Exploring the knowledge and practices on road safety measures among motorbikers in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic injuries (RTIs), particularly motorbike injuries, are one of the leading causes of death worldwide and have been a serious concern in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practices on road safety measures among motorbikers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022 among 350 motorbikers of Dhaka city via a series of face-to-face interviews. Motorbikers who regularly ride a motorcycle were interviewed about their road safety knowledge and practices through a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Frequency distribution, independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed in data analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 350 motorbikers, only 54.6% had good knowledge and 16.9% had poor knowledge on the signs and safety regulations of roads. Moreover, only 50.6% of respondents followed good practices while 23.4% followed poor practices of road safety measures. One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrates that the average knowledge score was significantly (p<0.05) higher among higher-educated, unmarried and non-smokers. Additionally, higher education level, non-smoking status and being Muslim were significantly (p<0.05) associated with good road safety practices. CONCLUSIONS: The overall good knowledge level and practices of road safety measures among the motorbikers was not satisfactory although the majority of them knew individual signs and regulations. Therefore, this study suggests that education and strict enforcement of traffic rules may increase their knowledge and practice behaviour regarding road safety which in turn would minimise traffic injuries and fatalities.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children: A narrative review.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people around the world, with most cases recorded among adults. The cases reported among children have been acknowledged to be minimal in comparison to adults. Nevertheless, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported to affect children of all ages, including newborns. The symptoms among children have also been identified to be similar to those observed among adults, although paediatric patients have been noted to display a spectrum of clinical features ranging from asymptomatic to moderate symptoms. Despite ample publications on the ongoing pandemic, the literature is only replete with guidelines on treating SARS-CoV-2 infection among older people. In this narrative review, comprehensive updates on the infection in children have been discussed. The latest information on the spread of the disease among children around the world, the clinical features observed among the paediatric population, as well as recommended pharmaceutical treatments of COVID-19 among this special group of patients have been covered. Further, expert consensus statements regarding the management of this highly contagious disease among pregnant women and neonates have been discussed. It is believed that this comprehensive review will provide updated information on the epidemiology and clinical features of the ongoing pandemic among paediatric patients. Additionally, the guidelines for handling SARS-CoV-2 among pregnant women and children, as reviewed in this article, are anticipated to be useful to frontline clinicians battling this fatal disease around the globe.

Gendered burdens and impacts of SARS-CoV-2: a review.

Using the SRQR EQUATOR checklist, we review the gendered burdens and impacts of SARS-CoV-2. Although men are primarily detected to be slightly more vulnerable in succumbing to the ongoing COVID-19 contagion, many researchers have recognized that women are facing more of the devastating brunt in secondary terms. Aside gendered health and social impacts, women are more disproportionately disadvantaged than men in economic terms, as they are predominantly found in the part-time and informal occupations, which have been closed down for months now since the emergence of the current global crisis. Also, since women form the vast proportion of the caregivers within the health sector, their role in handling the pandemic as frontline respondents at the hospitals put them in higher risks of contracting the disease. Despite this higher risk of infection, the peculiar attentions to women's health in the planning and rolling out of actions to contain the virus have been overlooked. Additionally, their unpaid domestic care works have also increased due to closure of schools and businesses, which have forced family members to stay at home for as long as movement control orders remain in place. In this confined state, the domestic violence against women have been recorded to be on the increase. To recommend measures that consider gendered dimensions of the current crisis, we have reviewed the various sex-based burdens and impacts of the pandemic, and proceeded to suggest necessary response actions to handle the situation. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of the outbreak on women, and how the gendered flaws in the current response strategies could be avoided in managing future global crises.

Mitigating Global Challenges: Harnessing Green Synthesized Nanomaterials for Sustainable Crop Production Systems.

Green nanotechnology, an emerging field, offers economic and social benefits while minimizing environmental impact. Nanoparticles, pivotal in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, are now sourced from green plants and microorganisms, overcoming limitations of chemically synthesized ones. In agriculture, these green-made nanoparticles find use in fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and fungicides. Nanofertilizers curtail mineral losses, bolster yields, and foster agricultural progress. Their biological production, preferred for environmental friendliness and high purity, is cost-effective and efficient. Biosensors aid early disease detection, ensuring food security and sustainable farming by reducing excessive pesticide use. This eco-friendly approach harnesses natural phytochemicals to boost crop productivity. This review highlights recent strides in green nanotechnology, showcasing how green-synthesized nanomaterials elevate crop quality, combat plant pathogens, and manage diseases and stress. These advancements pave the way for sustainable crop production systems in the future.

