Domestic accidents in a rural community of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study on their incidence and characteristics.

In a developing country like Bangladesh knowledge about domestic accidents is sparse. But accident is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. [1] The relationship between domestic accidents and human health is direct and associated with a chain of socio-economic consequences. In this paper we try to bring out the patterns of domestic accidents and their characteristics in a rural community of Bangladesh. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 297 households of Shitpara village under Bormi union of Shreepur Upazilla constituting 1171 family members to determine the prevalence and characteristics of household accidents. The collected data were then analyzed by SPSS 16. (Statistical package for social science)A total of 171 domestic accidents had occurred during one year period with a prevalence of 146.02/1000 population. Majority of the victims are male (52.6%). Commonest household accident was fall (50.9%) followed by Cut injury (22.2%) and Burn (11.7%).Health education program aimed at prevention and first aid treatment of domestic accidents and proper use of personal protective measures are recommended. Keywords: Domestic accidents, Bangladesh, rural area, public health

Do the dietary and lifestyle practices make the private medical students overweight: A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh?

Introduction: Increased mechanization and change in the food patterns are leading to physical inactivity and more energy intake globally. That’s why, obesity and overweight are no longer confined to the industrialized countries; it has spread to the developing countries as well. In Bangladesh also over-nutrition is increasing alarmingly. As the future doctors, medical students should adopt healthy dietary and lifestyle practices from the very beginning of their youth for contributing more effectively and efficiently to the country’s healthcare. Objectives: The study assessed the prevalence of overweight, the dietary and lifestyle determinants of overweight among the students of an urban private medical college of Bangladesh. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ibrahim Medical College, a private medical college in Dhaka city. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Data Analysis was done by SPSS version 17.0 Results: The Prevalence of overweight among the medical students was found to be 27.16% (Male 39% and female 22%) . 58% of the respondents had positive family history of overweight/obesity and around 70% of them had positive family history of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension. The dietary factors associated with overweight were increased frequency of eating at fast food shops and drinking sweetened tea or coffee. Among the lifestyle factors, liberal family rules regarding food, prolonged gap (?120 minutes) between waking up and having breakfast, taking meal while watching TV or using computer and inadequate sleep (<7 hours of sleep) were found to be associated with being overweight. Binary logistic regression concludes that positive family history of overweight/obesity; inadequate sleep and a prolonged gap between waking up and having breakfast were significantly contributing to be overweight. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight among the urban private medical college students was found to be higher than the available data of overweight in Bangladesh. Along with dietary habits, lifestyle practices are also becoming more and more important determinants of being overweight. The medical students should be counseled and advised to bring positive attitude towards healthy lifestyle and dietary practices. Keywords: Non-communicable disease, overweight, obesity, medical students, BM

Attitude towards diabetes and social and family support among type 2 diabetes patients attending a tertiary-care hospital in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Background: Bangladesh has been suffering from an epidemiological transition from infectious and maternal diseases to non-communicable lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers etc. The burden of diabetes has been increasing rapidly due to high incidence as well as poor glycemic control leading to various macro and micro-vascular complications. In this study, we aim to assess the attitude towards diabetes and social and family support among the Bangladeshi type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 144 patients with T2DM at the medicine outpatient department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in Dhaka, Bangladesh between 1 July and 31 July 2014. Data collection was done by interviewing patients using structured questionnaire. Understanding diabetes, education/advice received, attitude towards diabetes, family and friend support were measured by validated scales adapted from diabetes care profile. Results: This study includes a total of 144 patients (101 males and 43 females) with type 2 diabetes aged between 20 and 84 years. 87 % of the patients had inadequate blood glucose control (fasting blood sugar >7.2 mmol/L or >130 mg/dl). Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean scores of various attitude scales (i.e. positive, negative, care ability and self-care adherence scale) among patients with adequate and inadequate blood glucose control (p < 0.05). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between these three categories of social and family support. Self-satisfaction with diabetic care was significantly associated with adequate blood glucose control (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Positive attitude towards diabetes management and support from friends and family were associated with adequate diabetes management. Appropriate public health interventions should be designed to educate and motivate the family members to offer greater support to the diabetes patients

Pneumococcal vaccination and primary care presentations for acute respiratory tract infection and antibiotic prescribing in older adults.

