Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Dengue Fever Transmission Among Urban and Periurban Residents of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Dengue is one of the most important emerging viral diseases of major public health concern in Bangladesh.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on dengue fever transmission and prevention among the residents of Dhaka city, Bangladesh.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among three hundred and forty three randomly selected residents of urban and periurban regions of Dhaka city in November in 2012 using a pretested and self administered questionnaire.  Data was analyzed by a Chi square test and p value less than 0.05 is considered as significant.Results: The study found that among the respondents 63.3% were female, 48% were married and 37.7% were of age group of 21-30 (mean=31.34, SD=11.758). Majority of the respondents had secondary/higher secondary (50.9%) and students represented 34.1% of the total respondents. It was found most of them had no history of having affected from dengue fever (97.7%) and 53.2% did not travel to the subtropical or tropical region. Television (61.2%) and radio (50.4) were most common source of information of dengue fever. Majority of the respondents had low level of knowledge on dengue (89.1%). It was found that 81% knew that mosquitoes generally lay their eggs on dirty water, 79.6% knew mosquitoes spread dengue from one person to another and 70.6% were aware that dengue can fever is flu like illness that affects infants, young, children and adults. The study revealed 50.1% had neutral attitude towards dengue fever, and there was significant association between age and practice (p=0.031); knowledge and practice (p<0.000) and also attitude and practice (p<0.000). Conclusion: There is a different level of knowledge regarding dengue fever among respondents in the study area. Public awareness is necessary to address the knowledge gap revealed by this study. Hence it is necessary to organize the public education program to prevent the people from the outbreak of dengue by increasing level of Knowledge so that they can attain positive attitude and adopt desired behavioral changes.Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Dengue Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Dengue Shock Syndrome

Drivers of Retail Supply Chain Efficiency: Moderating Effect of Lean Strategy

The retail chain store business is an infant stage of growth and development in Bangladesh and so are the supply chain management practices in this sector. The main objective of this study is to identify the key drivers of retail supply chain efficiency. Moreover this study aims at examining the moderating effect of lean supply chain strategy on the link between supply chain drivers and performance. For the purpose of the study, data were collected with a structured questionnaire from 115 participants consisting of outlet and supply chain managers of some selected retail chain stores in Bangladesh. Collected data were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling with the support of the software Smart PLS 2.0 M3. Findings revealed that out of five supply chain drivers, four namely inventory management, use of IT, transportation management and coordination were the most significant determinants of retail supply chain efficiency while suppliers role was found to be negatively correlated. Moderating effect of lean strategy was also noticed on the link between two drivers namely transportation management and coordination with retail supply chain efficiency

Seasonal variations in nutritional profile of the freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton, 1822)

Seasonal variations of proximate compositions, amino acids, and fatty acids contents of Monopterus cuchia were studied for the first time in Bangladesh. The fat and fatty acid, protein and amino acid contents showed a significant seasonal dependency. Lipid contents showed the wider variation than the protein contents. Among the 14 recorded amino acids, the primary amino acids were lysine, glutamic acid, arginine, glycine and aspartic acid. The ratio of essential and non-essential amino acids was higher in the post-monsoon season (0.69) than pre-monsoon (0.68) and monsoon season (0.68) and did not show seasonal discrepancies. The amount of fatty acids were found in order of saturated fatty acids (SFA) &gt; mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) &gt; polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The predominant fatty acids were palmitic and stearic acids of SFAs, oleic and palmitoleic acid of MUFAs and linoleic and α linolenic acids of PUFAs group. The combined value of EPA+DHA varied from 1.44–5.34% depending on the season, with the highest in monsoon season. However, the n-6/n-3 ratios were notably lower (0.58–2.51) throughout the season than the greatest esteem of 4. Therefore, M. cuchia may be consumed as healthy as safe food with reference to n-6/n-3 ratio, irrespective of catching seasons

Pharmacological Evaluation of Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn Fruits for Central Nervous System Depressant Activity

El objetivo de este estudio fue la investigación de las actividades ansiolíticas y sedantes de los extractos clorofórmicos y metabólicos de los frutos de Antidesma ghaesembilla a las dosis de 400 mg/kg pp utilizando modelos de comportamiento de roedores, tales como el tiempo de sueño inducido por tiopental sódico, el método de “hole cross” (cruce de un agujero) y el campo abierto para evaluar sedación, y la actividad ansiolítica fue evaluada utilizando el método del laberinto elevado (elevated plus maze, EPM). En el caso del sueño inducido por tiopental sódico, ambos extractos exhibieron una supresión dosis dependiente de la actividad motora, de la actividad exploratoria (en el método de campo abierto y “hole cross”) y prolongación del tiempo de inducción de sueño inducido por tiopental en ratones, con efectos máximos mostrados para el extracto metabólico. En el ensayo de EPM, el extracto metabólico aumentó significativamente el tiempo de exploración y el tiempo consumido en el laberinto de una manera similar al diazepam, pero el extracto clorofórmico se encontró que produjo solo una moderada actividad. Estos resultados significativos pueden justificar una base científica para el uso de plantas en medicina tradicional para tratar la ansiedad y desórdenes relacionados

