Objective: To determine how much of the variation in nutritional status of Bangladeshi children under 5 years old can be attributed to the socio-economic status of the family. Design: Nutritional status used reference Z-scores of weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ). A 'possession score' was generated based on ownership of a radio, television, bicycle, motorcycle and telephone, and the availability of electricity, with categories of 0 to 41 possessions. A five-point (quintile) 'poverty index' was created using principal component analysis. Setting: The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004 was the source of data. Subjects: A sample of 4891 children aged ,5 years was obtained. Results: Some 57?8 % of the sample was either stunted, wasted or underweight (7?7 % were stunted, wasted and underweight). Of those stunted (48?4 %), 25?7 % were also underweight. Underweight and wasting prevalences were 40?7 % and 14?3 %, respectively. Mean WAZ, HAZ and WHZ did not differ by sex. Children of mothers with no education or no possessions were, on average, about 1 SD more underweight and stunted than those with higher educated mothers or with 41 possessions. The possession score provided much greater discrimination of undernutrition than the poverty index. Nearly 50 % of children from households with no possessions were stunted, wasted or underweight (only 27 % in the poorest quintile), compared with only 3-6 % of children from households with 41 possessions (over 13 % in the richest quintile). Conclusions: Maternal education and possession score were the main predictors of a child's nutritional status. Possession score was a much better indicator of undernutrition than the poverty index.

The Sylhet administrative division needs specially focused attention from policy-makers if the overall performance of the health, nutrition and population sector is to reach the targets set by the country.

Summary. This study assessed whether agricultural and household incomes were the same across different agro-ecological environments in Bangladesh. An in-depth analysis of the effect of unfavourable ecologies on maternal and child malnutrition was carried out. Data were from a longitudinal data set comprising a nationally representative data sample collected in 2014 and the Food Security Nutrition Surveillance Project (FSNSP) conducted in 2011 and 2012. Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of mothers and under-five children. The key variables of interest were food seasonality and geographical location. Data were analysed using the General Linear Model and multinomial and binary logistic regression analysis. Panel data analysis showed that household income was not equal across agro-ecological zones, indicating that the fragility of the environment affects a household's ability to access food, and thus the nutritional status of mothers and children. Coastal areas of Bangladesh were found to be less dependent on agriculture, particularly cultivation, which had diminished during last few decades. Per capita income has been increasing in coastal areas of Bangladesh, led by remittance (money sent home by migrant workers) growing at 8% per year against 6% in other areas. Regression analysis showed that a household in a coastal zone earned 19% less than one in more favourable zones. Although the income from farm practices was found to be lower in unfavourable areas, the deficiency was compensated by increased nonfarm incomes. The results from the FSNSP data showed that overall the rates of stunting and wasting among under-five children were 37% and 11.7%, respectively, and nearly 28% of mothers suffered from undernutrition. A highly significant regional heterogeneity in undernutrition was found, with alarmingly high levels in the Haor Basin and coastal belt areas. There were significantly higher rates of 1 Corresponding author.

Objective: To analyse trends in maternal nutritional status in Bangladesh over a 12-year period and to examine the associations between nutritional status and socio-economic variables. Design: Maternal nutritional status indicators were height, weight and BMI. Socio-economic variables used were region, residency, education and occupation of the mothers and their husbands, house type, and possession score in the household. Setting: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007) were the source of data. Subjects: A total of 16 278 mothers were included. Results: All of the socio-economic variables showed significant associations with maternal nutritional status indicators. Regional variation was found to be present; all three indicators were found to be lowest in the Sylhet division. Upward trends in maternal height, weight and BMI were evident from no possessions to four possessions in households, and for no education to higher education of women and their husbands. Bangladeshi mothers measured in 2007 were found to be on average 0·34 cm taller and 3·36 kg heavier than mothers measured in 1996. Between 1996 and 2007 maternal underweight fell from nearly 50 % to just over 30 % while overweight and obesity increased from about 3 % to over 9 % (WHO cut-offs) or from 7 % to nearly 18 % (Asian cut-offs). Conclusions: The study reveals that over the 12-year period in Bangladesh there has been a substantial reduction in maternal underweight accompanied by a considerable increase in obesity. It is also evident that malnutrition in Bangladesh is a multidimensional problem that warrants a proper policy mix and programme intervention.