Psychological Adjustment and Guidance for Ageing Urban Women.

The number of older women are increasing more rapidly and it is estimated that by 2050, the number of elderly women over 60 years old will be 3.2 times that of 2000. Moreover, the number and rate of elderly women in cities where widowed life alone has increased. The study pays attention to the fragile and vulnerable group of urban elderly women. Hence, the purpose of the study to suggest psychological adjustment and guidance for ageing urban women. The study suggests that by adopting protective policies and measures in a targeted manner this problem can be resolved. It is not only a critical responsibility of the state and the government, but also the social responsibility of all sectors of society, including enterprises and non-profit sectors of society, and even every ordinary citizen to support the elderly women for making their rest of lives happier and enjoyable.

An Empirical Study on Emergency of Distant Tertiary Education in the Southern Region of Bangladesh during COVID-19: Policy Implication.

Many fields have been affected by COVID-19, including education. The pandemic has prompted a change in education due to the requirement for social distancing. Campuses are now closed in many educational institutions across the globe, and teaching and learning are now conducted online. Internationalization has significantly slowed down. A mixed-method study was designed for this research, with the goal of ascertaining the impact of COVID-19 on Bangladeshi students enrolled in higher education during and after the pandemic. A questionnaire with 19 questions on a Google form was used to collect quantitative data using a 4-point Likert scale and was conducted on 100 students from different universities in the southern part of Bangladesh, such as Barisal University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University. For collecting qualitative data, six quasi-interviews were conducted. A statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative results demonstrated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, pupils continuously received teaching and learning. The current study's findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and teaching, learning, and student achievement and a significant negative correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and student goals. The study also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect on students enrolled in higher education programs at the universities. The qualitative judgment showed that students faced many problems when joining classes, such as poor Internet connection and insufficient network and technological facilities, etc. Some students live in rural areas and have slow Internet speeds, which sometimes prevented them from joining class. The findings of the study can help policy makers in higher education to review and adopt a new policy in higher education in Bangladesh. It can also help education instructors in universities to develop a proper study plan for their students.

Climate Change and Aging Health in Developing Countries.

The climate of the Earth has changed throughout history. Climate change negatively impacts human rights in a wide range of ways. The study aims to find out the impact of climate change on aging health in developing countries. The study found that public health will be devastated if climate change continues unabated. Countries that are least responsible for global warming are most susceptible to the effects of higher temperatures, such as death and disease. In low- and middle-income countries, disasters are more likely to happen to people aged 60 and over. Although climate change affects all of us, older people are especially at risk from it, as evidenced by a growing body of research. The study also offers countermeasures and suggestions to develop aging health in developing countries affected by climate change.

Profitability determining factors of banking sector: Panel data analysis of commercial banks in South Asian countries.

Aim of the article: The main purpose of this article was to investigate the impact of the determinants of profitability on the commercial banks in Asian countries. An Asian country like Bangladesh and India was selected as the research field. The present study also pursues to examine the impact of specific factors and macroeconomic factors on the profitability in the Bangladeshi and Indian private commercial banking sectors. Methods applied and analysis tools: The data were retrieved from the Annual Reports of Indian and Bangladeshi private commercial banks covering the period of 2010-2021. As sample, 40 private commercial banks were considered randomly, of which 20 were from India and 20 were from Bangladesh. The panel data research methodology was used as an estimation technique to analyze the data. Also, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was used to scrutinize data. To check whether the models were appropriate, the Breusch-Pagan Lagrange Multiplier (LM) Test was employed. Banks' specific factors and microeconomic factors showed almost the same variations for both Bangladesh's and India's private banks. All models and tests were evaluated using E-views econometric software. The major findings: The present study finds that the Return on Asset (ROA) from the banks' specific variables, strength of the Bank size (BS), and Debt to Asset Ratio (DAR) are found to be positive and significant. For banks, the Deposit to Asset Ratio (DTAR) and the Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) are found to be negative and significant. The Equity to Asset Ratio (EAR) and Debt to Equity Ratio (DER) do not have any positive/negative impact. Contribution originality and implications: As macroeconomic variables, the inflation rate (IR) and the GDP growth rate (GDPGR) are measured and found to be positive and significant for ROA. As macroeconomic variables, the Inflation Rate (IR) and the GDP Growth Rate (GDPGR) are found to be positive and significant in the case of ROA. The concerned authorities responsible for regulating the financial performance of the banking sector can use the results of this study to take various fruitful decisions on bank profitability.

