Knowledge and practice regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women attending a private hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Puerperal sepsis is a common pregnancy-related condition that could eventually lead to obstetric shock or sometimes death. In developing world, the puerperal sepsis is the second most cause of maternal mortality. Cases of Maternal mortality have not declined in spite of efforts by both the public and private sector to prevent such deaths.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 postpartum mothers who attended Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital (ISMCH) Bangladesh during August to December 2017. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants and the data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire by face to face interview. The collected information was analysed using SPSS 22.0 version.Results: About 50.7% of the study participants were in the age group 19-29 years and the mean age of the study participants was 29.6±15.9 years. More than seven-tenths (73.3%) of the study participants were Muslims and the majority (24.7%) of the study participants had senior secondary certificate. Most of the study participants (62%) were living in urban area and only 18.7% were service holders. Only 39.3% of the respondents think that they have sufficient knowledge regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis and about 78% of the study participants mentioned that getting immediate medical care for any wounds or even seasonal diseases prevents puerperal sepsis. About 37.4% were disagreed to avoid sexual intercourse during last 2 months of pregnancy prevents puerperal sepsis and about 51.3% were agreed to avoid appearances in crowded and unhygienic places, this will prevent from catching respiratory diseases.Conclusions: The findings reported that most of the study participants had poor level of knowledge regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis. However, the study participants had satisfactory practice level about prevention of puerperal sepsis. It further reveals that educational level and age of the study participants was found statistically significant with knowledge about prevention of puerperal sepsis

Sustainable development Goals (SDGs): 1 and 5 –complementary towards fulfillment of Goals through BNF grant: an analysis among the Beneficiaries

Bangladesh NGO Foundation (BNF) has been launched by the Bangladesh Government in 2004 with the aim to support of the partner Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in assigning in taking up socio- economic development activities and poverty alleviation as well as gender balances through small amount of BNF Grant.  The country has also been in front of enormous challenges  of  feeding  the  rapidly  increasing  population  or  even  to  support  their livelihood  in  a  sustainable  manner. Bangladesh NGO foundation already disbursed more than 115 Crore taka through partner organizations out of which 36% is male while 64% is female beneficiary. The study intends to see whether SDG 1 and 5 is helping to implement both the goals through BNF grant fund as a complementary manner. Time period of the study was 1st March 2017 to 31th July,2017 . This study aimed to find out whether sustainable development goal 1 and 5 of BNF partner organization due to BNF grant is indicating any significant role? Research question of the study is whether BNF’s partner organizations sustainable development goal 1 and 5 of BNF partner organization due to BNF grant? Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data for this study. NGOs are employed for women’s   enterprise since escalating women’s economic opportunities is fundamental to sustainable growth and building more equitable societies. In this study, 93.9% of the organizations give help to women entrepreneurs. Majority (69.6%) of the respondents were strongly agreed that BNF’s financing and capital formatting solve social problem. It has been seen that there was significant association between NGOs role for removing poverty and fulfilling towards SDG1 and 5 as working for complementary through funds for zero poverty and disparity removing among inequality of poor women group has been also occurring. Marketing strategy through arranging supply chain management and setting up Business incubator by the authority of BNF is desirable. However, restructuring of BNF is required as it lacks any vision, mission and marketing approach as well as supply chain management process .Further, at rural area govt. of the country should set up community banking for channelling micro saving to micro investment

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS): 1 AND 5 –COMPLEMENTARY TOWARDS FULFILLMENT OF GOALS THROUGH BNF GRANT: AN ANALYSIS AMONG THE BENEFICIARIES

