand live births in 1990 to 170 per thousand live births in 2013. Despite these improvements, Bangladesh is still lagging in achieving equity in service utilization. Literature manifested significant healthcare inequities across different socio-demographic factors and religious and cultural views. The primary aims of this analysis are – i) to assess the disparities in the quality and availability of maternal healthcare in Bangladesh and its relation to the service utilization in rural Bangladesh, ii) to identify demand-side interventions implemented in developing countries and relevant considerations to promote maternal healthcare utilization in rural Bangladesh. A narrative literature review was conducted using Rudolph Matas Library, Tulane University online resources, Google Scholar and PUBMED. Articles published between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2018 describing quality, availability and utilization of maternal healthcare services; existing disparities and barriers in healthcare utilization in rural Bangladesh are included in the analysis. This analysis also includes articles describing the impact of demand-side interventions on healthcare utilization in developing countries. A total of 10 articles met the selection criteria. Bibliographies of selected articles were also searched to include additional information in this analysis. Reviews of the literature revealed a significant healthcare equity gap according to place of residences, wealth status, age at birth, and parity of mothers in Bangladesh. According to available study findings, the level of mothers’ education, cultural and social views, women’s employment status, distance of health facility, and perceived quality of care act as significant factors influencing maternal healthcare utilization in rural Bangladesh. Studies have shown that demand-side interventions considering cultural context and other existing barriers result in improved uptake of maternal healthcare and improved health outcome. Only availability of services cannot translate into better outcomes, unless those services are of acceptable quality and the population irrespective of their socio-demographic status can attain those services without any perceived barrier. The analysis suggested, along with ensuring availability and quality of healthcare, the need for demand-side interventions addressing existing barriers make services accessible to the rural communities in Bangladesh. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 15, No 1 (June) 2020: 848

Effect of a Multicomponent Intervention on Antihypertensive Medication Intensification in Rural South Asia: Post Hoc Analysis of a Cluster RCT.

Inadequate treatment of hypertension is a widespread problem, especially in South Asian countries where cardiovascular disease mortality rates are high. We aimed to explore the effect of a multicomponent intervention (MCI) on antihypertensive medication intensification among rural South Asians with hypertension. A post hoc analysis of a 2-year cluster-randomized controlled trial including 2,645 hypertensives aged ≥40 years from 30 rural communities, 10 each, in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Independent assessors collected information on participants' self-reports and physical inspection of medications. The main outcomes were the changes from baseline to 24 months in the following: (i) the therapeutic intensity score (TIS) for all (and class-specific) antihypertensive medications; (ii) the number of antihypertensive medications in all trial participants. At 24 months, the mean increase in the TIS score of all antihypertensive medications was 0.11 in the MCI group and 0.03 in the control group, with a between-group difference in the increase of 0.08 (95% confidence interval (CI, 0.03, 0.12); P = 0.002). In MCI compared with controls, a greater increase in the TIS of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (0.05; 95% CI (0.02, 0.07); P < 0.001) and calcium channel blockers (0.03; 95% CI (0.00, 0.05); P = 0.031), and in the number of antihypertensive medications (0.11, 95% CI (0.02, 0.19); P = 0.016) was observed. In rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, MCI led to a greater increase in antihypertensive medication intensification compared with the usual care among adults with hypertension. Trial Number NCT02657746.

Gender differences in marital violence: A cross-ethnic study among Bengali, Garo, and Santal communities in rural Bangladesh.

