Introduction In Bangladesh, to address the challenges of ensuring adequate human resources for health (HRH), the government began implementing a digital tool for HRH management in 2017. However, evidence suggests institutionalizing such tools in low-and-middle-income countries is impeded by policy aspects like implementation strategy and poor regulatory framework. Therefore, we aimed to explore factors in the current policy landscape that might facilitate and challenge the implementation of the tool in Bangladesh. Methods We conducted a review of policies related to ICT implementation and human resources management in the health sector in Bangladesh using qualitative content analysis method. Ten policies have been identified, and extensive reading was done to ascertain common themes and patterns. A document analysis matrix was developed to synthesize and help interpret the findings. Results Regarding facilitators, strong upstream level commitments were reflected in the content of policies in terms of setting out specific objectives, targets, timelines, and budget allocation. However, the lack of explicit monitoring strategy and extent of stakeholders’ engagement was not well-defined, ultimately creating chances for impeding downstream implementation. In addition, effective coordination among stakeholders and different HRH and ICT policies could be strengthened. Discussion Findings support the current discourse that national commitment plays a vital role in the integration of ICTs in health services. However, well-defined monitoring strategy and inter-ministry and intra-ministry policy coordination are crucial.

Introduction Mental health conditions are of rising concern due to their increased contribution to the global burden of disease. Mental health issues are inextricably linked with other socio-cultural and health dimensions, especially in the rural areas in developing countries. The complex relationship between mental health issues and socio-cultural settings may largely toll upon healthcare-seeking behavior. So, it urges to document the current status of mental healthcare-seeking behavior during the perinatal period among rural women in Bangladesh to develop a context-specific intervention in the future. Methods This study was carried out in one sub-district in Bangladesh from April 2017 to June 2018. We conducted 21 In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with different groups of purposively selected participants. After collecting the recorded interview and making the verbatim transcription, the data were coded through Atlasti 5.7.a. Data were analyzed thematically to interpret the findings. Results Two-thirds of the total respondents did not seek mental healthcare during the perinatal period at the community level. They also did not know about the mental health service provider or the facility to get set these services. Only one respondent out of twenty-one sought maternal mental healthcare from a gynecologist from a private hospital. Socio-cultural factors such as social stigma, traditional beliefs and practices, social and religious taboos, and social capital negatively influence healthcare-seeking behaviors. Besides, the community-level service providers were not found to be adequately trained and did not have proper guidelines regarding its management. Conclusion The findings provide evidence that there is an urgent need to increase the awareness for service users and formulate a guideline for the community-level service provider to manage maternal mental problems during the perinatal period of women in rural Bangladesh.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems around the globe. Evidence suggests that TB has social dimensions related to perception, prejudice, and stigma that create barriers for patients in accessing health care. However, there is more such evidence required in the Bangladesh context. Therefore, we aimed to explore the existing perceptions and prejudice towards tuberculosis among patients attending a divisional level TB hospital in Bangladesh and how these perceptions and prejudice process the stigmatization of the patients in their societal environment. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, we applied qualitative phenomenological approaches. We conducted 20 In-depth Interviews (IDIs) with the patients, and attendants of patients of the hospital to capture a range of information through purposive sampling. We carried out a thematic analysis of their lived experiences. Results The majority participants upheld their beliefs and experiences which identified as misperceptions and prejudice to TB infection that induced them to stigmatization and isolation in society. They also revealed that if they are infected by TB there is no way to cure this disease. Moreover, the dominant group (not infected) knew about that (disease), no one wanted to touch the TB patients. Finally, family, friends, and kinsmen remain alienated from the TB infected persons which in turn makes those persons isolated from the family and society. Conclusion The identified lived experiences can inform policy-makers and program implementers to adopt socially and culturally appropriate interventions that can improve treatment adherence of TB patients in the community level of Bangladesh.

The culture of resistance refers to an act by a particular unprivileged community against the dominant practice of cultural norms in the larger society. It perpetuates the clash between dominant and alternative cultural meanings developed by mainstream society and marginalized subgroups. We aimed to narrate the culture of resistance in the Harijan community in urban Bangladesh. We adopted Observation, In-depth Interview (IDI), Key Informant Interview (KII), and General Discussion as data collection tools to obtain data from the Harijan community to narrate it. The findings revealed that Harijan people struggled to survive with ‘intra’ and ‘inter’ community competition. Moreover, they resist in everyday activities through some cultural norms and practices such as keeping silent, avoiding any untoward situation, acting differently with mainstream people, following conventional customs as well as mainstream people’s law, and making common temples for their religious occasion’s observance. Therefore, they survive in their everyday lives by adopting this simple resistance mechanism.

Background The impact of rapid urbanization taking place across the world is posing variegated challenge. Especially in terms of communicable disease, the risk is more concentrated in urban poor areas where basic amenities are inadequate. In this context, the aim of this study was to carry out an evidence synthesis on the state-of the art effective community-based interventions in tackling infectious diseases among the urban poor in the LMICs across the globe. Methods This review has been registered in PROPSPERO (CRD42021278689). A total of 18,260 published articles were primarily selected; after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria 115 studies were considered for full-text screening. Among them, 17 articles were included. Afterwards, reference check was done and finally total of 21 articles were considered for the systematic review. Narrative synthesis was done. Results The pathway to identifying and addressing the SDOH through community-based intervention in the urban poor setting was complex. For effectiveness of a community-based intervention, the socio-cultural context is found extremely important. From this review, the effective community-based interventions were- community-based screening and socio-economic support, community-based vector control, behaviour change communication, capacity building of the Community Health Workers, health education and e-health interventions. Interventions need to be delivered considering the day-to-day realities of the urban poor. While some studies considered the outcome of specific diseases through vertical intervention approach, scarcity of evidence was found in terms of taking an intersectional approach. Discussion The effectiveness of an intervention are inextricable linked with social context, stakeholder dimensions and macro level social issues. The review results thus suggestive of an intervention package that considers a systems approach. Conclusion Considering this complex reality of an intervention to be effective, this evidence-synthesis therefore advocates for designing the intervention package with multiple components related to prevention and control of communicable diseases in poor urban areas. PROSPERO registration number: This review has been registered in PROPSPERO (CRD42021278689).