The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has established Bangladesh NGO Foundation (BNF) to support the NGOs, with a view to associate the Non-Governmental Organizations and assigned to take up socio- economic development activities and poverty alleviation. The country has also been facing massive challenges  of  feeding  the  rapidly  increasing  population  or  even  to  support  their livelihood  in  a  sustainable  manner. Bangladesh NGO foundation already disbursed more than 110 Crore taka through partner organizations out of which 36% is male while 64% is female beneficiary. The study intends to see whether SDG 1  and 5 is implementing through BNF or not. Time period of the study was 15 May 2016 to 30th June,2017 . This study aimed to find out whether sustainable development goal 1 and 5 of BNF partner organization due to BNF grant is indicating any significant role? Research question of the study is whether BNF’s partner organizations sustainable development goal 1 and 5 of BNF partner organization due to BNF grant? Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data for this study. NGOs are working for women’s entrepreneurship since expanding women’s economic opportunities is fundamental to sustainable growth and building more equitable societies. In this study, 93.9% of the organizations give help to women entrepreneurs. Majority (69.6%) of the respondents were strongly agreed that BNF’s financing and capital formatting solve social problem. It has been seen that there was significant association between NGOs role for removing poverty and fulfilling towards SDG1 and 5 as disparity of removing inequality of poor women group has been also occurring. However, restructuring of BNF is required as it lacks any vision, mission and marketing approach as well as supply chain management process

Smoking behaviour among Tuberculosis relapse cases attended at tertiary level hospitals in Dhaka city of Bangladesh

This case-control study was conducted in two tertiary level hospitals in Dhaka City to determine the association between smoking habit and relapse tuberculosis (TB). The study population was registered adult patients who got complete treatment within 2-5 years. Relapse and non-relapse TB cases are listed serially in hospital record books. The relapse cases were selected randomly as case group and age-matched (± 2years) cured patients with the respondent of case group were included as control groups. A total of 170 respondents in each case and control groups were selected with 80% power and assuming 14% differences between cases and controls. The selected respondents who visited the respective hospitals on the scheduled day were interviewed face to face for data collection. Mean age of the participants was 39.7±11.56 years. Significantly (χ2=20.767; p=0.000) a lower proportion of the relapse cases were found to get complete TB treatment 3 years before in comparison to that of control group. Family size more than five, education of secondary level, two earning members in the family, past smoker, smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day and exposure to second hand smoking were found to be significantly associated with higher proportion of relapse cases. Regression analysis revealed that exposure to second-hand smoking and past smokers were 2.4 and 2.0 times more likely to develop relapse TB respectively. Tuberculosis relapse case was more likely to develop within three years of the complete TB treatment. Past smoking habit and exposure to second-hand smoking had the strongest likelihood of developing more TB relapse cases

Challenges Encountered by Healthcare Professionals as Frontline Fighters during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

Throughout the pandemic, healthcare professionals (HCPs) around the world encountered numerous challenges. This study was conducted in the middle of the pandemic, from June to November 2021, and explored the multiple issues that HCPs faced in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thirty doctors and nurses, covering a wide range of workplaces and experiences, were interviewed. A qualitative investigation was performed to assess the influence that diverse organizational, familial, social, and religious factors had on their commitment to fulfil their professional duties. Thematic content analysis was performed on the findings. The results emphasize the physical and mental health problems of HCPs, the vital role of organizations in addressing the wellbeing of HCPs, and the necessity of providing training for them, along with workloads and PPE-related problems. It also explores the roles of families, the influence of society, and the impact of religious beliefs on their commitment during the pandemic

Familial and socio-cultural barriers in maintaining tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh: a comparative cross-sectional study

Objectives: Children, pregnant women and the elderly at a global level are all being dangerously exposed to tobacco use in the household (HH). However, there is no understanding of the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide barriers to ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh either in urban or rural areas (U&RAs). This study therefore investigates those barriers to help enable a move towards tobacco free homes in Bangladesh. Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Settings: Data were collected from both urban and rural settings in Bangladesh. Participants: A probability proportional sampling procedure was used to select 808 participants in U&RAs out of a total of 3,715 tobacco users. Results: The prevalence of tobacco use at home was 25.7% in urban areas and 47.6% in rural areas. In urban areas: marital status (AOR=3.23, 95%CI=1.37-6.61), education (AOR=2.14, 95%CI=1.15-3.99), the smoking habits of elderly family members (AOR=1.81, 95%CI=0.91-2.89), offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=1.85, 95%CI=.94-2.95), and lack of religious practices (AOR=2.39, 95%CI=1.27-4.54) were identified as significant socio-cultural predictors associated with tobacco use at home. In rural areas: age (AOR=5.11, 95%CI=2.03-12.83), extended family (AOR=3.08, 95%CI=1.28-7.38), lack of religious practices (AOR=4.23, 95%CI=2.32-7.72), using children to buy or carry tobacco (AOR=3.33, 95%CI=1.11-9.99), lack of family guidance (AOR=4.27, 95%CI=2.45-41 7.42), and offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=3.81, 95%CI=2.23-6.47) were identified as significant determinants for tobacco use at home. Conclusion: This study concludes that socio-cultural traditions and familial norms in Bangladesh provide significant barriers for enabling tobacco-free homes. The identification of these barriers can aid policy makers and programme planners in Bangladesh in devising appropriate measures to mitigate the deadly consequences of tobacco use in the home. The consequences also include the dangers involved in family members being exposed to second48 hand smoke