Studies on marital violence (MV) in Bangladesh have primarily focused on the women of the mainstream Bengali people, although half of the population is men, and there are also ethnic minority communities with diverse gender constructions. The current study examined the gender differences in MV among the matrilineal ethnic minority Garo, patrilineal ethnic minority Santal, and the patrilineal mainstream Bengali communities in rural Bangladesh. Adopting a cross-sectional design, we randomly included 1,929 currently married men and women from 24 villages. We used cross-tabulations as well as multivariate logistic regressions to estimate the ethnic and gender differences in MV. Data revealed that women were widely exposed to different types of MV, while only a few men experienced such abuses. It showed that 95.6% of the women experienced emotional abuse, 63.5% physical abuse, 71.4% sexual abuse, and 50.6% poly-victimization, whereas these rates were quite low among the men (emotional = 9.7%, physical = 0.7%, sexual = 0.1%). No men reported poly-victimization. The odds ratio (OR) for emotional, physical, and sexual MV were respectively, 184.44 (95% CI = 93.65−363.24, p<0.001), 449.23 (95% CI = 181.59−1111.35, p<0.001), and 2789.71(95% CI = 381.36−20407.08, p<0.001) for women compared to men. Data further revealed that matrilineal Garo women experienced less MV (emotional = 90.7%, physical = 53.4%, sexual = 64.0%, poly = 38.8%) than the patrilineal Santal (emotional = 99.4%, physical = 67.3%, sexual = 71.3%, poly = 53.9%) and Bengali women (emotional = 96.6%, physical = 69.6%, sexual = 78.8%, poly = 58.9%). Multivariate regressions also showed that the Bengali society perpetrated more physical (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.27−2.85, p = 0.002) and sexual (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.34−3.10, p = 0.001) MV than the Garo society. It appears that MV is largely a gendered issue in the country. Though both women and men can be the victims of MV, the nature/extent of victimization noticeably differs according to the social organization. Matrilineal society appears to be less abusive than the patrilineal one. Interventions aimed to prevent domestic violence in rural Bangladesh should take these findings into account.

Reliability of a computer-based neurobehavioral assessment test battery for Bangladeshi adolescent children

In developing countries, there is a need for low-cost neurobehavioral (NB) test batteries for vulnerable populations, particularly for children exposed to environmental neurotoxicants. The objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility and test-retest reliability of the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) in children from a rural community in Bangladesh. Fifty healthy adolescents living in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) area in Araihazar, Bangladesh completed all six tests from the BARS in two test sessions scheduled two weeks apart. The BARS tests evaluated NB functions such as motor coordination, attention, memory, and information processing speed. The reliability assessment, evaluated by test-retest correlations demonstrated moderate to strong correlations (i.e., correlation coefficients ranged from 0.43 to 0.85), which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Paired t-tests for comparing the test and retest outcomes indicated significant improvement in NB performance, highlighting learning and practice effects. NB performance improved with increasing age in most cases. Adolescent boys performed better than the girls in Finger Tapping, Digit Span, and Simple Reaction Time, whereas the girls performed better in Continuous Performance and Symbol Digit tests. The reliability scores (Pearson’s correlations 0.43−0.85) were consistent with other children studies in different cultural settings. The effects of age and sex on NB tests were also consistent with findings reported in other countries. Overall, the findings of the study support the feasibility of using this computer-based test system to assess vulnerability of brain health due to environmental exposures among rural Bangladeshi children.

Perceptions and practices on newborn care and managing complications at rural communities in Bangladesh: a qualitative study

BackgroundCommunity misperception on newborn care and poor treatment of sick newborn attributes to neonatal death and illness severity. Misperceptions and malpractices regarding neonatal care and neonatal complications are the leading causes of neonatal deaths in Bangladesh. The study was conducted to explore neonatal care’s perceptions and practices and manage complications among Bangladesh’s rural communities.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted in Netrakona district of Bangladesh from April to June 2015. Three sub-districts (Upazilas) including Purbadhala, Durgapur and Atpara of Netrakona district were selected purposively. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) and twenty in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in the rural community. Themes were identified through reading and re-reading the qualitative data and thematic analysis was performed.ResultsCommunity people were far behind, regarding the knowledge of neonatal complications. Most of them felt that the complications occurred due to lack of care by the parents. Some believed that mothers did not follow the religious customs after delivery, which affected the newborns. Many of them followed the practice of bathing the newborns and cutting their hair immediately after birth. The community still preferred to receive traditional treatment from their community, usually from Kabiraj (traditional healer), village doctor, or traditional birth attendant. Families also refrained from seeking treatment from the health facilities during neonatal complications. Instead, they preferred to wait until the traditional healers or village doctors recommended transferring the newborn.ConclusionsPoor knowledge, beliefs and practices are the key barriers to ensure the quality of care for the newborns during complications. The communities still depend on traditional practices and the level of demand for facility care is low. Appropriate interventions focusing on these issues might improve the overall neonatal mortality in Bangladesh.

