Hand hygiene has achieved the reputation of being a convenient means of preventing communicable diseases. Although causal links between hand hygiene and rates of infectious disease have also been established earlier, studies focusing on hand hygiene among university-going students are not adequate in number. This study evaluated handwashing knowledge, practice, and other related factors among the selected university students in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 undergraduate students from four selected universities. A pretested, semistructured questionnaire, that included a checklist associated with handwashing practice, was applied to capture all relevant data. The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 20.4 (±1.8) years. The majority of the students washed their hands with water, but only 22.5% washed their hands effectively by maintaining the correct steps and frequency of handwashing with water, and soap or hand sanitizer. The mean (± SD) score of the participants’ hand hygiene practice was 50.81 (±4.79), while the total score with all perfect answers was considered as 66. Regression coefficient demonstrated that age has a negative influence on hand hygiene practice, as older students have lower scores compared to the younger ones (P<0.01). However, the unmarried students were a significant predictor for influencing the incensement of handwashing practice compared to the married ones (P<0.01). Findings of this study designate widespread insufficient hand hygiene practice in the university-going students and indicate a need for an extensive public health education program on this topic. Furthermore, availability of soap and sufficient water supply is needed within the university setting to facilitate handwashing. Therefore, supporting quantity and quality of available campus-based public health education programs along with providing health-washing equipment is suggested.

Introduction: Bangladesh is a developing country and the industrialization process is also getting momentum. Due to rapid industrialization and mechanization, use every day more people are coming in contact with the information technology, consequently computer use which may enhance sufferings of people by causing musculoskeletal disorders.Objective: to find out among bankers (a) the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder and (b) the association between musculoskeletal pain and computer use.Methods: This descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted to see the pattern of musculoskeletal disorders among the computer users in three selected banks of Dhaka city with a sample of 400.Results: More than half of the respondents (59.8%) were married, more than two-third (69.2%) was male. Majority of the respondents (58.25% and 33.0%) belonged to the level of education was graduate and post graduate. Statistically significant association found between duration of computer used in years and severity of pain. (P- Value was 0.019).Conclusion: A high proportion of Bangladeshi computer users among bankers reported musculoskeletal disorder at some body site in their occupational lives with the neck and back being injured most often. Education program on prevention and coping strategies for musculoskeletal disorders are recommended for computer users in order to reduce the rate of occupational hazards.Chatt  Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.15 (1); Jan 2016; Page 40-44

Background: The important role of socio-economical factors in oral health and disease has been identified. Oral health literacy is associated with inaccurate knowledge about preventive measures such as proper brushing, dental care visits and oral health-related quality of life. Like general health literacy, oral health literacy incorporates the capacity a person has to learn and use information about oral health in making decisions about their oral health. Objective: This analytic type of cross sectional study was conducted to measure the Oral Health literacy Level (OHLL) and its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics among Bangladeshi adults seeking dental care.Materials and Methods: A total 100 subjects attended at the out patient's Dental Department of Ibrahim General Hospital-Mirpur for routine dental checkup over a period of six months from August 2014 to January 2015 fulfilled the eligibility criteria were selected consecutively. Pre-tested semi structured interviewer administrated questionnaires were used to collect the information. Cross tabulations and associations were determined by using the Chi-square test where applicable.Results: The mean oral health literacy score was 15.51 out of 30 and SD ±4.806 with 7% of respondents had very poor OHLL, 49% had poor OHLL, 41% had fair and 3% had excellent oral health literacy level. Oral health literacy level found more in age group of 30-39 years. The majority of excellent oral health literacy level was from graduate and above group. In addition, patients' sex, marital status and occupation were significantly associated with oral health literacy level as the P-values were 0.008, 0.002 and 0.021 respectively.Conclusion: Patients with inadequate oral health literacy were consistently more likely to report poor oral health than patients with adequate literacy skills. Future studies are needed to determine whether this framework is supported by empirical data and leads to improvements in oral health and reductions in health disparities.Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal Vol. 7, No. 1: Jan 2016, P 34-39

COVID-19 posed the healthcare professionals at enormous risk during this pandemic era while vaccination was recommended as one of the effective preventive approaches. It was visualized that almost all health workforces would be under vaccination on a priority basis as they are the frontline fighters during this pandemic. This study was designed to explore the reality regarding infection and vaccination status of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals of Bangladesh. It was a web-based cross-sectional survey and conducted among 300 healthcare professionals available in the academic platform of Bangladesh. A multivariate logistic regression model was used for the analytical exploration. Adjusted and Unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the specified setting indicators. A Chi-square test was used to observe the association. Ethical issues were maintained according to the guidance of the declaration of Helsinki. Study revealed that 41% of all respondents identified as COVID-19 positive whereas a significant number (18.3%) found as non-vaccinated due to registration issues as 52.70%, misconception regarding vaccination as 29.10%, and health-related issues as 18.20%. Respondents of more than 50 years of age found more significant on having positive infection rather than the younger age groups. Predictors for the non-vaccination guided that male respondents (COR/p = 3.49/0.01), allied health professionals, and respondents from the public organizations (p = 0.01) who were ≤29 (AOR/p = 4.45/0.01) years of age significantly identified as non-vaccinated. As the older female groups were found more infected and a significant number of health care professionals found as non-vaccinated, implementation of specific strategies and policies are needed to ensure the safety precautions and vaccination among such COVID-19 frontiers.

