Assessment of biosecurity measures in commercial poultry farms of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh.

The application of biosecurity measures in the poultry sector are essential. Developing and implementing daily biosecurity activities are considered effective methods to prevent infectious diseases on poultry farms. Appropriate farm settings and management reduce the possibility of disease transmission between farms. This study aimed to assess the current biosecurity status of commercial poultry farms in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2021, involving 204 poultry farmers in the Rajshahi district, using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The statistically significant (p < 0.05) results found were: most farmers reported that the visitors could not access their farms (broiler vs. layer: 68.1%, 77.0%). A higher proportion of broilers compared to layer farms used company's supplied feed (81.2% vs. 66.7%). A higher proportion of layer (97.8%) farms cleaned the farm's litter within 24 h compared to broiler farms (72.5%). Broiler farms had better records animal mortality than layer farms (76.8% vs. 60.0%). More layer (96.3%) farms compared to broiler (87.0%) farms implemented a vaccination program. The findings of this study revealed that biosecurity measures are well-practiced and implemented in most broiler and layer farms in this region except in a small number of farms. Government authorities should strictly enforce and monitor biosecurity measures in farms that do not practice essential biosecurity measures.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial usage, spread and resistance emergence in commercial poultry farms of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate and injudicious use of antimicrobials in broiler and layer farms has become a common practice in lower and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess poultry farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding antimicrobial usage (AMU), and their beliefs in factors that affect antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spread and emergence in humans through commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 farmers (95.6% male; meanage = 35.14 ± 10.25 years) in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh who were recruited from three upazilas (sub-districts) through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from June to November 2021 via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The proportion of farmers who reported having received information regarding AMU from veterinarians was higher in layer compared to broiler farms (65.9% vs. 44.9%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of layer compared to broiler farmers believed that antimicrobial residues and pathogens in poultry can pass to humans through the consumption of contaminated eggs (28.1% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.05). The mean score of the farmers' attitude towards addressing AMU was 4.49 (SD = 1.37) out of 7, with the higher score indicating a better attitude. The mean score of better attitudes towards addressing AMU was significantly higher among educated participants (bachelor's or higher levels of education (p = 0.006). A higher proportion of layer (56.3%) farmers did not keep a record of AMU when compared to broiler farmers (37.7%) (p = 0.012). More broiler (50.7%) compared to layer (38.5%) farmers continued using the full dose of antimicrobials (p = 0.042). The most frequently used antimicrobials in broiler and layer poultry farms were Colistin (broiler vs layer: 73.9% vs. 86.75%; p = 0.024), and Ciprofloxacin (broiler vs. layer: 95.7% vs. 84.4%; p = 0.021). Farmers' beliefs were significantly associated with the spread of AMR pathogens from contaminated eggs to humans (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings reflected that majority of farmers had inadequate knowledge of AMU, less knowledgeable beliefs aboutAMU, and inappropriate AMU (e.g., poor record keeping, incomplete doses) in chicken production systems. The government should ensure education or advisory services for poultry farmers on proper AMU, enforce current veterinary laws and regulations on antimicrobials, and implement AMU surveillance systems.

Healthcare providers infection prevention practices and associated factors in community clinics in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

Healthcare associated infections impose serious challenges to safe and high-quality healthcare delivery, and have been closely associated with poor infection prevention practices. Infection prevention practices are poorly studied in Bangladesh, and no previous studies have examined these practices among healthcare providers of community clinics. The study aimed to assess infection prevention practices and associated factors among healthcare providers of community clinics in the rural area of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 128 community healthcare providers in the Kurigram district of Bangladesh who were identified from 128 community clinics using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected between November and December, 2019 via face-to-face survey using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Only 37.5% community healthcare providers had adequate knowledge on infection prevention measures, and 39.1% had good infection prevention practices. Community healthcare providers with higher education were significantly more likely to have good infection prevention practices, and good infection prevention practices were associated with availability of hand washing facilities, and of soap in community clinic, and adequate knowledge of infection prevention. Implementation of an effective training program regarding infection prevention, along with adequate supply of infection prevention basic resources, and continuous monitoring and supervision are required to improve the currently faltering infection prevention knowledge and practices among community healthcare providers in Bangladesh.

