BackgroundThis qualitative study explored community perceptions of the components of the behaviour change communication (BCC) intervention of the BRAC Improving Maternal, Neonatal and Child Survival (IMNCS) programme in rural Bangladesh.MethodsSemi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and informal group discussions were conducted to elicit community views on interpersonal communication (IPC), printed materials, entertainment education (EE) and mass media, specifically (a) acceptance of and challenges presented by different forms of media, (b) comprehensibility of terms; printed materials and entertainment education and (c) reported influence of BCC messages.ResultsIMNCS BCC interventions are well accepted by the community people. IPC is considered an essential aspect of everyday life and community members appreciate personal interaction with the BRAC community health workers. Printed materials assisted in comprehension and memorization of messages particularly when explained by community health workers (CHW) during IPC. Enactment of maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) narratives and traditional musical performances in EE helped to give deep insight into life’s challenges and the decision making that is inherent in pregnancy, childbirth and childcare. EE also improved memorization of the messages. Some limitations were identified in design of illustrations which hampered message comprehension. Some respondents were unable to differentiate between pregnancy, delivery and postpartum danger signs. Furthermore some women were afraid to view the illustrations of danger signs as they believed seeing that might be associated with the development of these complications in their own lives. Despite these barriers, participants stated that the IMNCS BCC interventions had influenced them to take health promoting decisions and seek MNCH services.ConclusionsCommunity based maternal and newborn programmes should revise BCC interventions to strengthen IPC, using rigorously tested print materials as aids and stand-alone media. Messages about birth preparedness (especially savings), recognition of danger signs and immediate self-referral to biomedical health services should be carefully aligned and effectively delivered to women, men and older members of the community. Messaging should utilize gendered storyline and address the seasonal cycles of conception, birth, antenatal, post-natal care and childhood illnesses. Future research should identify how best to combine IPC, printed materials, traditional cultural forms, and incorporate use of social media and mass media in different field situations.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1632-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Despite the growing trends in quantitative field studies on tropical snake assemblages around the world, Asian tropical snake assemblages have remained less profoundly studied. A snake assemblage in an altered tropical forest-plantation mosaic in Bangladesh was studied for six months. Data were collected on the species composition and their relative frequency of occurrence. On the basis of these data, some major patterns highlighted by earlier studies on tropical snake ecology were tested. More specifically, we tested, the existence of: ( 1 ) non-random habitat niche partitioning, (2) the energetic equivalence rule, and (3) different mean body sizes among snake guilds, with distinctly smaller body sizes being expected among the subterranean species. A total of 374 specimens belonging to 34 different species were collected. High mean habitat niche overlap among species was observed, and there was no apparent non-random niche partitioning by snakes either considering all species together or dividing them by guild. The 'energetic equivalence rule' was verified, with larger species being less abundant than smaller species. Body sizes differed significantly across species' habits, with subterranean species being not only significantly smaller but also revealing the least interspecific variation, and terrestrial/arboreal species showing the greatest interspecific variation. Overall, tropical Asian snake assemblages seem to be similar to tropical African snake assemblages in terms of their general organization.
As a developing nation, Bangladeshi people had to work during lockdown which is the result of a sudden outbreak of COVID-19. It creates different problems in day to day life of common people. The present study, therefore, attempts to understand the socio-economic crisis and mental stress in managing the family within the limited resources of Bangladesh during the lockdown period. The data was collected via a snowball sampling survey method by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Datasets were analyzed through different statistical tools like mean, standard deviation, and percentage. Research shows that female and aged people are much anxious about being affected. Petty business runners are much worried about their basic earning. Affording food to a family within a foreseeable economic crisis, brunt from job loss, the propensity of commodity's high price, wariness for child's academic career through e-learning led people distressed. Insomnia, fatigue, helplessness, distress are notable problems during the time of lockdown. Research finds that mental pressure results from insufficient sleep are creating short temper and chaos in the family and social life also. Strengthening the medical system, creating mass consciousness, implicating time-oriented policy with psycho-social upshots can mitigate the fragility of psychological stress.
A community based exploratory study was conducted among the villagers (sample size, n=75) of Kanopur, Shippur and Boraidaha village of Sherpur Upazila of Bogura district, Bangladesh to explore the common practices regarding health and treatment facilities in rural areas. This study was carried out through questionnaire, participatory rural appraisal and focus group discussion. The result showed that the socio-economic condition of these areas was average in terms of others villagers of Bogura region. The current health and treatment facilities of these areas were moderate and study found that about 80% people were aware about personal hygiene. The study reveals acidity and fever were the most frequent diseases and most of the people were happy about the service of doctors and Government health Centre. The study revealed that the half of the population of these areas knew about expanded programme on immunization and exclusive breastfeeding during lactation period. This study also exposed that around half of the respondents has no knowledge about Oral Rehydration Solution, extra salt used in eating, antibiotic course and even in danger sign during pregnancy of mothers and pneumonia among villagers. Besides, in case of family matters and during diseases condition, decision was taken by household head or sometimes husband and wife both. This study concluded that overall health care delivery system was moderate and actions should be taken to improve the overall scenario of health system of these regions.
The cultural context in Bangladesh generally discourages adolescent from giving opinions, speaking up or questioning adults. So their needs and vulnerabilities are often unaddressed and adolescent friendly services still unfamiliar concepts. In such cultural context, adolescent girls’ reproductive knowledge and healthcare seeking behaviour is important. Improper and delay in seeking care may also result in increased risk in the community. Understanding the pattern of healthcare-seeking behaviour could help public health practitioners and policy makers to improve the healthcare system and health promotion strategies. The objectives of the study were to unveil the adolescents’ girl knowledge on reproductive health. To elicit the types of care adolescent girl sought when they get ill and to identify determinates of the adolescent girl for seeking care. Focused group discussion and in-depth interview was conducted with adolescent unmarried school going girls at Demajani village under Bogura District on January 2023. The study followed by the health belief model. Respondents were going through the mental and physical changes as they were in adolescent stage. They leant about the reproductive health from their female family members. They share their physical problems with the peer group and tried to solve it by home remedies and then to the qualified doctor. Choice of treatment was dependent on their perceived susceptibility and severity. Respondents were depended on parent as they unmarried. Their family was motivated by the communities. Therefore their treatment seeking actives sometimes ignored the availability, affordability and accessibility of the health services.
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