Knowledge of Arsenic in Drinking-water: Risks and Avoidance in Matlab, Bangladesh

Widespread contamination of arsenic in Bangladesh has been jeopardizing the health of millions of people. Residents of Matlab, Bangladesh, are among the millions at risk. Using bivariate models in the analysis of survey data, knowledge of health risks and avoidance of arsenic exposure in response to widespread contamination of arsenic for residents of Matlab were estimated. The models examined individuals' knowledge of an arsenic problem in the household and knowledge of specific illnesses caused by arsenic exposure. The likelihood of avoiding exposure to arsenic contamination was further examined. Results of the estimation showed that individual's knowledge of arsenic problems in the household was gathered through awareness campaigns and by word of mouth and that knowledge of illnesses was predicated on education, health, presence of children, elderly and young women. Adoption of avoidance measures was not affected by exposure to arsenic-information sources, but level of education had a statistically significant positive effect on the decision to avoid arsenic exposure. Lack of convenience of safe drinking-water practices lead people to persist in drinking arsenic-contaminated water

Arsenic exposure in pregnancy: a population-based study in Matlab, Bangladesh.

This study assessed the exposure of pregnant women to arsenic in Matlab, Bangladesh, an area with highly-elevated concentrations of arsenic in tubewells, by measuring concentrations of arsenic in urine. In a defined administrative area, all new pregnancies were identified by urine test in gestational week 6-8, and women were asked to participate in the assessment of arsenic exposure. Urine for analysis of arsenic was collected immediately and in gestational week 30. In total, 3,426 pregnant women provided urine samples during January 2002-March 2003. There was a considerable variation in urinary concentrations of arsenic (total range 1-1,470 microg/L, adjusted to specific gravity 1.012 g/mL), with an overall median concentration of 80 microg/L (25th and 75th percentiles were 37 and 208 microg/L respectively). Similar concentrations were found in gestational week 30, indicating no trend of decreasing exposure, despite the initiation of mitigation activities in the area. Arsenic exposure was negatively associated with socioeconomic classes and achieved educational level. There were marked geographical variations in exposure. The results emphasize the urgent need for efficient mitigation activities and investigations of arsenic-related reproductive effects

Post treatment outcome and quality of life in patients with inoperable advanced gastric carcinoma

Background: The outcome of treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma can vary depending on a number of factors, including the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and their response to treatment. In general, the prognosis is poor, with a median overall survival of less than one year. Quality of life (QOL) is an important consideration for patients with advanced gastric carcinoma, as they may experience a range of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and difficulty eating. This study aimed to evaluate the post-treatment outcomes and QOL in patients with inoperable advanced gastric carcinoma after treatment with cisplatin-capecitabine and with oxaliplatin-capecitabine. Methods: This Quasi-experimental study was conducted at the department of oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical university, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study duration was 1 year, from February 2021 to March 2022. During this period, a total of 64 cases of advanced gastric cancer were divided in two equal groups, arm A who had received cisplatin capecitabine, and arm B who received oxaliplatin capecitabine. Result: The mean age at diagnosis was 55.85 and 56.76 respectively. The majority of the patients, 43.8% in arm A and 50% in arm B, ranged in age from 61 to 70. The gender distribution was similar, 78% and 69% of patients in arm A and B respectively were male. Both groups had the majority of patients receiving an ECOG performance rating of 2, with 68.8% in arm A and 59.4% in arm B, and the liver being the most common metastatic site for 56.3% in arm A and 50.0% in arm B. The most frequent risk factor was Helicobacter pylori infection, observed in 68.8% of arm A and 78.1% of arm B. The most common primary tumor site was the antrum, with 50% and 53.1% patients in arm A and B respectively had the primary tumor in the antrum of the stomach. Conclusions: In inoperable advanced gastric cancer, the cisplatin-capecitabine regimen is equally effective as oxaliplatin-capecitabine in terms of disease outcome. Furthermore, the cisplatin-capecitabine regimen is less costly than the combination of oxaliplatin-capecitabine, and provides almost similar QOL. As a result, the cisplatin-capecitabine regimen could be utilized as an alternate choice in patients who are unable to afford an oxaliplatin-based regimen.

