Breast cancer screening awareness, practice, and perceived barriers: A community-based cross-sectional study among women in south-eastern Bangladesh.

Background and Aims: Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. An early-stage screening is the best way to reduce both the morbidity and mortality burden of breast cancer. The study evaluated awareness, practice, and perceived barriers toward breast cancer screening in Bangladesh. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 in Chattogram, Bangladesh, where 869 women (18 years or above) were randomly selected in this study. Results: Among 869 participants, 47.3% of women were recruited from urban areas and 52.7% participated from rural areas. Only 32.68% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 44.28% vs. 22.27%) were aware of breast self-examination (BSE) and 52.47% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 63.75% vs. 42.36%) had ever heard Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), respectively. Among the respondents, 27.73% (urban vs. rural: 40.15% vs. 16.59%) performed their BSE, and only 14.61% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 21.90% vs. 8.08%) had ever visited for CBE. Women residing in rural areas were approximately three times (AOR: 0.36 [95% CI: 0.25-0.52], AOR: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.23-0.58]) less likely to perform BSE and CBE, respectively, than urban dwellers. We found that higher-educated women tend to do more BSE and CBE than women with low levels of education. Perceptions of having "no symptoms" and being "risk-free" are leading barriers to breast screening among women. Conclusion: Poor awareness and practice were observed in screening among the urban and rural women in Bangladesh. Urban area dwellers had comparatively better understanding and practice than rural dwellers. We think extending health education and health promotion activities toward breast cancer screening is essential in this region.

Trends in the Prevalence of Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladesh (2010-2020): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased in Bangladesh. This paper has reviewed published studies on hypertension and T2DM from 2010 to 2020 in Bangladesh and conducted a meta-analysis. METHODS: The PubMed database was used for systematic search. Hypertension and T2DM were considered for measuring pooled prevalence by meta-analysis. The random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of hypertension (n = 30) and T2DM (n = 21) in relevant studies. The quality of the reviewed studies was determined by sampling strategy, sample size, and outcome assessment. The meta-analysis protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020206315). RESULTS: The pooled hypertension and T2DM prevalence was 21.6% (95% CI: 18.8%-24.4%) and 13.6% (95% CI: 10.8%-16.5%), respectively. Females were more hypertensive than males (M vs. F: 18.6% vs. 24.8%), and T2DM was higher in females (M vs. F: 12.4% vs. 13.3%). Urban dwellers were more hypertensive and diabetic than rural people (urban vs. rural: 28.5% vs. 20.3% and 18.8% vs. 14.2%, respectively). An 8% increase in the prevalence of hypertension and T2DM became more than double compared to the 1995-2010 period. CONCLUSION: Future research should focus on the underlying factors that increase the prevalence of these diseases and prevention strategies to reduce the trend of increasing prevalence.

Complex relationships between Aedes vectors, socio-economics and dengue transmission-Lessons learned from a case-control study in northeastern Thailand.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dengue fever is an important public health concern in most tropical and subtropical countries, and its prevention and control rest on vector surveillance and control. However, many aspects of dengue epidemiology remain unclear; in particular, the relationship between Aedes vector abundance and dengue transmission risk. This study aims to identify entomological and immunological indices capable of discriminating between dengue case and control (non-case) houses, based on the assessment of candidate indices, as well as individual and household characteristics, as potential risk factors for acquiring dengue infection. METHODS: This prospective, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in northeastern Thailand between June 2016 and August 2019. Immature and adult stage Aedes were collected at the houses of case and control patients, recruited from district hospitals, and at patients' neighboring houses. Blood samples were tested by RDT and PCR to detect dengue cases, and were processed with the Nterm-34 kDa salivary peptide to measure the human immune response to Aedes bites. Socioeconomic status, and other individual and household characteristics were analyzed as potential risk factors for dengue. RESULTS: Study findings showed complex relationships between entomological indices and dengue risk. The presence of DENV-infected Aedes at the patient house was associated with 4.2-fold higher odds of dengue. On the other hand, Aedes presence (irrespective of infectious status) in the patient's house was negatively associated with dengue. In addition, the human immune response to Aedes bites, was higher in control than in case patients and Aedes adult abundance and immature indices were higher in control than in case houses at the household and the neighboring level. Multivariable analysis showed that children aged 10-14 years old and those aged 15-25 years old had respectively 4.5-fold and 2.9-fold higher odds of dengue infection than those older than 25 years. CONCLUSION: DENV infection in female Aedes at the house level was positively associated with dengue infection, while adult Aedes presence in the household was negatively associated. This study highlights the potential benefit of monitoring dengue viruses in Aedes vectors. Our findings suggest that monitoring the presence of DENV-infected Aedes mosquitoes could be a better indicator of dengue risk than the traditional immature entomological indices.

Is COVID-19 spreading and curing silently: an observation of three family clusters in Bangladesh.

Objectives The number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases is increasing in Bangladesh. Many people have suffered from symptoms like COVID-19 during this pandemic, and some people have cured without taking any treatment or taking minor pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. However, they might be spreading their infections among their family members and perhaps in the community. It is unsure that individuals with COVID-19-like symptoms are positive with COVID-19, but our concern is, during this pandemic, any types of symptoms such as flu-like symptoms should have been taken seriously. This study was observed in the cases from three families with COVID-19 like symptoms. Case presentation This observational study was done between May 20 and Jun 2, 2020, in Bangladesh. The members of the inspected families shared COVID-19 like symptoms that were lasted for 3-10 days. Conclusions COVID-19 might be spread and cured silently in Bangladesh, which recommends that awareness is needed throughout the country to prevent the spreading of the disease.