Association between depressive symptoms of mothers and eating behaviors of school-going children in Urban Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between depressive symptoms among mothers and the eating behaviors of their school-going children in Urban Bangladesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the context of the urban area of Bangladesh. A multistage sampling technique was applied to select 324 children's mothers in Dhaka City. Data were collected from both city corporation settings in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Semi-structured questionnaires were used in this study. We estimated the depressive symptoms among mothers using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. We examined the association of mothers of school-going children's socio-demographic variables and eating behaviors of school-going children with their mother's depression by using chi-square and evaluating the impact of these variables on mothers' depression through univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS: In our study, 57.7% of the mothers of school-going children had depressive symptoms, and 42.3% had no depressive symptoms. The study explored that consuming fewer vegetables (AOR = 0.237, 95% CI: 0.099-0.569), taking fewer fruits (AOR = 0.177, 95% CI: 0.093-0.337), and interestingly, taking fast food less than 4 days per week (AOR = 3.024, 95% CI: 1.517-6.031) were significantly associated with mothers' depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Mothers with depressive symptoms of school-going children in Dhaka city are alarmingly high as a grave concern. The eating behaviors of children are associated with their mothers' depressive symptoms. With an aim to build rigorous awareness on depression and child's healthy eating behaviors, it is imperative to arrange health education and awareness related programs.

Prevalence and determinants of physical violence against doctors in Bangladeshi tertiary care hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The increasing physical violence against doctors in the health sector has become an alarming global problem and a key concern for the health system in Bangladesh. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of physical violence against doctors in Bangladeshi tertiary care hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed among 406 doctors working in tertiary care hospitals. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and the binary logistic regression model was employed for predicting physical violence against doctors. RESULTS: Of the participants, 50 (12.3%) doctors reported being exposed to physical violence in 12 months prior to the survey. According to logistic regression analysis, aged less than 30 years or younger, male and never-married doctors were prone to physical violence. Similarly, doctors from public hospitals and those worked in emergency departments were at higher risk of physical violence. More than 70% of victims reported that patients' relatives were the main perpetrators. Two-thirds of the victims referred to violence in the hospitals as a grave concern. CONCLUSIONS: Physical violence against doctors is relatively common in the emergency departments and public hospitals in Bangladesh. This study found that male and younger doctors were at high risk of exposing physical violence. To prevent hospital violence, authorities must develop human resources, bolster patient protocol and offer physician training.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptomatology among undergraduate university students of Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an obsessive-compulsive-related disorder causing clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning. The objective of this study was to assess the BDD symptoms and factors associated with BDD symptomatology among undergraduate students. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to March 2020 in six different universities (3 private and 3 public) across Bangladesh. A total of 1204 undergraduate students were selected through the multistage sampling technique. The BDD-YBOCS tool was used to assess the BDD symptomatology. RESULTS: Mild to moderate BDD symptoms was observed among 11.0 % participants, and 1.5 % had severe BDD symptoms. Around 58 % of participants had at least one body defect. Most embarrassments occurred due to acne (12.5 %), followed by thin hair (9.5 %) and scar marks (6.4 %). Males had significantly lower odds of having BDD symptomatology (OR = 0.394; 95%CI = 0.254-0.614) and Participants aged between 20 and 24 years had higher odds (OR = 4.639; 95%CI = 1.024-21.107). Studying in private universities had 1.7 times higher odds in comparison to the public universities (OR = 1.671, 95%CI = 1.052-2.656). Smokers were more prone to have BDD symptomatology than non-smokers (OR = 2.72; 95%CI = 1.571-4.709) and students who had body defects had higher odds (OR = 2.647; CI = 1.723-4.066) of BDD symptomatology. CONCLUSION: The study has successfully revealed status and predictors of BDD symptomatology among university students. Further nationwide studies would be conducted to know the overall situation of Bangladesh.

Association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in Northern Rural Bangladesh: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Adequate good quality of sleep is essential for physical fitness during pregnancy as well as being a depressive symptoms-free mind. However, there is little evidence of the relationship between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in Bangladesh. This study aimed to find the association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in northern rural Bangladesh. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from May 2021 to June 2021 among 481 pregnant women tested positive in the pregnancy test of Jaldhaka and Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari district, Rangpur Division. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire including socio-demographic conditions, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms, comprising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: 8.94% of the women had depressive symptoms, whereas 38.88% of the participants were bad sleepers. However, women who had depressive symptoms [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.55; 95% CI 1.33-4.9] and educational qualifications above 10 years [AOR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39-0.92] were associated with poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: A higher percentage of pregnant women had poor sleep quality, whereas depressive symptoms and academic background of the participants were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Ensuring adequate sleep time and better quality could be helpful to prevent depressive symptoms.

Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With and Without COVID-19: A Comparative Study From Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but insufficient research has investigated pregnancy and its outcomes in women with COVID-19. This cross-sectional study compared birth outcomes related to COVID-19 between Bangladeshi pregnant women with and without COVID-19. METHODS: The study was conducted at 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from March to August 2020. Pregnant women admitted for delivery at these hospitals with laboratory results (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) were analyzed. Using convenience sampling, we included 70 COVID-19-positive and 140 COVID-19-negative pregnant women. Trained and experienced midwives conducted the interviews. Data were analyzed using the t-test, the chi-square test, and univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: Pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 4.37) and undergo a cesarean section (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.51 to 7.07). There were no significant differences in birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, and the Apgar score at 1 minute or 5 minutes post-delivery between women with and without COVID-19. All the newborn babies who were born to COVID-19-positive women were COVID-19-negative. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby and undergo a cesarean section. For this reason, physicians should be particularly cautious to minimize adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborn babies.

A case of acute encephalopathy and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction following mRNA-1273 vaccination: possible adverse effect?

A 77-year-old man with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was admitted to the intensive care unit of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital with acute encephalopathy and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The patient was on antidiabetic medicine along with H2 blocker and multivitamins for his existing diseases. The patient's attendant reported that the patient had received his first dose of the Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine just 2 days ago. Physical examination revealed that he had a Glasgow Coma Scale of 8/15; a pulse of 106 beats/min; a respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min; oxygen saturation of 80% on room air, which became with 10 L of oxygen and blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg at the time of admission. During the hospital stay, the patient was treated conservatively with intravenous antibiotics and other necessary medication. Although we have observed the onset of encephalopathy and NSTEMI following COVID vaccination for this patient, we, as healthcare professionals, cannot directly attribute the cause of the complications to the Moderna vaccine without further epidemiological studies with large samples.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression among the mothers of school-going children in Dhaka city, Bangladesh: A multi stage sampling-based study.

BACKGROUND: Motherhood is associated with extra stress, and mothers of young children are particularly prone to developing depression and mental health problems. METHODOLOGY: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, from June to December 2019. Mothers of school-going children were recruited through a multistage sampling technique. Dhaka city was divided into two divisions and then further subdivided into public and private sectors. Six schools were selected from each sector by using a simple random sampling technique. A list of class five to eight students were collected from each school by systematic random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. The rate of depressive symptoms was measured by the validated Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). RESULT: A total of 324 women participated in this study; the majority of the women (85.5%) were Muslim, 67.0% were housewives, and 53.1% had a girl child. Among the women, 15.4% had mild, 22.2% had moderate, and 20.1% had severe depression. Most of the child's behavioral and lifestyle factors were associated with the mother's depression. Adjusted analyses indicate that if a child is often unhappy, depressed, or tearful [(OR (95%CI = 22.27 (8.39-59.11)], gets nervous in new situations or easily loses confidence [(OR (95%CI) = 5.45 (2.96-10.00)], often lies or cheats [(OR (95%CI) = 8.93 (3.76-21.22)], gets afraid easily [(OR (95%CI) = 7.09 (3.79-13.24)], watches television for 3 h or more [(OR (95%CI) = 23.77 (6.46-87.48)] browses the internet for 3 h or more [(OR (95%CI = 7.37 (2.76-19.67)] were associated with mother's depression. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that depression among the mothers of school-going children in Dhaka city of Bangladesh is high. Several lifestyles and behavioral factors of school-going children are significantly associated with the mothers' depression.

