Women In Rural Bangladesh Research Articles

Does forecast-based financing (FbF) lower women's vulnerability to flooding?

Forecast-based financing (FbF) is gaining traction globally in the humanitarian sector as a critical tool for reducing disaster risk. Global and national literature on FbF mainly shed light on the effectiveness in reducing household-level vulnerability without a particular focus on women's specific vulnerability. This study uses qualitative methods to analyze rural Bangladeshi women's riverine flood challenges and whether the FbF has reduced their vulnerability to flooding. The study was conducted in two distinct geographical settings in northern Bangladesh: Charland (river island) and Mainland, without flood embankment protection. The findings reveal that FbF cash assistance primarily aided rural women in reducing the financial vulnerability of their households. Spending the cash assistance on buying food and boat evacuation directly benefits women and men alike and reduces the need for taking loans. However, no spending was made on women's personal utility and safety needs before, during, and after the flood. Charland and Mainland females faced barriers to basic utility and hygiene services, with Charland women faring slightly better. Our findings suggest that existing rural socio-cultural norms, cash disbursement timing, and other factors influenced women's cash aid anticipatory action choices, and the humanitarian actors and recipients should coordinate to improve the situation.

Exploring Non-Communicable Disease Risks in Postmenopausal Rural Women of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) pose a significant health challenge globally, particularly in countries underwent rapid demographic transitions like Bangladesh. Rural populations, including postmenopausal women, are disproportionately affected by NCDs due to various socio-economic and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NCD risk factors among postmenopausal women in a rural village. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural village of Gazipur, Bangladesh from November 2023 to February 2024. Materials and methods: A sample of 108 postmenopausal women was selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and health outcomes were collected through structured interviews and assessments. Chi-square tests were employed to analyze the associations between sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors and the presence of NCDs. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of NCD risk factors among postmenopausal rural women. Engaging in physical activity for 2-4 hours daily was significantly associated with both Diabetes Mellitus (p 0.04) and Hypertension (p 0.006). Similarly, occupation showed a significant association with Hypertension (p 0.012) with housewives exhibiting higher prevalence rates. However, there were no significant associations between salt intake, sweet consumption and the presence of NCDs. Conclusion: This study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address NCD risk factors among postmenopausal rural women in Bangladesh. Strategies focusing on promoting physical activity and addressing occupational factors could help mitigate the burden of NCDs in this vulnerable population. By understanding the socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of NCDs, policymakers and healthcare providers can develop effective public health interventions tailored to the needs of rural communities. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 35-39

Using the theoretical domains framework to identify the sociocultural barriers and enablers to access and use of primary and maternal healthcare services by rural Bangladeshi women: a qualitative study

In Bangladesh, increasing the use of primary healthcare (PHC) and maternal healthcare (MHC) services is the main focus of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-3, ensuring healthy lives and wellbeing for all. However, little is known about the sociocultural barriers and enablers to accessing and using PHC and MHC services among rural Bangladeshi women. This qualitative study aimed to identify sociocultural barriers and enablers to accessing and using PHC and MHC services among Bangladeshi rural women by using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). This exploratory qualitative study used focus groups and interviews to collect data from women (28), their husbands (8) and healthcare providers (18). Data were analysed using Framework approach underpinned by the TDF. Four main themes emerged from data analysis, of which key barriers were summarised in three themes: (i) family barriers including lack of family reinforcement, (ii) social barriers including gender of healthcare providers, and (iii) cultural barriers including superstition to access and use of healthcare services. The remaining theme, sociocultural support, included information about key enablers, such as family support, neighbourhood connection and media influence. Several key behavioural constructs that aligned with the TDF need to be targeted when developing an intervention to promote access and use of PHC and MHC services.