BackgroundWhile the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) has demonstrated its role in preventing severe pneumococcal disease, its impact on more non-specific conditions like acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of PPV23 in prevention of presentations for ARI and LRTI and related antibiotic prescriptions among older adults in primary care.MethodsUsing a nationwide general practice dataset, we followed a cohort of regularly attending patients aged ≥65 years from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2018 for presentations for ARI, LRTI, and related antibiotic prescriptions. Associations between PPV23 receipt and each outcome were assessed using a multiple failures survival model to estimate hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and various health measures.ResultsA cohort of 75,264 patients aged ≥65 years (mean 75.4, 56% female) in 2014 was followed. The incidence of presentations for ARI, ARI-related antibiotic prescription, LRTI, and LRTI-related antibiotic prescription was 157.6, 76.0, 49.6, and 24.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Recent PPV23 vaccine receipt was associated with a small reduction in ARI presentations (adjusted HR vaccinated vs. unvaccinated 0.96; 95%CI 0.94-0.98; p = 0.002); however, there was no reduction in ARI-related antibiotic prescription, LRTI presentation, nor LRTI-related antibiotic prescription (adjusted HR were 0.99[95%CI 0.96-1.03], 1.04[95%CI 0.99-1.09], 1.07[95%CI 1.00-1.14]).ConclusionPPV23 vaccination in older adults may result in a small reduction in the incidence of total ARI presentations in primary care. However, the effect is small and residual confounding cannot be excluded

Gender differences in the prevalence of anxiety and depression and care seeking for mental health problems in Nepal: Analysis of nationally representative survey data

Abstract Background Assessing gender disparity in mental health is crucial for targeted interventions. This study aims to quantify gender disparities in mental health burdens, specifically anxiety and depression, and related care-seeking behaviors across various sociodemographic factors in Nepal, highlighting the importance of gender-specific mental health interventions. Methods Data from the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey was utilized, employing the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scales for anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Multiple logistic regression models assessed gender associations with these conditions and care-seeking behaviors. Results Women had a higher point prevalence of anxiety (21.9% vs. 11.3%) and depression (5.4% vs. 1.7%) than men. Large variations were noted in gender disparities in the prevalence of anxiety and depression, influenced by age, geographical areas, level of education and household wealth. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, women were more likely to experience anxiety (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.96–2.43) and depression (aOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.53–4.07). However, no difference was observed in the rates of seeking care for anxiety or depression (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.91–1.40). Conclusions Our findings show a higher point prevalence of mental health issues among women than men, influenced by sociodemographic factors, underscoring the need for gender-focused mental health interventions in Nepal and globally

Incidence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs), ARI-related antibiotic prescription, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTIs), and LRTI-related antibiotic prescription during follow-up (2014–2018) among patients aged 65 years or above, Australia.

Incidence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs), ARI-related antibiotic prescription, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTIs), and LRTI-related antibiotic prescription during follow-up (2014–2018) among patients aged 65 years or above, Australia.</p

Associations of PPV23 vaccination and incidence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs), ARI-related antibiotic prescription, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTIs), and LRTI-related antibiotic prescription among patients aged 65 years or above according to comorbidity status and smoking status, Australia 2014–2018.

Associations of PPV23 vaccination and incidence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs), ARI-related antibiotic prescription, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTIs), and LRTI-related antibiotic prescription among patients aged 65 years or above according to comorbidity status and smoking status, Australia 2014–2018.</p

Characteristics of included patients aged 65 years or above at study baseline (2014) according to pneumococcal vaccination (PPV23) received during 2000 to 2018, Australia.

Characteristics of included patients aged 65 years or above at study baseline (2014) according to pneumococcal vaccination (PPV23) received during 2000 to 2018, Australia.</p

Schematic diagram of multiple events, vaccination status, and risk sets for four different subjects.

Schematic diagram of multiple events, vaccination status, and risk sets for four different subjects.</p