Articles

Injecting Drug Users and Their Health Seeking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

Injecting Drug Users and Their Health Seeking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh Biswas, Tuhin Introduction and Aim. Injecting drug users (IDUs) are amongst the most vulnerable people to acquisition of HIV/AIDS. This study aims to collect information on IDUs and their health seeking behavior in Bangladesh. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 IDUs attending a drug rehabilitation center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected on sociodemographics, drug use, health seeking behavior, knowledge of injecting drugs, and sexual behavior. Results. The mean ± SD and median (IQR) age of the participants were 32.5 ± 21.3 and 33 (27–38) years, respectively, with only 9.2% females. Injection buprenorphine was the drug of choice for 40% of participants, and 58% of the participants first started drug use with smoking cannabis. 73.3% of participants shared needles sometimes and 57.5% were willing to use the needle exchange programs. 60% of the participants had no knowledge about the diseases spread by injection. Condom use during the last intercourse with regular partners was 11.7% and with any partners 15.8%. Conclusion. IDUs in Bangladesh are a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS due to lack of knowledge and risky behaviors. Education and interventions specifically aimed at IDUs are needed, because traditional education may not reach IDUs or influence their behavior.

Diabetes knowledge and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

Diabetes knowledge and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh Biswas, Tuhin Aims: To explore the association between knowledge on diabetes and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 515 patients with type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Trained interviewers were used to collect data on socioeconomic status, time since the onset of diabetes, co-morbidities, anthropometric measurements, blood tests, knowledge and perceptions about the causes, management, and complications of diabetes through face to face interviewers based on a structured ques- tionnaire. Diabetes knowledge was reported using a composite score. Chi square tests and correlation analysis were performed to measure the association between knowledge on diabetes and glycemic control. Results: Overall, 45.6% participants had good, 37.7% moderate and 16.7% poor knowledge on diabetes. The mean composite score was 0.75 ± 0.28 and the proportion of participants with a score of ≤50% was 16.7%. Only 24.3% participants identified physical inactivity as a risk factor for diabetes. Knowledge on diabetes was significantly asso- ciated with education, gender, monthly income, duration of diabetes, body mass index, family history of diabetes, and marital status but not with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Correlation matrix showed weak negative association between diabetes knowledge score and glycemic control (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh have limited knowledge on the causes, management and risk factors for diabetes, despite receiving professional health education and care in a tertiary diabetic hospital. Strategies to improve the quality of diabetes education and identifying other potential factors for glycemic control are important for ensuring optimum management of diabetes in Bangladesh.

Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in Bangladeshi women of reproductive age: Findings from 2004 to 2014

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in Bangladeshi women of reproductive age: Findings from 2004 to 2014 Biswas, Tuhin Background Overweight and obesity are a particular concern for women of reproductive age. They not only increase the risk of chronic diseases but they are also associated with adverse perina- tal, neonatal, infant and child outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the trend of overweight and obesity among Bangladeshi women of reproductive age between 2004 and 2014. Method This is a secondary data analysis of the 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Bangladesh Demo- graphic and Health Surveys (BDHS). We determined the age standardized prevalence of overweight and obesity of women aged 15–49 years, who had their weight and height mea- sured. Overweight and obesity were determined using the Asian specific BMI cut-offs criteria. Result The prevalence of overweight increased from 11.4% [95% CI: 10.4to 12.5] in 2004 to 25.2% [95% CI: 24.0 to 26.4] in 2014. The prevalence of obesity increased from 3.5% [95% CI: 3.0to4.2] to 11.2% [95% CI: 10.1to12.5%] over the same period of time. This was seen in all age groups. However, the greatest increase was observed in women aged 35 to 49 years. The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed in those women with the highest education level and wealth, larger family size, living in urban areas and not being in paid employment. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in Bangladesh is high and increasing. We speculate that this has the potential to jeopardize the improvements that have been made in maternal and infant health over the last two decades. Evidence based prevention strategies are required to address this serious public health issue.

Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors and diabetes among adults living in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors and diabetes among adults living in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh Biswas, Tuhin Background Despite one-third of the urban population in Bangladesh living in urban slums and at increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), little is known about the NCD risk profile of this at-risk population. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of the NCD risk factors and the association of NCD risk factors with socio-demographic factors among the adults of urban slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult slum dwellers (aged 25 and above) residing in three purposively selected urban slums of Dhaka for at least six months preced- ing the survey. The risk factors assessed were- currently smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, hypertension and body mass index (BMI). Information on self- reported diabetes was also taken. A total of 507 participants (252 females; 49.7%) were interviewed and their physical measures were taken using the WHO NCD STEPS instrument. Result The overall prevalence of NCD risk factors was: 36.0% (95% CI: 31.82–40.41) for smoking; 95.60% (95% CI: 93.60–97.40) for insufficient fruit and vegetable intake; 15.30% (95% CI:12.12–18.71) for low physical activity;13.70% (95% CI: 10.71–16.92) for hypertension; 22.70% (95% CI: 19.31–26.02) for overweight or obesity; and 5.00% (95%: 3.20–7.00) for self-reported diabetes. In the logistic regression model, the clustering of three or more NCD risk factors was positively associated with younger age groups (p = 0.02), no formal educa- tion (p <0.001) and primary education level (p = 0.01), but did not differ by sex of the partici- pants, monthly income and occupation. Conclusion All NCD risk factors are markedly high among the urban slum adults. These findings are important to support the formulation and implementation of NCD-related polices and plan of actions that recognize urban slum populations in Bangladesh as a priority sub-population.