Assessment of sleep quality and its association with problematic internet use among university students: a cross-sectional investigation in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: Problematic internet use (PIU) is a major behavioral problem that has been closely associated with poor sleep quality in many different countries, but is poorly studied in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to investigate the sleep quality and its association with PIU among university students in Bangladesh. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2019 and December 2019 among 400 students attending four public universities in Bangladesh. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was used to determine sleep quality and Young's internet addiction test (IAT) was used to describe the degree of PIU. RESULTS: A significant negative association emerged between good sleep quality and PIU (p<0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression, students having PIU were 0.28 folds less likely to have good sleep quality (AOR: 0.28, 95%CI=0.18-0.43, p<0.001) when compared to non-PIU students. In addition, significant associations between sleep quality and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were identified. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an effective awareness program and development of education strategies are required to reduce internet addictive behaviors and improve sleep quality among Bangladeshi university students.

Psychological states of Bangladeshi people and associated factors during the outbreak of COVID-19: A cross-sectional survey.

COVID-19 is imposing an extremely serious challenge to individuals' physical and mental health. The enforcement of lockdown, restriction on public gathering, social distancing strategy, and unprecedented quarantine measures has affected many aspects of peoples' lives in Bangladesh with potential consequences on their mental and physical health. This study aimed to assess the psychological states and their related factors among general people in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 outbreak. An e-questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 565 Bangladeshi general people between April and May, 2020. Measures included socio-demographics, chronic disease-related variables, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Descriptive analysis and bivariate linear regression with "depression" and "anxiety" as the dependent variables were carried out to identify the factors associated with these. Results showed that 30.1% and 32.6% of participants had mild to extremely severe levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. Females were 2.3 (OR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.58-3.25, p < 0.001) and 2.2 (OR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.51-3.16, p < 0.001) times more likely to have depression and anxiety, respectively compared to males. In contrast, the odds of depression and anxiety were 2.9 (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.66-4.90, p < 0.001) and 2.0 (OR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.20-3.36, p = 0.008) times higher, respectively among individuals aged above 40 years than those aged between 18-40 years. The healthcare authority should take necessary steps considering the psychological problems of the general people during the health emergency.

Psychological Implications of Unemployment Among Bangladesh Civil Service Job Seekers: A Pilot Study.

Background: Recent trends suggest that university graduates seeking jobs are more susceptible to common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or stress. However, the mental health issues among unemployed graduates has not been explored in Bangladesh yet. Aims: This study aimed to assess for the first time the prevalence and associated risk factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) job seekers. Three hundred four graduates residing in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, who were preparing to attend the 40th BCS examination, the most sought-after employment opportunity in the country, were surveyed. Methods: Measures included socio-demographics, field of study, and career-related variables, and the Bangla Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and binary logistic regression with "depression," "anxiety," and "stress" as the dependent variables were carried out to identify the factors associated with these. Results: Overall, the prevalence of moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress was 49.3%, 53.6%, and 28.3%, respectively, with no detectable differences between genders. Insecurity related to a BCS job (OR = 0.41; CI = 0.26-0.65, p < 0.001; ref: job insecurity), family and social pressure to obtain a BCS job (OR = 4.58; CI = 1.67-12.56, p < 0.001), and stress (OR = 8.33; CI = 4.47-15.51, p < 0.001) emerged as independent predictors for depression. In addition, having part-time job was associated with anxiety (OR = 2.38; CI = 1.34-4.23, p = 0.003), and security in a BCS job and serving the nation through this job were negatively associated with stress (OR = 0.59; CI = 0.35-0.98, p = 0.042 vs. OR = 0.59; CI = 0.36-1.00, p = 0.05). Conclusion: The relatively high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among graduate job seekers should prompt implementation of market force initiatives that incorporate interventions related to the major risk factors uncovered herein.