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about rabies among the people in the community, healthcare professionals and veterinary practitioners in Bangladesh

It is crucial to explore knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) about rabies among the people in the community, the personnel dealing with animal bite management and suspected rabies patients, including humans and animals, to facilitate intervention in improving rabies elimination strategies. In 2016, we conducted an interactive face-to-face survey in three different districts of Bangladesh to understand the extent of KAP towards rabies in the community peoples (CPs), human healthcare professionals (HCPs) and veterinary practitioners (VPs). A set of prescribed questions was employed to measure what proportion of each group possessed sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes and adequate perceptions about rabies. A total of 1133 CPs, 211 HCPs and 168 VPs were interviewed by using a standard questionnaire comprising both closed and open-ended questions. Of the CPs, 49% identified the disease correctly (i.e. rabies is caused by an animal bite or a scratch). Only 29% of the CPs were aware that a wound should be washed immediately with soap and water after an animal bite or a scratch. However, only 49% of the CPs, 65% of the HCPs and 60% of the VPs felt that it is important to consult a physician and receive post-exposure vaccine as the first line of treatment following an animal exposure. Among the HCPs, 23% of the respondents did not possess sufficient knowledge about animal bites as categorised by the World Health Organization (WHO), and 12% of the respondents did not possess the knowledge on how to manage an animal bite properly. Out of 52% of the VPs who previously treated suspected rabid animals, only 29% had a history of taking rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Lack of formal education and rural subsistence were found to largely contribute to poor rabies KAP level among the CPs (P ≤ 0.01). There has been a high demand for proper training to be provided to HCPs and VPs for the effective management of an animal bite incidence in human and animals, respectively. Multi-sectoral collaboration through integrated One Health initiatives including community education, awareness programmes, facilitation of rabies PEP, and dog vaccination as well as its population control are critical in the way forward to control rabies in Bangladesh

Facility assessment report: Introducing pay-for-performance (P4P) approach to increase utilization of maternal, newborn, and child health services in Bangladesh

Under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services, the Population Council in collaboration with James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University and with support from UNICEF is testing an innovative service delivery model to provide financial incentives to institutions to enhance their performance on maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in three districts of Bangladesh as part of GOB-UNICEF’s ongoing MNCH/MNH projects. A comparative analysis on the availability and condition of physical and human assets across 16 health facilities will inform what is needed in a facility in terms of inputs and processes. This report presents the key findings of the rapid assessment of 16 government health facilities conducted in the preparatory phase of the P4P project. A comprehensive assessment will be followed before incentive-related intervention activities can be initiated. This facilities assessment report indicates that no facilities are in perfect condition to provide quality MNCH services because all are burdened with problems related to human resource, physical infrastructure, equipment, logistics and supplies, and medicine. Before initiating the performance-based incentives, the lack in physical and human assets must be addressed

Structural Analysis and material selection for biocompatible cantilever beam in soft robotic nanomanipulator

This paper investigates the selection of appropriate materials for cantilever beams in surgical robotic nanomanipulators. Cantilever beams play a crucial role in soft robotic surgery. Biocompatible materials, which have minimal adverse effects on biological systems, are commonly used for these beams. Using SOLIDWORKS software simulation, the study assesses the flexibility of cantilever beams made from different biocompatible materials. The analysis involves varying the applied force (0.001 µN to 0.004 µN), beam length (80 µm, 120 µm, and 160 µm), and beam thickness (0.4 µm, 0.6 µm, and 0.8 µm). Four materials—Alumina, Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK), Polyurethane (PUR), and Ti-6Al-4V—are evaluated. Simulation results highlight Polyurethane (PUR) as a suitable material for cantilever beams in nanomanipulators due to its favorable properties. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and advancement of efficient and reliable robotic nanomanipulators, advancing the field of soft robotic surgery

A new estimate of carbon for Bangladesh forest ecosystems with their spatial distribution and REDD+ implications

In tropical developing countries, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is becoming an important mechanism for conserving forests and protecting biodiversity. A key prerequisite for any successful REDD+ project, however, is obtaining baseline estimates of carbon in forest ecosystems. Using available published data, we provide here a new and more reliable estimate of carbon in Bangladesh forest ecosystems, along with their geo-spatial distribution. Our study reveals great variability in carbon density in different forests and higher carbon stock in the mangrove ecosystems, followed by in hill forests and in inland Sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the country. Due to its coverage, degraded nature, and diverse stakeholder engagement, the hill forests of Bangladesh can be used to obtain maximum REDD+ benefits. Further research on carbon and biodiversity in under-represented forest ecosystems using a commonly accepted protocol is essential for the establishment of successful REDD+ projects and for the protection of the country’s degraded forests and for addressing declining levels of biodiversity