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Although Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing child mortality, proper utilization of health services for under-five children among mothers remains one of the major challenges. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the factors influencing health service utilization among mothers for under-five children in the Khulna district of Bangladesh. Administering a semi-structured interview schedule, data were collected from 364 randomly selected mothers from the study area between June and August 2021. At first, Pearson’s Chi-square test was conducted to measure the association between outcome and predictor variables. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with utilization of health services. Overall, about 59 percent of the mother received health services from unqualified doctors during their children’s illness and the rest of them (41.5%) seek care from the qualified doctors. Results of regression analysis revealed that long duration of illness (AOR = 2.338; CI: 1.175–4.649; p = 0.015), the severity of illness (AOR = 6.402; CI: 3.275–12.513; p<0.001), and higher cost of treatment (AOR = 7.371; CI: 3.297–16.480; p<0.001) were the significant predictors of utilization of health services from the qualified doctors for under-five children. Thus, the study suggests that to reduce under-five child mortality by ensuring proper utilization of health services, it is necessary to raise awareness among mothers, improve transport facilities, establish need-based health care centers, and lower treatment costs.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure healthcare-seeking behaviour and determine its associated factors among older people in the slums of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) areas of Bangladesh.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingsFour slums in the KCC areas of Bangladesh.ParticipantsThe participants were selected following a two-stage area probability sampling with the following specifications: they must be aged ≥60 years and must have lived in the slums of KCC for at least 5 consecutive years.Outcome measuresA semistructured interview schedule was administered to determine participants’ healthcare-seeking behaviour, with healthcare-seeking behaviour measured through a dichotomous response of ‘yes’ or ‘no’.Results636 participants were included in the study. Gastrointestinal problems (75.3%) and aches and pains (71.5%) were the two most common health problems among older people in the slums of KCC. Older adults in their 80s had higher adjusted odds of attaining healthcare services (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.028; 95% CI: 1.140 to 3.609; p<0.05) than other older people, while educated older people (AOR=0.664; 95% CI: 0.441 to 1.000; p<0.05) and those with greater satisfaction with domains of life (SDL index; AOR=0.860; 95% CI: 0.811 to 0.912; p<0.01) were less inclined to seek healthcare services than their counterparts. Additionally, widows/widowers (AOR=2.218; 95% CI: 1.080 to 4.556; p<0.05) and married people (AOR=2.750; 95% CI: 1.329 to 5.689; p<0.01) had higher adjusted odds of seeking healthcare services than those who were divorced/separated.ConclusionAge, education, marital status and SDL index were significant predictors for the healthcare-seeking behaviour of older people in KCC slums. Effective strategies need to be implemented to reduce existing access barriers to healthcare services for older people in the slum areas of urban Bangladesh.

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Career choice is a growing issue all over the world as secondary students usually face with a dilemma in making an appropriate career choice decision in their lives. For this reason, the study aimed to explore the factors that influence the career choices among female secondary students in Bangladesh. Following survey research design a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data from 181 randomly selected female students of class six to ten from two secondary schools of Chalna Pourashava under Dacope Upazila in Khulna District of Bangladesh. Findings reveal that majority of the students aspire to be doctor which is influenced by parents’ expectation and self-efficacy or the belief in their ability to succeed. In addition, socio-demographic status of students, such as, age, year of schooling and academic achievement influences their career choices. Moreover, living status, occupation and monthly income of father are contributing factors of students’ career choices but fathers’ level of education has no impact on it. Furthermore, living status, education and occupation of mother are associated with students’ career choices but monthly income of the mother has no impact on it. The study recommends that parents should motivate their daughters regarding career choices which might help them to expose their potentialities in right track.