Background: Bangladesh is experiencing a plateau phase in fertility decline after its dramatic reduction in early nineties. Aspects of contraceptive use dynamics have important influences on fertility. Methods: This study used data from the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and applied Multinomial Logistic Regression model to examine the determinants of use of modern methods of contraception. Results: The results showed that individual level characteristics had strong influence on contraceptive use. These variables included educational level of the couples, autonomy of woman, male child preference, woman’s membership with an NGO, visit by family planning worker, region and type of residence. Conclusion: The analysis indicated that further increase of contraceptive prevalence rate to achieve decline in fertility level depended on the improvement of educational status of couples and as well as increase in societal value of girl child. It was evident that household visit by a family planning worker was a significant factor in contraceptive use. Influences of Muslim religion were found to be declining in the case of several methods of contraception use. NGOs could take this opportunity to advocate condom use among their credit clients, which would also benefit the country as a policy against sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2014; 8(2): 34-40

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in some rural communities of Sreepur Thana during the month of April 2007. The study population included those aged 50 years or more and residing in the study areas. A total of 226 respondents were selected purposively and were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. The objective of this study was to assess their socio economic condition and identify their health problems.

Background:The educational environment is an important determining factor of an effective curriculum. An enriched learning environment can lead to increased satisfaction, achievement and success as a practitioner. The educational environment has been defined as "environment experienced or perceived by the students as well as by the teachers" . Learning environment research seeks to assess the students' perceptions of their environment and can guide medical teachers to introspect, devise, and incorporate the best learning strategy for the improvement of the educational environment. The recent concern to enhance quality assessment procedures in the health professions, and institutions have led to renewed interest in students' perceptions of the educational environment. The aim of this study is to evaluate, by way of students' perceptions, the overall education environment, as well as, other aspects of the educational environment of Ibrahim Medical College, Bangladesh. Methods: This crosssectional survey was conducted among the medical students in the year 2015, who were enrolled in the undergraduate MBBS program. DREEM questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was later regrouped according to the five domains. SPSS, IBM 20 has been used for data analysis. Results: Among the 416 student participants, 277 were female (67%), and 139 were male (33%). Comparison of the mean scores of pooled total and 4 sub-scales revealed no significant difference between genders, whereas in Students' Academic Self-Perceptions scale average rating for a male was found statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that students, in general, hold positive perceptions of their course environment. These results can serve as a baseline for a longitudinal quality assessment of pupils' perceptions of the college.

Background and objectives: World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Health Policy of Bangladesh have repeatedly been emphasizing on the use of essential drugs prescribed by generic names. The prescription monitoring studies provide a bridge between areas like rational use of drugs and evidence based medicine. Knowledge on distribution and burden of diseases in a community is essential for planning rational use of drugs in a community. The present study tried to determine the morbidity profile and drug prescribing practices of healthcare providers in a rural primary health care. Methods: The study was conducted at a rural health center located 50 Km north of capital city Dhaka. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data on socio-demographic conditions, clinical complaints and types of drugs prescribed. WHO prescribing indicators was used to find out the drug prescribing pattern. Results: A total of 583 patients were enrolled. Problems related to respiratory system (21.1%), musculoskeletal system (17.3%) and skin diseases (11.1%) were common reasons for visiting health centre. Oral drugs were prescribed with highest proportion (96.1%). More than half (62.6%) of the drugs were prescribed from essential drug list. About half (49.1%) were antibiotics and 45.6% of the drugs were prescribed in their generic name. Anti-microbial (64.5%), anti-peptic ulcer (43.1%) and NSAIDs (42.5%) were most frequently prescribed. Out of five WHO core prescription indicators, four were below the acceptable values. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there is an urgent need to promote rational use of drugs among the healthcare providers. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 50-56