Cultural Practices of Mothers and Babies during the Postnatal Period: A Qualitative Study in Rural Bangladesh

This study describes the experiences of women in rural Bangladesh, and the cultural practices related to how they take care of themselves and their babies, in the early postnatal period. Data were gathered through immersion in the field for six months, participant observation, document collection and in-depth interview techniques to gain a deep understanding of women’s everyday lives and practices during the postnatal period. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 28 mothers who had had at least one live child within the five years before the date of data collection, in Purba Sharifabad village of the Barisal Division in Bangladesh. The key findings of this study highlight the role of culture in the experiences of women during the postnatal period, and reveal that cultural practices, beliefs and traditions are deeply embedded in the lives of rural women. This study focuses on cultural practices which have an effect on the choices of women regarding care and support from healthcare facilities. Culture, together with poverty and low levels of education, leads them to resist healthcare from a skilled birth attendant and encourages them to believe in and trust traditional care practices during the postnatal period. Therefore, the findings of this study may contribute to future policies, planning, programs and research in Bangladesh by providing an understanding of the importance of culturally and socially rooted traditional beliefs and cultural practices. These need to be addressed for maternal and newborn healthcare initiatives to be effective, particularly in rural Bangladesh.

TT Vaccination Status of Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh

TT Vaccination Status of Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh

Effects of maternal exposure to biomass cooking fuel on birth size and body proportionality in full-term infants born by vaginal delivery

It remains unclear whether and how maternal exposure to biomass fuel influences infant anthropometry or body proportionality at birth, which are linked to their survival, physical growth, and neurodevelopment. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the association between household-level exposure to biomass cooking fuels and infant size and body proportionality at birth among women in rural Bangladesh. A total of 909 women were derived from the Pregnancy Weight Gain study, which was conducted in Matlab, a rural area of Bangladesh. Infant’s weight (g), length (cm), head circumference (cm), small for gestational age (SGAW), short for gestational age (SGAL), low head circumference for gestational age (SGAHC), ponderal index, and cephalization index at birth were the outcomes studied. Of the women, 721 (79.3%) were dependent on biomass fuel. Compared to infants born to mothers who used gas for cooking, those born to biomass users had lower weight (β − 94.3, CI − 155.9, − 32.6), length (β − 0.36, 95% CI − 0.68, − 0.04), head circumference (β − 0.24, CI − 0.47, − 0.02) and higher cephalization index (β 0.03, CI 0.01, 0.05) at birth. Maternal biomass exposure is more likely to lead to symmetric SGA, although there is evidence for some brain-sparing effects.

Usage of the mobile phone on agricultural farm enterprise development by women in rural Bangladesh

Usage of the mobile phone on agricultural farm enterprise development by women in rural Bangladesh

Folate deficiency in pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: A nested case-control study.

Preterm birth (PTB) and its complications are important public health problems. Its aetiology is multifactorial and involves both modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Among the modifiable risk factors, micronutrient deficiencies, including maternal folate deficiency, are increasingly being studied in PTB. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of folate deficiency during pregnancy and examined its association with PTB among rural Bangladeshi women. We conducted a nested case-control study using data from a population-based cohort of 3000 pregnant women who were enrolled between 8 and 19 weeks of gestation following ultrasound confirmation of gestational age. Sociodemographic, epidemiologic, clinical, and pregnancy outcomes data were collected through home visits, while blood samples were collected at enrolment and 24-28 weeks of gestation during pregnancy. We included all women who delivered preterm (defined as live births <37 weeks of gestation) as cases (n = 235) and a random sample of women having a term birth as controls (n = 658). The main exposure was folate concentrations in maternal serum during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. We categorised women into folate deficient (<3 ng/mL) and not deficient (≥3 ng/mL). We then performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association between maternal folate levels and PTB, adjusting for relevant covariates. Thirty-eight per cent of the enrolled pregnant women were folate deficient. Maternal serum folate deficiency was significantly associated with PTB (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27-2.36). The risk of PTB was also higher among women who were of short stature (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.27-2.63), primiparous (aOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.15-2.22), and had exposure to passive smoking (aOR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.02-2.31). The prevalence of folate deficiency was high among pregnant women in rural Bangladesh, and folate deficiency was significantly associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

Women's participation in household decision-making: Qualitative findings from the Shonjibon Trial in rural Bangladesh.