Patterns of injuries and injury severity among hospitalized road traffic injury (RTI) patients in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are one of the key public health issues worldwide causing 1.3 million deaths every year. This study aimed to determine the patterns of injuries due to road traffic accidents (RTAs), the severity of injuries, and factors associated with injury severity. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among RTA victims, who attended two large tertiary care hospitals located inside the Dhaka metropolitan area, through structured interview between 28 January and 22 March 2020. RESULTS: Among 375 RTI patients, a total of 1390 injuries were recorded among interviewed patients, yielding a mean of 3.7 injuries per patient. The most frequently injured systems were external (n = 351), lower limb (n = 235), head and neck (n = 151), and face (n = 150). The mean ISS were 20.96 ± 12.027 with a maximum of 65 and a minimum of 4. Among patients, 87 (23.20%) had a severe injury, and 37 (9.87%) patients were critically injured. A statistically significant variation in ISS was observed in ANOVA among various categories of age, education, occupation, and purpose of going outside, vehicle type and fitness, accident type, road type, times required in hospitalization, and death history (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study has revealed several important findings which will help stakeholders and policymakers devise better policies to reduce RTA and RTA related injuries in Bangladesh.

Legal and social consequences of substance use: Results from a nationwide study in Bangladesh.

Substance use is a major public health concern and its consequences can destroy someone's life. This study aimed to explore the legal and social consequences of substance use in Bangladesh. We conducted a nationwide descriptive cross-sectional study among relapse cases of substance use from January to December 2018. We visited 138 drug rehabilitation centers countrywide and were able to recruit 939 relapse cases, from where 28 cases were excluded due to incomplete data. Finally, data from 911 cases were analyzed. The majority (89.3%) of the study participants were 19-45 years old. Most commonly used drugs were amphetamine (76.1%), cannabis (75.0%), alcohol (54.3%), cough sirup (54.2%), heroin (47.0%) and sleeping pills (21.6%). Almost half (49.5%) of the substance users were arrested for drug use and among arrested cases, 52.1% were sent to jail. About 75% of the substance users experienced a lack of family interaction, 70% experienced destroyed family relationships, and 71.4% faced social stigma. Our study also found 60% of the participants were bullied, 50% were deprived or unwilling to have social interactions. Moreover, 13.8% of the participants left home, while 8% got divorced. Our data represented the significant impact of substance use on the legal aspect and social life of individuals. However, with a multi-dimensional treatment, rehabilitation, and social intervention approach, it is not impossible to overcome. Therefore, we believe it is imperative to focus on social awareness and to create a robust platform for health promotion and improve quality of life.

Quality of Life (QoL) of cancer patients and its association with nutritional and performance status: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of Life (QoL), for long, has been a multifactorial concerning issue in oncology. The aim of this study was to determine QoL of cancer patients and its association with nutrition, and performance status. METHODOLOGY: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study carried out at 2 cancer centers and one tertiary level hospital in Dhaka city during the months of July to December, 2019. Data was collected through structured interviews and analyzed by SPSS-25 statistical package software. RESULTS: Among 279 participants, 14(5.02%) had high QoL, 35(12.54%) had average QoL, 150(53.76%) had low QoL, and remaining 80(28.67%) had very low QoL. The prevalence of severe malnutrition was 12.5% and 43.7% of patients had poor performance status. A statistically significant association between QoL and, nutritional and performance status was identified (p < 0.05). The ANOVA also indicated a statistically significant variation in QoL score among nutritional categories (P < 0.01) and performance status (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: A relatively higher prevalence of poor QoL was identified in this study which varies among nutritional categories and performance statuses. The proper management of predictors of QoL is imperative during treatment procedures.

Determinants of overweight and obesity among urban school-going children and adolescents: a case-control study in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity is a major public health concern all over the world. Overweight or obese children have a higher risk of becoming obese in adulthood and are at higher risk of associated chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among urban school children and adolescents in Bangladesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among students aged 10-16 years in 10 schools of Dhaka city. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and students' exposure to various risk factors. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Family income (p = 0.000), mother's weight (p = 0.036), school activity (p = 0.046), total physical activity (p = 0.008), sedentary activities (p = 0.014), eating fast food (0.008) and cakes/biscuits (p = 0.018) were found as potential determinants of overweight and obesity of children and adolescents. A multiple logistic regression revealed family income >50,000 per month [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.07, p = 0.001], no physical activity (AOR = 38.3, p = 0.004), more than 4 h of sedentary activities (AOR = 4.84, p = 0.02), regular consumption of fast food (AOR = 3.05, p = 0.042) are risk factors associated with childhood overweight/obesity. Whereas, having a normal weight mother (AOR = 0.51, p = 0.037) and eating cakes/biscuits less than 3 days a week (AOR = 0.33, p = 0.02) were found as protective factors. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study will be very useful for public health professionals to increase awareness regarding risk factors of overweight and obesity, in order to reduce the future burden of obesity-associated chronic diseases.