Background: The burden of childhood disability as a public health problem in developing countries remains relatively unrecognized. One out of 750 children born in the world suffer from club foot among them 80% are in low and middle income countries. Most of these babies have limited access to receive effective treatment for their clubfoot due to lack o knowledge, awareness and some barriers. We actually don't know the level of knowledge of parents who have child with clubfoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of parents who have children with clubfoot during clubfoot treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 102 parents who have children with clubfoot deformity during its treatment in a selected clinic. The samples were selected purposively from the clinics where clubfoot treatment was given and face to face interview was done by using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the respondents were 24.7 (±6.0) years where 87.3% (n=89) respondents ware female and 59.8 %(n=61) respondent's educational status ware up to primary level. About 44.1% respondents started treatment of their child within 6 months of birth and 33% within 6 to 12 months where 57% (n=58) respondents are referred by health care professional to this clinics. About 93.1% of parents (n=95) said that they knew nothing about clubfoot deformity before their child was diagnosed where 97% are aware after diagnosis of their child. About 93.1% respondents knew the best time for treatment initiation where 59.8% respondents know the correct follow up time of clubfoot management. In case of knowledge of parents' roles in the treatment of clubfoot about 91.2%, parents have knowledge weekly visit for treatment and 86.3% know the plaster care where 52.9% (n=54) parents have lack of knowledge about how to use the brace Conclusion: There is need to improve the communication skills of clinicians/health care providers offering treatment to children with clubfoot at the Clinics. Need to share information with the parents about the condition. Finally, there is need to emphasize of educating parents about plaster care and how to use brace.

of non-pregnant mothers living in the slums suffer from severe malnutrition. About 70% of women in Bangladesh suffer from anaemia [7][8][9]. Following the liberation of Bangladesh, when Dhaka became the capital city and the centre of commercial and economic activities there was a rapid migration of rural people into the city which is still continuing. The rural to urban influx has lead to the development of slums in a large number of places within the city and its fringes with overcrowding, unhygienic and poor sanitary conditions, along with economic insolvency lead to malnutrition and poor health condition. Around half of the city's poor people are concentrated in nearly 3000 densely populated and environmentally hazardous slums and the overall urban growth rate is very high [10,11]. It is very much clear that the health and nutritional status of the city people is quite impossible to improve without improving the health and nutritional status of the slum dwellers, specially, slum mothers. Research on urban slum mothers, specially, on nutrition is very relevant and deserve in depth studies. This could help to explain many of the interrelated variables which come into play in explaining the prevailing situation amongst the urban slum mothers. The purpose of the study was to assess the nutritional status of the women living in slum environment. So the findings of the study might provide a comprehensive picture on nutrition of slum women, which could inform and guide the concerned authorities for undertaking appropriate measures to improve the situation. IntroductionThe prevalence of malnutrition in Bangladesh is among the highest in the world. Millions of children and women suffer from one or more forms of malnutrition including low birth weight, wasting, stunting, underweight, vitamin A deficiency, iodine deficiency disorder and anemia. Today malnutrition not only affects individual but its effects are passed from one generation to the next as malnourished mothers give birth to infants who struggle to develop and thrive. If these children are girls, they often grow up to become malnourished mothers themselves. Globally, malnutrition is attributed to almost one-half of all child deaths. Survivors are left vulnerable to illnesses, stunted growth and intellectual impairment [1]. The deprivation to women starts from birth in Bangladesh. The socioeconomic, health and nutritional status of women depict gloomy pictures throughout their life [2]. Moreover, like most developing countries, the picture of nutritional status of women is far too serious in the poorer socioeconomic groups who live in the rural areas and urban slums of Bangladesh [3,4]. It has been recognized that infants, children and women of the reproductive age constitute the most vulnerable group from the stand point of nutrition [5]. Malnutrition is the outcome of many complex biological and social processes. The roots of malnutrition run deep into its social soil and it is a matter of thought that malnutrition has not been changed significantly during t...

Objective To determine the prevalence and types of epilepsy in Bangladesh. Methods We conducted a nationwide population‐based cross‐sectional survey among Bangladeshi population of all ages, except children under one month. We surveyed 9839 participants (urban, 4918; rural, 4920) recruited at their households using multistage cluster sampling. Trained physicians with neurology background confirmed the diagnosis of suspected epilepsy cases identified by interviewer‐administered questionnaires. We reported the overall and sex, residence, and age groups‐specific prevalence of epilepsy per 1000 populations with 95% confidence interval. Results The national prevalence of epilepsy per 1000 was 8.4 (95% CI 5.6‐11.1), urban 8.0 (4.6‐11.4), and rural 8.5 (5.60‐11.5). The prevalence in adult males and females was 9.2 (5.7‐12.6) and 7.7 (3.6‐11.7), respectively. The prevalence in children aged <18 years (8.2, 3.4‐13.0 was similar to adults (8.5 (5.4‐11.4). Among all epilepsy cases, 65.1% had active epilepsy. Their (active epilepsy) prevalence was 5.8 (3.5‐8.1). Of them, 63.4% were not receiving treatment. Moreover, those who received allopathy treatment, 72.5% had low adherence leading to a high treatment gap. Significance Our findings out of this first‐ever national survey were similar to other Asian countries. However, the prevalence of active epilepsy and treatment gap were considerably higher. This study serves useful evidence for tailoring interventions aimed to reduce the burden of epilepsy—primarily through targeted community awareness program—and access to antiepileptic treatment in health facilities in Bangladesh.