A key element of women's empowerment is the ability to participate in household decision-making. This study presents the qualitative results from the Shonjibon Cash and Counselling Trial baseline process evaluation with the aim of exploring the status of women's decision-making at the trial's outset and to facilitate the exploration of any changes in women's empowerment over the course of the trial. Between January and March 2021, we conducted forty-one in-depth interviews with pregnant women in rural Bangladesh. The research team translated, transcribed, coded, and discussed the interviews. We used thematic analysis to examine women's experience and perceptions on household decision-making. The key findings that emerged; women jointly participated in financial decision-making with their husbands; men made the final decision regarding seeking healthcare, and women solely made choices regarding infant and young child feeding. Our findings revealed that women felt that they needed to discuss their plans to go outside the house with their husbands, many perceived a lack of importance in the community towards women's participation in decision-making. This study documents current contextual information on the status of women's involvement in household decision-making and intrahousehold power dynamics at the start of the Shonjibon Cash and Counselling Trial.

Understanding Gender Ideology on Attitudes towards Violence against Women in Rural Bangladesh

Gender ideology in the context of attitudes and views concerning violence against women (VAW) is a crucial global issue, particularly in Bangladesh. This study explores gender ideology toward violence against women in rural Bangladesh. This study followed a mixed-methods research technique, conducting two focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviewing 400 rural people (200 men and 200 women, aged 18 to 50) from eight cluster villages in Paba Upazila of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. The findings indicate that people were traditional in their attitudes toward women’s empowerment and violence, victim-blaming, men’s power over women, and acceptance of male dominance but liberal in their views on the relationship between hijab/veil and violence against women. This study argues that patriarchal adherence is represented among people’s gender ideology in rural Bangladesh. The findings of this study imply that improving awareness about gender and violence could help to promote liberal thinking among individuals in rural Bangladesh, hence preventing widespread attitudes toward violence against women.

Targeting strategies for balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplementation in pregnancy: study protocol for the TARGET-BEP cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) recommends balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplementation be provided to all pregnant women living in undernourished populations, usually defined as having a prevalence > 20% of underweight women, to reduce the risk of stillbirths and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Few geographies meet this threshold, however, and a large proportion of undernourished women and those with inadequate gestational weight gain could miss benefiting from BEP. This study compares the effectiveness of individual targeting approaches for supplementation with micronutrient-fortified BEP vs. multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) alone as control in pregnancy in improving birth outcomes.MethodsThe TARGET-BEP study is a four-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in rural northwestern Bangladesh. Eligible participants are married women aged 15–35 years old identified early in pregnancy using a community-wide, monthly, urine-test-based pregnancy detection system. Beginning at 12–14 weeks of gestation, women in the study area comprising 240 predefined sectors are randomly assigned to one of four intervention arms, with sector serving as the unit of randomization. The interventions involving daily supplementation through end of pregnancy are as follows: (1) MMS (control); (2) BEP; (3) targeted BEP for those with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2 and MMS for others; (4) targeted BEP for those with pre-pregnancy BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, MMS for others, and women with inadequate gestational weight gain switched from MMS to BEP until the end of pregnancy. Primary outcomes include birth weight, low birth weight (< 2500 g), and small for gestational age, defined using the 10th percentile of the INTERGROWTH-21st reference, for live-born infants measured within 72 h of birth. Project-hired local female staff visit pregnant women monthly to deliver the assigned supplements, monitor adherence biweekly, and assess weight regularly during pregnancy. Trained data collectors conduct pregnancy outcome assessment and measure newborn anthropometry in the facility or home depending on the place of birth.DiscussionThis study will assess the effectiveness of targeted balanced energy and protein supplementation to improve birth outcomes among pregnant women in rural Bangladesh and similar settings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05576207. Registered on October 5th, 2022.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus Infection among Urban and Rural Women in Bangladesh

High-risk Human Papillomavirus Infection among Urban and Rural Women in Bangladesh