Attitudes and Views Concerning Human Milk Banking Among Mothers Residing in a Rural Region of Bangladesh.

Human milk banks play an essential role by providing human milk to infants who would otherwise not be able to receive mother's milk. To determine the opinions and attitudes among possible donor mothers regarding human milk banks in one rural region in Bangladesh. A prospective, cross-sectional study following a probability type of stratified cluster sampling technique was used. Included in the study (N = 121) were mothers aged 20-49 years, with at least one child, who was currently lactating or had breastfed her child, and who resided in the rural community of Bangladesh where the study was conducted. Data were collected through a 21-item, close-ended questionnaire and a face-to-face interview conducted by the researcher at each participant's home. Among the participants, 98.3% (n = 119) said that they had not heard about human milk banks before speaking with the researchers. Most participants (71.9%, n = 87) said would obtain human milk from milk banks if necessary, but 28% (n =34) of mothers indicated that they would not receive milk from a milk bank, even if it was necessary for their children. Only 8.3% (n = 10) said human milk banks were not appropriate according to Islam and 99.2% (n = 120) did not know about the acceptance of human milk banking practices in Bangladesh. For those with religious concerns, a framework for both the donors and recipients can be established. It can be recommended that health education through healthcare personnel (midwives, nurses, gynecologists, pediatricians, and other health professionals) and religious leaders may strengthen the belief and increase awareness among family members about milk banking practices.

A profile of illnesses prevailing in the secondary schools of rural communities of Bangladesh

Background and objectives: The childhood population in Bangladesh is ~20% of the 166.5 million. The rural population comprises almost 70%. Approximately, Bangladesh has more than 23,500 high schools. There has been no published data on the profile of illness commonly observed among the high school children. The aims of the study were a) to determine a profile of common illness among the students of rural high schools; b) to assess the nutrition status related to socio-economic class and c) to find out the correlations between anthropometry and blood pressure and between anthropometry and blood glucose status.&#x0D; Methods: The study was conducted in purposively selected high schools in Santhia thana under the district of Pabna. Local leaders and the school teachers volunteered to communicate the study objectives and investigation details to the eligible students. The teachers prepared the list of participants. All the willing participants were advised to attend the investigation site in the morning in a fasting state. Each participant was interviewed. Socio-demographic and clinical history was taken. Investigations included anthropometry – height (ht), weight (wt), waist- and hip-circumference (waist, hip). Adiposity indices namely body mass index (BMI – wt in kg/ht in met. sq.), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and waist/ht ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Resting blood pressure was taken. Clinical examination (general and systemic) was done. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was estimated using glucometer strip and blood grouping by test kit. Test kit was also used for detection of urinary protein.&#x0D; Results: From six schools, 1069 students (boys/girls = 392/677) of age 10 to 19 years participated in the study. The participants from middle class family were 52.7% and upper were 14.4%. Their mothers were mostly housewives (95.5%) and only 16% had academic education of ten years or more. The mean (± SD) values of BMI, WHR, WHtR and FBG were 18.2 (± 2.9), 0.81 (± 0.07), 0.43 (± 0.05) and 5.26 (± 0.45) mmol/L respectively. Adiposity was significantly higher in upper socio-economic class than the middle and lower class, though no differences were observed in blood pressure and blood glucose level. Of the illnesses, the most common were sinusitis (21.4%), tonsillitis (13.3%) and toothache plus dental caries (10.7%).&#x0D; Conclusions: The most common illnesses were sinusitis, tonsillitis and dental caries. Anthropometric measures indicated that adiposity was not uncommon in rural children. Though adiposity was found higher among the upper than the lower socio-economic class, blood pressure and blood glucose level showed no difference indicating equal risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) irrespective of socio-economic class. These findings envisage that the existing status of child health might lead to NCDs in adult life. We suggest adiposity, blood pressure and blood glucose status of a high school cohort may be prospectively followed for eventual future health events.&#x0D; Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2020; 14(2): 33-41

