ABSTRACT
Background: Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continue to affect millions of people around the world, including Bangladesh. Children and adolescents are especially susceptible to this disease. Classical risk factors, i.e. poverty, overcrowding, ignorance and insufficient health care services are responsible for the high incidence and prevalence of these diseases. To assess the prevalence of RF and RHD among children, a school survey was conducted in Bharateswari Homes, in the district of Tangail, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 947 students were examined. Revised Jones’ criteria (1992), and clinical examination were used for the diagnosis of RF and RHD. Results: Four cases of RF/RHD were found giving the prevalence of 4.22/1000. This is lower than the prevalence reported in eighties, but is consistent with those found in nineties. Conclusion: Among the school children, there is a declining trend in the prevalence of RF/RHD.
ABSTRACT
This cross sectional study was done in Gopalganj district from September 1997 to August 1998. To ascertain the magnitude and causes of maternal deaths and perinatal and neonatal outcome of the babies. Two hundred five in maternal deaths occurring from 1994 to 1997 were investigated by verbal autopsy. Teenager mothers had more deaths in first pregnancy. Maternal deaths increased with gravidity above 30 years. Haemorrhage and eclampsia were common causes of death. Eclampsia was prominent in primigravids <20 years while haemorrhage occurred more in multigravidas between 25-35 years of age (P = 0.029 for age, P = <0.001 for gravidity). Nearly 64% of maternal deaths occurred in postpartum period. Among live births, 45.6% babies died before their first birth day. The findings support the need of increasing the age of marriage and first childbirth, through strengthened family planning programme and ensuring skilled birth attendance during delivery. It also stresses need for communication on danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth.