Epidemiology of Dyslipidemia Among Adult Population of Bangladesh

Background and aims: evatedEl level serum of lipids stimulate atherosclerosis, which is the risk factor for stroke, peripheral vascular taeohrrratrrocvtra disease. The aim of this study was to explore the pattern and associated factors of dyslipidemia among Bangladeshi adult population

Nutritional status, dietary diversity, and food security of adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh

AbstractBackground: Childhood malnutrition is widespread in South Asia like many other underdeveloped and developing countries and it continues throughout adolescent age. Poor nutrition of adolescents could lead to various complications later in life. Objective: The objectives of this study are to assess the nutritional status, dietary diversity, and food security of adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh, as well as to assess the factors that influence them.Methods: A cross-sectional study among 422 participants was conducted in two selective areas in the Narayanganj district of Bangladesh. BMI (Body Mass Index)-for-age (z-score) and Height-for-age (z-score) were considered in evaluating the nutritional status of the study participants. Food and Agricultural Organization guidelines 2011 were used to calculate Individual Dietary Diversity Score. Food insecurity was assessed by using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale version 3.Results: The findings revealed that the prevalence of underweight and stunting were 9.5% and 12.1% respectively. In addition, 13.2% and 4.3% of the respondents were found to be overweight and obese. The height-for-age (z score) was associated with the age of adolescents (p=0.037). Mother’s (p=0.005) education were also correlated with their nutritional status. Outcomes of the Individual Dietary Diversity Score showed that 25.6%, 42.9%, and 31.5% of the adolescents had low, medium, and higher dietary diversity scores respectively, while 7.3% had different degrees of food insecurity.Conclusion: Compared to underweight, overweight and obesity were shown to be more prevalent. However, a small percentage of the individuals reported various levels of food insecurity in this study. To attain an optimal level of nutrition, it is essential to ensure expanded food availability for the rural community. Proper nutrition education at primary and secondary education levels will enable teens to have diversified foods as well as assists in gaining healthy weight. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(3):194-199]Keywords: Nutritional status, Dietary diversity, Food security, Adolescents, Rural Banglades

Menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent schoolgirls in the rural area of Bangladesh

Adolescence is a time of tremendous opportunity. However, inadequate menstrual hygiene habits are related to lower academic achievement and enrollment at school, with possible effects on longer-term socio-economic status and impaired overall quality of life. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 adolescent schoolgirls in Bangladesh between July 2019 and February 2020 with the aim of examining menstrual hygiene practices. Data indicated that the mean age of menarche in 422 adolescents was 12.71±0.97. According to the data, 47% had well and 53% had poor hygiene practices. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the educational status of respondents’ mothers at the secondary level [AOR=2.023, 95% CI: 1.159-3.532], fathers at the graduate and above level [AOR=3.150, 95% CI: 0.883-11.238], high level of household income [AOR=2.580, 95% CI: 1.480-4.495], and knowledge about the complication of poor hygiene practice among girls [AOR=2.286, 95% CI: 1.160-4.504] were significantly associated with the level of hygiene practices. Poor menstrual hygiene practice was found among more than half of girls. Attitude toward safe menstrual materials should initiate to improve good hygiene practices. Awareness campaigns for parents and teachers to assist their children would be a vital strategy to ensure good hygiene practice

Depressive symptoms and their sociodemographic determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: HIV is a chronic disease with a profound social impact due to its strong ties with sexual and societal stigmatized behavior, such as illegal drug use and sexual promiscuity. Depression is one of the major disabling factors in chronic illnesses. Depression and anxiety disorders are more common among people living with HIV than the non-infected individuals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study, which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July to December 2020, included 338 HIV-positive people. The method used was a simple random sampling technique. The Beck Depression Inventory assessed depression in HIV-positive people (BDI). Results: More than 62 percent of the 338 people surveyed had severe depression, 30.5 percent had moderate depression, 5.6 percent had mild depression, and 1.8 percent had no depression. Age, being a male, being married, and having a low monthly income were all significant predictors of depression. Conclusions: This study found that depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among HIV-positive patients in Bangladesh. The authors recommend that health care providers address depressive disorders for people with HIV/ AIDS comprehensively

A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study about the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Food Safety Measures among Rural Households in Bangladesh

Background. Food handlers have been found to play essential roles in transmitting foodborne diseases and can pose a significant public health problem. Our study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of food safety measures among the rural households of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods. We conducted this community-based cross-sectional study among women above 18 years involved with food preparation in rural households of four villages in Bangladesh. A total of 400 respondents were selected using the multistage cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested and predesigned questionnaires based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) five keys for food safety. We used Stata (Version 16) for all statistical analyses. Results. The mean age of the participants was 42.09 ± 12.96 years. The median KAP scores [interquartile range (IQR)] were 7 (21–10), 16 (5–18), and 26 (9–30), respectively. We found the median KAP scores were significantly lower in the age group >55 years than in age groups of 18–25, 26–35, 36–45, and 46–55 years (P5,000 BDT (P5,000 BDT was a significant predictor of good knowledge [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 3.51, 95%CI: 1.55–7.98], good attitude (aOR: 5.82, 95%CI: 2.80–11.70), and good practice (aOR: 3.18, 95%CI: 1.67–6.07). Age >55 years was a significant predictor of good attitude (aOR: 0.38, 95%CI: 0.17–0.81) and good practice (aOR: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.21–0.89). Having ≤4 members in the family was a significant predictor of good practice (aOR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.13–3.03) regarding food safety measures. Conclusion. The study found that KAP among rural Bangladeshi women regarding food safety were relatively satisfactory. However, having a poor monthly income and living in a large family were impediments to good food-safety practices where work can be done. The findings of this study may help develop health intervention programs for food handlers to further improve KAP toward food safety, thereby reducing foodborne illness in households