Background: Exclusive Breast feeding is implies feeding of breast milk is enough for the baby up to six months of life and no other food is necessary during this time. Objective: The main objective of this study is to study the feeding practice of newborn babies in first week of life. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on mothers who have done C-section. About 120 sample were interviewed in Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Pan Pacific Hospital Ltd, Dhaka. Pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The result showed that showed that one-third of the infants 84 (70%) were between the ages of 1 to 2 days and 29 (24.2%) were between the age of 3 to 4 days and the rest 7 (5.8%) were greater than 4 days and about half (53%) mothers initiate breast feeding within one hour after delivery. Besides study found that more than half of mothers 67(55.8%) were fed 5-8 time, 40 (33.4%) mother were fed 8-12 time and 13 (10.8%) mothers were fed per day 12-16 time and about 82% mothers use water as an extra feed of their child. Conclusion: The study result does not represent the country situation and should not generalize. Further study is needed for more specific information and generalization.

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Abstract:Objective: Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear. This descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted to explore the knowledge on care of autistic children among the mother's attending Protibondhi Foundation, Dhaka. Methods: A total of 385 samples were selected purposively, but due to time and budget constrict it was 150 finally. Data were collected by using an anonymous, pre-tested, semi structured and self-administered questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that more than 50% of the respondent's were in the age group 16-30 years, majority of the respondent's were Muslim. Almost 84% of the respondents were SSC-Graduate and majority of them (nearly 50%) were housewife .The monthly family income was ranged between Taka 25,001-50,000 and its percentage was 53.3%. The knowledge about type of autism is very low, the data showed that only two types of autism they knew and the respondent's knowledge about the risk factor was also very low; only 24% of the respondents had knowledge about complications during pregnancy and delivery related risk factors. About 28% needed physiotherapy, 30% needed occupational therapy, 34% needed speech therapy & 44.7% needed psychotherapy. Here significant association was found between age, education and knowledge about autism (p<0.05). Conclusion: Overall knowledge on care of autistic child was not satisfactory among respondents.

Background Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world. Despite having a tobacco control programme, the use of SLTs has increased in recent years. The objective of this paper is to report on the prevalence of SLTs and challenges faced during control measures in Bangladesh. Methods A wide range of published reports on tobacco in general and SLT were reviewed. Websites of relevant organizations and national survey reports including PubMed were visited to identify national‐ or subnational‐level data. Legislations, policies and their implementation and programmes are reviewed. Additional data were captured by active surveys on SLT products, especially on graphic health warning. The authors’ perspectives on SLT control in Bangladesh were captured through a series of brainstorming sessions. Findings The reported prevalence of SLTs ranged from 21% to 26% among adults. SLT control measures are not adequately addressed despite the existence of several policies and programmes. It is based to the definition of Tobacco Control ACT in 2013. We propose inadequate prioritization and weak policy directives; unregulated industry leading to high production, marketing, violation of package warning and tax evasion; high level of cultural acceptance; and poor awareness of the people as challenges to the control efforts. In addition, a lenient attitude of the government towards the so‐called “cottage” industry made SLTs unabated. We propose prioritization of SLT control, strengthening industry monitoring and tax measures, countering cultural acceptability and public ignorance and cessation support engaging government and civil society organizations as the way forward. Conclusion The control measures should be evidence‐based warranting operational research. Government and non‐government organizations’ collaborative efforts on an immediate, short‐and long‐term basis are recommended to meet the challenges of SLTs. These primarily include policy support for prioritization, enforcement of legislation, industry and marketing regulation, stringent tax measures, denormalizing societal acceptability and cessation support.

Objective: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to explore awareness level of pregnant women regarding pregnancy and safe delivery in selected rural area. Methodology: This community based cross sectional descriptive study was carried out at Ullapara Upazila, Sirajgonj District among 120 pregnant women in a rural community. Non probability sampling technique and pretested semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: Majority of the respondents (65 %) were between 20-34 years of age group. Most of the respondents were housewives (85%). Majority (65%) of the respondents received antenatal care, and among them only 5% respondents received complete antenatal care and 25% received postnatal care. Majority (75%) of the respondents had not received postnatal care (PNC). Majority (85 %) of the respondent planning their delivery in the home and 15% respondent planning their delivery in the delivery center. About 50% of the respondents got information regarding pregnancy and delivery care through health workers. Besides 35% of respondents got information through doctor. Moreover 50% participants knew about the obligatory indications and 50% did not. Sixty percent participants did not know follow-up regarding PNC. Only 25% received PNC. Besides 60% participants did not know about warning sign during delivery while 40% faced complications during their last delivery. About 55% participants did not have knowledge regarding baby care. Moreover 55% participants did not take contraceptive method after their delivery. Conclusion & Recommendation: Attention should be given to improve education level and employment status of the people, as well as supply of all of the necessary equipment and EOC should also be incorporated. Regular awareness program may have to be conducted; Government and non-government organizations should be integrated more in pregnancy issue and post-delivery care. Development and strengthen behavioral change of communications and activities in order to create awareness about pregnant women are also important indeed.