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dc.contributor.authorAhmed, Syéd Masud
dc.contributor.authorHossain, Md Awlad
dc.contributor.authorRajaChowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque
dc.contributor.authorBhuiya, Abbas Uddin
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-02T09:48:26Z
dc.date.available2017-01-02T09:48:26Z
dc.date.copyright2011
dc.date.issued2011
dc.identifier.citationAhmed, S. M., Hossain, M. A., RajaChowdhury, A. M., & Bhuiya, A. U. (2011). The health workforce crisis in bangladesh: Shortage, inappropriate skill-mix and inequitable distribution. Human Resources for Health, 9 doi:10.1186/1478-4491-9-3en_US
dc.identifier.issn14784491
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10361/7453
dc.descriptionThis article was published in the Human Resources for Health [ © 2011 Ahmed et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. ] and the definite version is available at : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-9-3 The Journal's website is at: http://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1478-4491-9-3en_US
dc.description.abstractBangladesh is identified as one of the countries with severe health worker shortages. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data on human resources for health (HRH) in the formal and informal sectors in Bangladesh. This data is essential for developing an HRH policy and plan to meet the changing health needs of the population. This paper attempts to fill in this knowledge gap by using data from a nationally representative sample survey conducted in 2007.Methods: The study population in this survey comprised all types of currently active health care providers (HCPs) in the formal and informal sectors. The survey used 60 unions/wards from both rural and urban areas (with a comparable average population of approximately 25 000) which were proportionally allocated based on a 'Probability Proportion to Size' sampling technique for the six divisions and distribution areas. A simple free listing was done to make an inventory of the practicing HCPs in each of the sampled areas and cross-checking with community was done for confirmation and to avoid duplication. This exercise yielded the required list of different HCPs by union/ward.Results: HCP density was measured per 10 000 population. There were approximately five physicians and two nurses per 10 000, the ratio of nurse to physician being only 0.4. Substantial variation among different divisions was found, with gross imbalance in distribution favouring the urban areas. There were around 12 unqualified village doctors and 11 salespeople at drug retail outlets per 10 000, the latter being uniformly spread across the country. Also, there were twice as many community health workers (CHWs) from the non-governmental sector than the government sector and an overwhelming number of traditional birth attendants. The village doctors (predominantly males) and the CHWs (predominantly females) were mainly concentrated in the rural areas, while the paraprofessionals were concentrated in the urban areas. Other data revealed the number of faith/traditional healers, homeopaths (qualified and non-qualified) and basic care providers.Conclusions: Bangladesh is suffering from a severe HRH crisis--in terms of a shortage of qualified providers, an inappropriate skills-mix and inequity in distribution--which requires immediate attention from policy makers.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisher© 2011 Ahmed et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_US
dc.relation.urihttp://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1478-4491-9-3
dc.subjectHealth workforce crisisen_US
dc.titleThe health workforce crisis in Bangladesh: shortage, inappropriate skill-mix and inequitable distributionen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.description.versionPublished
dc.contributor.departmentJames P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-9-3


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