Spatial patterns of fetal loss and infant death in an arsenic-affected area in Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arsenic exposure in pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome and infant mortality. Knowledge of the spatial characteristics of the outcomes and their possible link to arsenic exposure are important for planning effective mitigation activities. The aim of this study was to identify spatial and spatiotemporal clustering of fetal loss and infant death, and spatial relationships between high and low clusters of fetal loss and infant death rates and high and low clusters of arsenic concentrations in tube-well water used for drinking.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pregnant women from Matlab, Bangladesh, who used tube-well water for drinking while pregnant between 1991 and 2000, were included in this study. In total 29,134 pregnancies were identified. A spatial scan test was used to identify unique non-random spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of fetal loss and infant death using a retrospective spatial and spatiotemporal permutation and Poisson probability models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two significant clusters of fetal loss and infant death were identified and these clusters remained stable after adjustment for covariates. One cluster of higher rates of fetal loss and infant death was in the vicinity of the Meghna River, and the other cluster of lower rates was in the center of Matlab. The average concentration of arsenic in the water differed between these clusters (319 μg/L for the high cluster and 174 μg/L for the low cluster). The spatial patterns of arsenic concentrations in tube-well water were found to be linked with the adverse pregnancy outcome clusters. In the spatiotemporal analysis, only one high fetal loss and infant death cluster was identified in the same high cluster area obtained from purely spatial analysis. However, the cluster was no longer significant after adjustment for the covariates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The finding of this study suggests that given the geographical variation in tube-well water contamination, higher fetal loss and infant deaths were observed in the areas of higher arsenic concentrations in groundwater. This illustrates a possible link between arsenic contamination in tube-well water and adverse pregnancy outcome. Thus, these areas should be considered a priority in arsenic mitigation programs.</p

Knowledge of Arsenic in Drinking-water: Risks and Avoidance in Matlab, Bangladesh

Widespread contamination of arsenic in Bangladesh has been jeopardizing the health of millions of people. Residents of Matlab, Bangladesh, are among the millions at risk. Using bivariate models in the analysis of survey data, knowledge of health risks and avoidance of arsenic exposure in response to widespread contamination of arsenic for residents of Matlab were estimated. The models examined individuals\u2019 knowledge of an arsenic problem in the household and knowledge of specific illnesses caused by arsenic exposure. The likelihood of avoiding exposure to arsenic contamination was further examined. Results of the estimation showed that individual\u2019s knowledge of arsenic problems in the household was gathered through awareness campaigns and by word of mouth and that knowledge of illnesses was predicated on education, health, presence of children, elderly and young women. Adoption of avoidance measures was not affected by exposure to arsenic-information sources, but level of education had a statistically significant positive effect on the decision to avoid arsenic exposure. Lack of convenience of safe drinking-water practices lead people to persist in drinking arsenic-contaminated water

Level of Awareness about HIV/AIDS among Ever Married Women in Bangladesh

Abstract Ever married women are more vulnerable group to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS infection, and unplanned pregnancies. The aims of this study are to assess the level of awareness among ever married women on HIV/AIDS and to determine the affecting factors influenced knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS regarding its prevention and control. The data on 10,996 ever married women in their reproductive span (15-49 years) was taken from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2007. The statistical tools, Chi square (χ 2 ) test and binary logistic regression analysis have been performed to analyse the data. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses identified that respondent&apos;s education, husband&apos;s education, husband&apos;s occupation, age at marriage, watching TV, electricity in the household, marital status, and residence are found to have statistically significant effects with HIV/AIDS awareness (p&lt;0.01). Marriage in the older age (&gt;18 years), education, and mass media campaigns are strongly suggested for increasing knowledge and awareness to be controlled the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as STDs among ever married women in Bangladesh

A modified routine analysis of arsenic content in drinking-water in Bangladesh by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The high prevalence of elevated levels of arsenic in drinking-water in many countries, including Bangladesh, has necessitated the development of reliable and rapid methods for the determination of a wide range of arsenic concentrations in water. A simple hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) method for the determination of arsenic in the range of microg/L to mg/L concentrations in water is reported here. The method showed linearity over concentrations ranging from 1 to 30 microg/L, but requires dilution of samples with higher concentrations. The detection limit ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 microg/L. Evaluation of the method, using internal quality-control (QC) samples (pooled water samples) and spiked internal QC samples throughout the study, and Standard Reference Material in certain lots, showed good accuracy and precision. Analysis of duplicate water samples at another laboratory also showed good agreement. In total, 13,286 tubewell water samples from Matlab, a rural area in Bangladesh, were analyzed. Thirty-seven percent of the water samples had concentrations below 50 microg/L, 29% below the WHO guideline value of 10 microg/L, and 17% below 1 microg/L. The HG-AAS was found to be a precise, sensitive, and reasonably fast and simple method for analysis of arsenic concentrations in water samples