Budget impact and cost-effectiveness analyses of the COBRA-BPS multicomponent hypertension management programme in rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

SummaryBackgroundCOBRA-BPS (Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), a multi-component hypertension management programme that is led by community health workers, has been shown to be efficacious at reducing systolic blood pressure in rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In this study, we aimed to assess the budget required to scale up the programme and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.MethodsIn a cluster-randomised trial of COBRA-BPS, individuals aged 40 years or older with hypertension who lived in 30 rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were deemed eligible for inclusion. Costs were quantified prospectively at baseline and during 2 years of the trial. All costs, including labour, rental, materials and supplies, and contracted services were recorded, stratified by programme activity. Incremental costs of scaling up COBRA-BPS to all eligible adults in areas covered by community health workers were estimated from the health ministry (public payer) perspective.FindingsBetween April 1, 2016, and Feb 28, 2017, 11 510 individuals were screened and 2645 were enrolled and included in the study. Participants were examined between May 8, 2016, and March 31, 2019. The first-year per-participant costs for COBRA-BPS were US$10·65 for Bangladesh, $10·25 for Pakistan, and $6·42 for Sri Lanka. Per-capita costs were $0·63 for Bangladesh, $0·29 for Pakistan, and $1·03 for Sri Lanka. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $3430 for Bangladesh, $2270 for Pakistan, and $4080 for Sri Lanka, per cardiovascular disability-adjusted life year averted, which showed COBRA-BPS to be cost-effective in all three countries relative to the WHO-CHOICE threshold of three times gross domestic product per capita in each country. Using this threshold, the cost-effectiveness acceptability curves predicted that the probability of COBRA-BPS being cost-effective is 79·3% in Bangladesh, 85·2% in Pakistan, and 99·8% in Sri Lanka.InterpretationThe low cost of scale-up and the cost-effectiveness of COBRA-BPS suggest that this programme is a viable strategy for responding to the growing cardiovascular disease epidemic in rural communities in low-income and middle-income countries where community health workers are present, and that it should qualify as a priority intervention across rural settings in south Asia and in other countries with similar demographics and health systems to those examined in this study.FundingThe UK Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Department for International Development, the Global Challenges Research Fund, the UK Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust.

Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in a Rural Community in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension among rural women. Data collection was carried out between March to June 2019 among 380 women in Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia, Bangladesh. Participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire including background characteristics, anthropometric measurements, prevalence, and risk factors of hypertension. IBM SPSS version 25 was used for analyzing the data. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension among the total participants was 21.3% and 17.1%, respectively. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 126.65 (±19.31) mmHg and 77.21 (±12.51) mmHg. Association was found between the prevalence of hypertension and participant’s age, marital status, educational level, body mass index, intake of raw salt, secondary smoking, stress, and diabetes (p&lt;0.05). Among the diabetic women, prehypertension and hypertension prevailed as 26.3% and 55.3% respectively. The lowest risk of hypertension was found with limited raw salt (aOR: 1.42) and red meat (aOR: 0.05) consumption. Hypertension was more likely to affect overweight (aOR: 3.98) and women aged 55 to 64 years (aOR: 13.44). Thus, effective and integrated intervention agendas are required for women, which can improve the rate of diagnosis and prevent uncontrolled hypertension in Bangladesh. Keywords: Prevalence, hypertension, women, blood pressure, risk factor, Bangladesh