Hypertension and sex related differences in mortality of COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and Meta-analysis

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths. Hypertension plays a striking role in mortality and morbidity in case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection; however, numerous studies have reported contradictory findings. Objective: To assess the relationship of hypertensive disease and mortality of COVID-19 infection and to assess the sex and age differentials on the association. Methods: We have conducted a systematic review of published literatures that identified the relationship between hypertension and mortality of COVID-19 infections. Nineteen articles were selected following structured inclusion and exclusion criteria for systematic review and analyses. A total of 21,684 hospital admitted COVID-19 patients were included in this review and meta-analysis from 19 studies. The studies covered the six months of the pandemic from December 2019 to May 2020. Results: In the pooled analysis, the median age of patients was 58 years, and the proportion of male patients was 58.8%. In contrast, we estimated 33.26% of hypertensive and 19.16% of diabetes mellitus patients in the studies. Hypertension was found to be associated with COVID-19 mortality (“Risk ratio (RR) = 1.45, [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35 - 1.55]; I2 = 77.1%, p - value < 0.001”). The association in the meta-regression was affected by sex (p - value = 0.050). The association was found to be stronger in the studies with males ≥ 55% and age ≥ 55 years (“RR = 1.65, [95% CI: 1.52 - 1.78]; I2 = 77.1%, p - value < 0.001”) compared to male < 55% or age < 55 years (“RR = 1.11, [95% CI: 0.94 - 1.28]; I2 = 72.2%, p - value < 0.001”). Conclusion: Hypertension was significantly strong associated with COVID-19 mortality which may account for the contradiction in the many studies. The association between hypertension and mortality was affected by sex and there were significantly higher fatalities among older male patients.&nbsp

Prevailing familial, social and cultural obstacles in keeping tobacco-free homes in urban areas of Bangladesh: A mixed-method study.

BackgroundMillions of children and others across the world are being dangerously exposed to tobacco smoke and toxins in their own homes. Whilst there is limited interest in laws and interventions controlling tobacco use in public places in Bangladesh, no attention has been given to preventing tobacco-use inside homes. This study explores the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide obstacles for ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh.Materials and methodsA mixed-method design was adopted and from among the 1,436 tobacco users identified in a population of 11,853, 400 (tobacco users) were selected for cross-sectional survey. This survey involved a probability proportional sampling procedure, and 24 In-Depth Interviews. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the association of familial and socio-cultural factors with tobacco-use at home adjusted by other demographic characteristics. Thematic content analysis was done on the qualitative data, and then inferences were drawn out collectively.ResultsThis study revealed that the prevalence of tobacco-use in the home was 25.7% in urban residential areas in Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that familial and socio-cultural factors were significantly associated with tobacco-use at home: marital status (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.37-6.61), education (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.15-3.99), smoking habits of older family members (OR 1.81 95% CI: 0.91-2.89), tobacco being offered as hospitality and for entertainment (OR 1.85, 95% CI: .94-2.95) and lack of religiosity practice (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.27-4.54). Qualitative findings indicated that social customs, lack of religious practice, tobacco-use of older family members, and lack of family guidance were key obstacles for enabling tobacco-free homes in urban areas.ConclusionUse of tobacco at home is continuing as part of established familial and socio-cultural traditions. If tobacco-use at home is not addressed seriously by the authorities then the emerging threat of second-hand smoke exposure and harmful consequences of tobacco- use will be exacerbated