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

ObjectiveTo identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among pregnant and postpartum women in rural Bangladesh, and to assess any association with antenatal care attendance (ANC).MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Northern Bangladesh’s Sherpur district with a sample of pregnant and post-partum women enrolled in ‘Poriborton’, a community-based cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward COVID-19, and any association with antenatal care practices were assessed through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Composite measures for knowledge, attitude, and practices of COVID-19 were generated. Specific knowledge on COVID-19 and the association of antenatal care were presented as descriptive statistics. An adjusted odds ratio was used to examine the association between categorical variables.ResultsOut of 4835 women, 34.0% correctly identified five or more COVID-19 symptoms, 31.8% knew three or more modes of coronavirus transmission, and 57.0% knew five or more preventive measures. Most (90.1%) had a “more positive attitude to testing” and 65.1% reported adequate practice of preventive measures. Women with adequate knowledge of COVID-19 were more likely to report both a positive attitude to testing (OR:2.96; 95% CI: 1.38–6.37) and adopt adequate practices of preventive measures (OR: 4.30;95% CI: 2.90–6.36). Education and being employed influenced KAP related to COVID-19. Only 14.9% were satisfied with their knowledge of COVID-19. Television was the main source of COVID-19-related specific information.ConclusionsWe found that improved knowledge was associated with positive attitudes and behaviours that lead to the adoption of preventive measures. There was no association with ANC practices as attendance was very low in this region. The findings could be utilised to develop communication strategies for future public health emergencies in similar settings.

Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in Livestock Management Activities and Its Impact on the Living Standards of Rural Women in Bangladesh

Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in Livestock Management Activities and Its Impact on the Living Standards of Rural Women in Bangladesh

Television viewing habits among rural women in Bangladesh

This article examines the television viewing habits of women in the Rangpur division, located in northern Bangladesh, through a survey of 800 randomly selected respondents. Findings reveal that television is a dominant leisure activity, with 82% of women watching TV daily. Viewing patterns vary by time of day: 67% of women prefer prime-time (evening) programming, while only 4% watch in the morning due to busy schedules. Over half (56%) of respondents watch TV for more than three hours daily, indicating high engagement, whereas only 6% watch for about an hour. Films and music are particularly popular among rural women, with 95% and 93% watching them daily, followed closely by Indian Bangla serials (89%) and news and talk shows (90%). The study highlights the strong role of television in these women's lives, shaped by cultural preferences and genre interests. This high consumption rate suggests further research opportunities to explore television's impact on lifestyle and the potential for alternative leisure activities.

Breast cancer screening awareness, practice, and perceived barriers: A community-based cross-sectional study among women in south-eastern Bangladesh.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. An early-stage screening is the best way to reduce both the morbidity and mortality burden of breast cancer. The study evaluated awareness, practice, and perceived barriers towardbreast cancer screening in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 in Chattogram, Bangladesh, where 869 women (18 years or above) were randomly selected in this study. Among 869 participants, 47.3% of women were recruited from urban areasand 52.7% participated from rural areas. Only 32.68% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 44.28% vs. 22.27%) were aware of breast self-examination (BSE) and 52.47% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 63.75% vs. 42.36%) had ever heard Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), respectively. Among the respondents, 27.73% (urban vs. rural: 40.15% vs. 16.59%) performed their BSE, and only 14.61% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 21.90% vs. 8.08%) had ever visited for CBE. Women residing in rural areas were approximately three times (AOR: 0.36[95%CI: 0.25-0.52], AOR: 0.37[95%CI: 0.23-0.58]) less likely to perform BSE and CBE, respectively, than urban dwellers. We found that higher-educated women tend to do more BSE and CBE than women with low levels of education. Perceptions of having "no symptoms" and being "risk-free" are leading barriers to breast screening among women. Poor awareness and practice were observed in screening among the urban and rural women in Bangladesh. Urban area dwellers had comparatively better understanding and practice than rural dwellers. We think extending health education and health promotion activities towardbreast cancer screening is essential in this region.

