Population ageing in Bangladesh and its implication on health care

In Bangladesh as in other regions of the world, the population ages 60 years and older is growing faster than the total population. Growth in the elderly population relative to other age groups challenges existing health services, family relationships and social security. With continued population ageing, the loss of cognitive function will potentially cause enormous social and economic burden on families, communities and, to the country. Using the census and secondary data, the paper investigates that increasing longevity and declining fertility are combining to convert the population age structure from young to old. This combination is resulting implications on the family health care and unmet need of health care services in the public sector. The support index shows that there will be fewer persons to support elderly population in future with implications in traditional family care. The care index shows the cost of burden for long term care associated with the shift in the population age structure. As a consequence Bangladeshi societies will confront population aging without traditional kin support

Identifying Recent Behavioral Data Length in Mobile Phone Log

Mobile phone log data (e.g., phone call log) is not static as it is progressively added to day-by-day according to individ- ual's diverse behaviors with mobile phones. Since human behavior changes over time, the most recent pattern is more interesting and significant than older ones for predicting in- dividual's behavior. The goal of this poster paper is to iden- tify the recent behavioral data length dynamically from the entire phone log for recency-based behavior modeling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dynamic recent log-based study that takes into account individual's recent behavioral patterns for modeling their phone call behaviors.Comment: 14th EAI International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Computing, Networking and Services (MobiQuitous 2017), Melbourne, Australi

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on some liver enzymes in HIV/AIDS breast fed and non breast fed children

The relationship and effect of antiretroviral therapy with associated hepatotoxicity were investigated in different paediatric age groups using serum alanine and aspartate transaminases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) biomarkers. The study consisted of a total of onehundred and twenty (120) participants; fifteen (15) each from different age groups of HIV infected children at baseline and three (3) months after initiation of therapy as well as a control group. Ninety three percent (93%) of the children studied acquired HIV infection through vertical transmission with seventy percent (70%) having mixed feeding as their feeding pattern. Before treatment initiation, total serum ALT and AST values (mean±S.E.M.) (25.7±4.8 and 69.6±3.6 U/L) were significantly higher (p<0.05) among the baseline than the control groups (21.1±1.9 and 17.9±3.6 U/L). After treatment, total serum transaminases and ALP values were found to besignificantly lower (p<0.05) among the treated (24.4±3.6, 38.4±5.4 and 255.5±77.5 U/L) than the baseline (25.7±4.8, 69.6±3.6 and 262.1±114.8 U/L) groups, except for the children in the least age group. This study concluded that antiretroviral drugs have effect on liver enzymes and are risk factors for developing hepatotoxicity especially in children at lower age groups. Children therefore require frequent evaluation during antiretroviral therapy even in the absence of signs and symptoms of metabolic complications.Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy, hepatotoxicity, transaminases, paediatric

An Axiological Dimension of Qur’ānic Epistemology

This study inquires into the value system associated with two epistemological conceptual schemes of the Qur’ān, namely, āyah (sign) and ḥikmah (wisdom). In many respects, the rapid accumulation of all types of knowledge and the progress in the predominantly secular science and technology of modern times have marginalised values from scientific inquiry, leading to intellectual crisis, epistemological confusion and social disorientation. Thus, there is a clarion call to revisit the place of values in epistemological discourse. In an attempt to broaden the human horizon, the Qur’ān propounds a unified system of knowledge and value whereby it draws attention to several natural phenomena seen as āyāt (signs) of Allah which should be explored through a ḥikmah-based framework of value judgment. Guided by axiological concern, this study examines the place of value in Qur’ānic epistemology.Keywords: Axiology; āyah (sign); epistemology; ḥikmah (wisdom); Qur‟ān

A report of heat stroke in two Nigerian siblings

Infants and children are at higher risk of heat stroke for several reasons. We report these cases to highlight the danger of leaving children unsupervised in vehicles, aid prompt diagnosis, and management of heat stroke. Two Nigerian siblings aged ranges 5 and 3 years old, were trapped inside an unlocked vehicle and subsequently developed heat stroke. Both children presented with hyperthermia, severe dehydration, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. One of them also had hematuria. They were treated by spraying water onto their bodies to bring down the temperature, intravenous fluid resuscitation, oxygen therapy, and anticonvulsants. Both eventually recovered and were discharged with no obvious neurologic sequalae, but are being followed.up. Key words: Childhood, heatstroke, hyperthermia, vehicular entrapmen

Climate change and public health situations in the coastal areas of Bangladesh

This study aims to investigate the population health of climate change affected people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The relationship between climate change and health lacks clarity in the existing literature. This study uses data collected from the area affected by cyclone Sidr in 2009. Results show that climate change triggered natural disasters such as Sidr can is affect the physical and mental health of this population. The prevalence of diarrhoea, skin diseases, dengue fever, hepatitis (jaundice) and other infectious diseases has increased after the natural disaster. The risk of injury and death also increased during the time of natural disaster. Children and older adults are the most vulnerable groups facing serious health problems including mental health. The majority of the health professionals, service providers and local community of coastal areas are more aware of the health impacts of climate change, yet their knowledge is limited regarding health protection measures