Occupational stress and health risk of employees working in the garments sector of Bangladesh: An empirical study.

The present study was conducted with a view to examining the impact of occupational stress on employees' health risk. A total number of 350 garment employees (114 supervisors and 236 workers) were selected from 25 readymade garment factories of Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur industrial areas of Bangladesh on a random sampling basis. Occupational stress was estimated using an ERIs modified questionnaire; when self-reported health problems, work related information and socio-demographic information were obtained using face-to-face interviews using a pre-formed questionnaire. The survey was conducted for 2 years from January 2020 to December 2021 in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur districts where most of the garment industries in Bangladesh are located. All data were processed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Decision Analyst Stats, Version 2.0. For analyzing data, suitable statistical tools such as two-way ANOVA, z-test, chi-square test, Pearson's product-moment correlation, stepwise multiple regressions, and descriptive statistics were used. The results of the present study reveal that the occupational stress had a significant positive influence on health risk. The findings also reveal that both the male and female employees perceived garment job highly stressful and risky for their health causes many dies and sickness, but it was higher among the female employees than their counterparts. Study suggests that due to major illness and diseases garments' employees are lacks of sound health that have to consider remedying for reducing occupational stress and health risk.

Discrimination and social exclusion of third-gender population (Hijra) in Bangladesh: A brief review.

The Hijra community is marginalized in social, political, and economic life and especially stigmatized in society. It is their birthright to make use of society's opportunities and amenities. This overview aimed to summarize the stigma, prejudice, exclusions, and discriminatory attitudes toward third-gender populations (Hijra) in Bangladesh from the mainstream society based on a critical assessment of available data and evidence. The paper also explored the socio-economic situation of the third-gender community in Bangladesh regarding income, education, health, housing, social relations, and outcome through a critical literature review. Here, we have highlighted the magnitudes of social exclusion that the Hijra minority group in Bangladesh experiences. The Hijra in Bangladesh faces severe mistreatment due to socio-cultural norms. This minority group suffers from extreme social, cultural, political, and economic exclusion in Bangladesh. Their livelihood is different than other communities in the society. The primary source of income for hijras in Bangladesh is begging and prostitution. They have no access within civil society, even in times of recreational and marital practices. People are unreasonably afraid of their presence in public places. Apart from that, they are physically and psychologically abused and deprived of appropriate medical and civil support. Hijras are deprived of government facilities and are accustomed to miserable lifestyles in Bangladesh. They are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged minority as they lack access to quality services, health care, and employment opportunities. Social recognition and financial independence may be the first step to alleviating discrimination toward the third-gender population. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should be concerned about ensuring the rights of the Hijra community must be protected.

Impact of COVID-19 on Psychology among the University Students.

The purpose of the study is to find out the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students. The study focuses on the university students from different public and private universities of Bangladesh through a set of questionnaires according to the guideline of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). The result among 15 543 respondents shows that 44.59% are suffering from severe anxiety, 48.41% moderate anxiety, and only 3.82% mild anxiety. The results highlight that all epidemic-related stressors are positively correlated with the level of anxiety. Among the epidemic-related stressors, worry about economic influences during and after COVID-19 (r = 0.342, p < 0.001) and worry about the influence of COVID-19 on daily life (r = 0.340, p < 0.001) have a highly positive impact on the level of anxiety. Following these stressors, worry about academic delays due to COVID-19 (r = 0.326, p < 0.001) and worry about the social support during COVID-19 (r = 0.321, p < 0.001) have moderately and positively correlated with the level of anxiety. The study suggests that proper government support, as well as social awareness, should be monitored during epidemics for decreasing anxiety and maintaining a good mental health of the university students.