Determinants of Healthcare Services for Aged Women in Rural Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest nations, a significant share of the deprived inhabitants are elderly women who live in rural regions with little access to healthcare. The primary goal of this investigation was to analyse the determinant of healthcare services for aged women in rural Bangladesh. This study was conducted using survey research method through interview schedule. It was carried out in four villages in the Satkhira district. It was followed by purposive sampling and a sample size of 260 was selected. The study revealed that 53.1 percent of the respondent took medical help promptly during the time of illness. Besides this 73.1 percent of the respondent took medical care from a qualified doctor and only 42.2 percent of the respondent get the old allowance. However, nature of the treatment was influenced by the distance to get health facility (p&lt;.001) and response in seeking health care (p&lt;.001). The results indicate that the head of the household's year of schooling (p=.001) and monthly household income (p. =001) had a significant link with the response to seeking health care.

Impact of mobile phone usage on empowerment of rural women entrepreneurs: Evidence from rural Bangladesh

Mobile phones have emerged as the predominant technology in developing countries, especially within agricultural enterprises. This research investigates the influence of mobile phone utilization on the empowerment of female entrepreneurs in rural farming communities. Data were gathered from 150 female agricultural entrepreneurs in the rural regions of Bangladesh. The empowerment of these women was assessed across five dimensions: economic, social, technological, psychological, and political. The findings indicate that the composite empowerment index was notably higher at 61.92% post-mobile phone adoption, in contrast to 37.47% prior to its use. This underscores the positive impact of mobile phone utilization on the empowerment of rural female farmers. The research highlighted significant enhancements in all five empowerment dimensions, with these augmentations being statistically meaningful. The most pronounced improvement was observed in economic empowerment, while political empowerment witnessed the least growth. Furthermore, the shifts were profoundly correlated with the other three dimensions: social, technological, and psychological. The evidence establishes a link between mobile phone adoption by rural female farmers and their subsequent empowerment, with empowerment metrics showing a steady rise from the low-usage to the high-usage categories. Consequently, the correlation is positive. The results advocate that mobile phone utilization assists rural female farmers in augmenting their empowerment. It is thus recommended that policymakers and developmental organizations prioritize mobile technology as a tool to empower rural women in Bangladesh. This can be realized by enhancing accessibility, confronting socio-cultural barriers, and fostering digital literacy.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of Using Modern Reversible and Permanent Contraceptive for Limiting Family Size in Bangladesh

Birth control, often known as contraception, is the deliberate reduction of the number of live births by the use of techniques that temporarily or permanently prevent conception by disrupting the ovulatory, fertilization, and implantation phases of a woman's reproductive cycle. Countries with rapid population growth are more likely to have a high prevalence rate of contraceptives. For the sake of policy application in Bangladesh, knowledge of the socioeconomic and demographic variables that affect contraceptive prevalence is also valuable. For this purpose the study extracted data set form the Bangladesh national representative survey BDHS 2017-18. The study employed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify the important determinants of using modern contraceptive method. Educated women were more likely to use modern reversible method (OR: .147-1.773) and less likely to use permanent contraception (OR: 0.574-0.831) for limiting family size than illiterate women in Bangladesh. Moreover, women from higher age group were using more likely permanent and traditional contraception than women from lower age group. The other identified determinants of using modern method are husbands’ education, working status of women, age at first marriage, place of residence, division, socioeconomic status, parity, mass media, and religion of women. Findings of this research provide evidence-based guidance for developing a pragmatic strategy to improve modern contraception usage among low socioeconomic status, older age group, and rural women in Bangladesh.

Technology enabled entrepreneurship: Ekshop and rural women in Bangladesh

This case discusses Ekshop and its functionalities. It focuses on how Ekshop has become a platform on which people nationwide in Bangladesh get access to the internet. The core focus of Ekshop is to encourage rural women to become entrepreneurs and earn on their own. This case also highlights how Ekshop encourages women empowerment in the rural area. Additionally, it also covers the technology that Ekshop uses as well as the potential challenges. We have used primary and secondary data to carry out the research. The findings of this research indicate how technology and innovation help rural people, in particular women, to become more digitalized. It could be a great resource for future research to understand rural economic progress. Overall, the case discusses how Ekshop has helped rural women find additional support and how this platform promotes women’s empowerment in rural regions.