Viral hepatitis is the commonest liver disease in Bangladesh. About 10 million people in Bangladesh have been suffering from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a potentiality life threatening liver infection caused by HBV. It is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on Hepatitis B Virus infection among the selected patients in Essence Homoeopathy Medical Center, Dhaka. A descriptive type of cross sectional study was carried out among 150 samples by using non-randomized purposive sampling technique and by the help of pretested modified questionnaire. Statistical association was calculated by chi-square test and all the Hepatitis B related data were analyzed by the help of SPSS (version 16). The study showed that 73.3% of the respondents’ age ranged from 15-35 years with mean age (32.44±10.54) and of them 96.7% was found to be Muslims. Among injectable drug users (IDUs) (19.3%), 27.6% was sharing same needle. Approximately 5% of the respondents had a history of taking unscreened blood among 28% of the respondents who experienced blood transfusion. Another concerning issue was that 77% of the respondents practiced polygamy sex and among them only 38.8% used protecting device during sexual activity. Majority (70.7%) of the respondents did not take HBV vaccine. Significant statistical association was found between education and vaccination against HBV (p-0.000). To prevent this deadly disease mass awareness has to be created among the people of active age group through media education and policy implementation.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.6(1) 2016: 27-31

Background: Few studies have reported associations between occupational exposure to tannery chemicals with breathing difficulty and skin diseases and none have been conducted in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of health complaints with types of work and length of employment among tannery workers in Bangladesh, where occupational health and safety regulations are less restricted compared with the developed world. Methods: One hundred sixty-seven ( n = 167) workers from 10 tanneries were interviewed using a questionnaire adapted from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) to collect information on occupational exposures and health outcomes. Workers’ length of employment was examined, as well as their areas of work including beamhouse, wet finishing, dry finishing, and miscellaneous. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to investigate potential associations while controlling for confounders. Results: Length of employment was positively associated with breathing difficulty (odds ratio [OR]: 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.07–1.64). Workers involved in the wet finishing (OR: 11.75, 95% CI: 2.12–65.10) and dry finishing (OR: 13.38, 95% CI: 1.00–181.70) had higher odds of breathing difficulty; while, working in the beamhouse was associated with an increased risk of developing skin diseases (OR: 4.36, 95% CI: 1.10–17.32). Conclusion/Application to Practice: Length of employment and types of work were associated with increased risk of health complaints, including breathing difficulty and skin disease among tannery workers. Stronger regulations with regular enforcement, regular health surveillance, and worker and employer education are necessary for reducing these exposures and improving the health outcomes of the tannery workers.

UN General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation which is also essential to achieve target six of sustainable development goals. This descriptive type of cross sectional study was carried out to observe knowledge, attitude and practice on hygiene and sanitation in a selected rural area with a sample size of 247 which was purposively selected. The age structure of the respondents showed that 47.4% belonged to 34-48 years and43.3% belonged to 19-33 years' age group with mean age 35.53 ± 9.11. Among the respondents 78.1% were Muslim, 62.8% and 37.2% were female and male respectively. Study revealed that of the respondents 56.3% thought germ free water as safe, 11.7% opined it as smell free,14.2% replied it as both smell and germ free but 17.8% didn't know about it. About sanitation, 48.2% mentioned hygienic latrine, 11.3% mentioned clean environment and 28.3% did not know about it. Among them 49.0% respondents cleaned drinking glass by only water, 32.0% by soap/detergent with water. Of them 80.6% cleaned water storage container by only water and 13.8%by soap/detergent along with water. Among respondents 36.8% had under five children in family, 30.4% defecated in open place, 6.4% used latrine for defecation and 30.4% didn't use soap after bottom cleaning. There was significant association between education and knowledge on sanitation and safe water (p=< 0.001).Bangladesh Poverty Reduction Strategy has included water and sanitation as an important issue which has got due attention by stakeholders and international development organizations.

Background: The relationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases has been studied extensively during the past 50 years. Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in people aged over 40, although it is affecting a growing number of young people. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes have poor resistance to infection with effects in mouth cavity and elsewhere in the body and show an unusually high susceptibility to periodontal diseases and increased susceptibility to acute lateral periodontal abscesses.