Experience and Suggestions Regarding Disaster Preparedness Among The Older People in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Background: Older people are especially vulnerable to emergencies. Those with progressive loss of function in particular can have difficulty in adapting to challenges and coping with disruptions.&#x0D; Objective: To assess experience and suggestions regarding disaster preparedness among the older people in a rural community of Bangladesh.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district from 1st July 2015 to 30th September 2015. Purposive sampling technique was adopted. Total 485 households were surveyed. One elderly in a household was interviewed to get relevant information. Collected data were cleaned and entered in computer for analyses.&#x0D; Results: Age of the respondents ranged from 60 to 79 years. Majority (53.4%) was female; 38.1% were housewives, 57.9% were illiterates, 54% lived in tin-shed houses and 73% had sanitary latrines. Regarding social status 88% got adequate food, 80% got necessary clothing, 33% got pocket money and 79% got support during illness. Most frequently observed disaster was flood. They managed their shelter by bed elevation, moving to higher places, staying on boat etc. They suggested that disaster preparedness should include dry food preservation, safe drinking water support, medical support, public shelter, making of dam in frequently affected area and support from government.&#x0D; Conclusion: With demographic changes growing number of disasters create problems for elderly. To solve these special problems, ageing issues should be taken into consideration.&#x0D; KYAMC Journal Vol. 11, No.-4, January 2021, Page 176-180

Challenges to building social capital through planned adaptation: Evidence from rural communities in Bangladesh

Social capital facilitates adaptation to climate change. Planned community-based adaptation (CBA) therefore – often implemented by non-governmental organisations – seeks to engender social capital to strengthen the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in the Global South. CBA interventions typically seek to build social capital through the formation of community-based organisations, often led by the most vulnerable groups such as poor women, with the view that these groups will sustain and make efforts to strengthen community capacity to adapt to climate change. This paper presents the results of a research project that sought to understand the challenges of building social capital through group-based CBA interventions in the rural coastal communities of Bangladesh. Drawing on the accounts of four female-led community organisations and their respective communities, we argue that strengthening social capital was obstructed by embedded sociocultural norms and by the assumptions made by external organisations about how to create social capital. This study concludes that CBA needs to frame gender from an intersectional point of view, rather than a simplistic ‘male-versus-female dichotomy’ to build community capacities through female-led collectives. It thus contributes to the theoretical and empirical literature on social capital, gender and community adaptation.

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

The study's overarching objective was to evaluate the pros and cons of the newly adopted Village-Based Organization that was funded by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Empirical data was collected following personal interviews and focus group discussions. The study revealed that VBO contributed to diversifying enterprises by promoting high-value crops, small-scale livestock, and other value-added activities. The respondents expressed their complimentary views about their uplifted living standards. The women’s active participation and consequent empowerment increased by restoring their rights on resources and decision making. Farmers Field School motivated the community to introduce new technologies and practices for maintaining their livelihoods better. Despite some limitations, the VBO helped reduce local disputes and criminal activities like dowry, the high-interest rate of credit, child marriage, and drug abuse. The study advocates replicating this concept in the whole country as a part of the corona pandemic stimulus package. It can curb Monga (seasonal famine), tackle incremental anthropogenic-climatic stressors, reduces the consumption of natural resources, achieves Sustainable Development Goals, and finally, uphold the aspiration of a "whole society approach" and "no one is left behind." Policy interventions are warranted to rectify the identified challenges and integrate the basic principles of sustainability, termed a holistic approach.

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

Analysis of Nutritional Status of Under Five Children in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Background: Nutritional status is a positive health indicator. Malnutrition is a major health problem which is associated with high morbidity and mortality of under 5 children. Factors associated with socio-economic status, mother’s education, hygiene, incidence of infectious diseases are the important determinants of malnutrition.&#x0D; Materials &amp; Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements and other data of 706 under 5 children were collected purposively during the period of May 2015 to April 2016.&#x0D; Results: In this study, mean age of the under 5 children was 34.61±5.4 months, male was 50.7% and female was 49.3%. This study revealed that 49% of children were underweight, 39% were stunted and 10.5% were wasted. The multivariate analysis found that mother’s education, poor socio-economic status and associated diseases had significant association with nutritional status of under 5 children. However, occupational status of child’s mother found no significant association on nutritional status.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of malnourished children in rural community in this study was found very high. Of them, underweight children was higher than wasted and stunted children.&#x0D; Bangladesh J Child Health 2020; VOL 44 (2) :87-91

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in Improving the Livelihood of the Rural Community in Bangladesh

The study's overarching objective was to evaluate the pros and cons of the newly adopted Village-Based Organization that was funded by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Empirical data was collected following personal interviews and focus group discussions. The study revealed that VBO contributed to diversifying enterprises by promoting high-value crops, small-scale livestock, and other value-added activities. The respondents expressed their complimentary views about their uplifted living standards. The women’s active participation and consequent empowerment increased by restoring their rights on resources and decision making. Farmers Field School motivated the community to introduce new technologies and practices for maintaining their livelihoods better. Despite some limitations, the VBO helped reduce local disputes and criminal activities like dowry, the high-interest rate of credit, child marriage, and drug abuse. The study advocates replicating this concept in the country as a part of the corona pandemic stimulus package. It can curb Monga (seasonal famine), tackle incremental anthropogenic-climatic stressors, reduces the consumption of natural resources, achieves Sustainable Development Goals, and finally, uphold the aspiration of a whole society approach and no one is left behind. Policy interventions are warranted to rectify the identified challenges and integrate the basic principles of sustainability, termed a holistic approach.

Awareness Development and Usage of Mobile Health Technology Among Individuals With Hypertension in a Rural Community of Bangladesh: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundHypertension (HTN) is a major modifiable risk factor and the leading cause of premature deaths globally. The lack of awareness and knowledge have been identified as risk factors in low- and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. Recently, the use of mobile phone SMS text messaging is found to have an important positive impact on HTN management.ObjectiveThe study aimed to develop awareness and knowledge in order to enhance lifestyle behavior changes among individuals with HTN in a rural community of Bangladesh by using health education and mobile health (mHealth) technology (SMS text messaging).MethodsA prospective randomized 5-month intervention, open-label (1:1), parallel-group trial was implemented among the individuals with HTN aged 35 years or older. Both men and women were included. Between August 2018 and July 2019, we enrolled 420 participants, selected from a tertiary level health facility and through door-to-door visits by community health workers. After block randomization, they were assigned to either the intervention group (received SMS text messaging and health education; n=209) or the control group (received only health education; n=211). The primary outcome was the evaluation of self-reported behavior changes (salt intake, fruits and vegetables intake, physical activity, and blood pressure [BP], and body weight monitoring behaviors). The secondary outcomes were measurements of actual salt intake and dietary salt excretion, blood glucose level, BP values, and quality of life (QOL).ResultsDuring the study period, a total of 8 participants were dropped, and the completion rate was 98.0% (412/420). The adherence rates were significantly higher (9%) among the control group regarding salt intake (P=.04) and physical activity behaviors (P<.03), and little differences were observed in other behaviors. In primary outcome, the focused behavior, salt intake less than 6 g/day, showed significant chronological improvement in both groups (P<.001). The fruits intake behavior steadily improved in both groups (P<.001). Participants in both groups had a custom of vegetables intake everyday/week. Physical activity suddenly increased and continued until the study end (P<.001 in both groups). Both BP and body weight monitoring status increased from baseline to 1 month but decreased afterward (P<.001). In case of secondary outcomes, significant chronological changes were observed in food salt concentration and urinary salinity between the groups (P=.01). The mean systolic BP and diastolic BP significantly chronologically decreased in both groups (systolic BP, P=.04; diastolic BP, P=.02.P<.05). All of these supported self-reported behavior changes. For the QOL, both groups showed significant improvement over the study periods (P<.001).ConclusionsBased on these results, we suggest that face-to-face health education requires integration of home health care provision and more relevant and timely interactive SMS text messages to increase the effectiveness of the intervention. Besides, community awareness can be created to encourage “low-salt culture” and educate family members.Trial RegistrationBangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) 06025072017; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03614104; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03614104 and UMIN-CTR R000033736; https://tinyurl.com/y48yfcooInternational Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/15523

Prevalence, risk factors and metabolic profile of the non-obese and obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a rural community of South Asia

IntroductionSince there is a paucity of data on the epidemiology of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), particularly in rural areas in Asia, we undertook such a study among the...

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh

Effectiveness of Village-Based Organization (VBO) in improving the livelihood of the rural community in Bangladesh