Research Reports (1997): Health Studies, Vol - XXIII

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/13621

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Muktagacha: a targeted nutrition project in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-12) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Mahmud, Zeba; Chowdhury, Sadia A; Nasser, Kawshiki; Hyder, SM Ziauddin
Malnutrition is one of the major public health problems in Bangladesh. Since 1993, BRAC, a national non-governmental organisation (NGO), has been carrying out a targeted nutrition project in a thana (sub-district) of Bangladesh. The major emphasis of the project are nutrition education and food supplementation to the vulnerable groups. This case study, done at the request of UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), presents the project with special attention given to different aspects of 'targeting'.
Medical waste disposal at BRAC Health Centres : an environmental study
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-06) Akter, Nasima; Acott, Rachael E; Sattar, M G; Chowdhury, Sadia A
The study was conducted to determine the awareness level of BRAC's Health Centre staff on disposal and handling of medical wastes, and to recommend improved methods to handle and dispose of medical waste in order to minimize the adverse impact on human health and the environment. Data was collected from 14 BHCs between during December to March 1997 from Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts using a two pronged approach: (i) field observations, and (ii) interviews. It was found that the health centers that dealt with deliveries and laboratory facilities produce hazardous and pathological waste. There ts insufficient awareness of the magnitude of the medical waste issue by health care workers and their beneficiaries Proper laboratory techniques (both preparation and analysis), and disposal of waste water are overlooked. In BHCs waste was burnt in open pits behind the clinic facilities and buried in the ground, and there was rarely a fixed location. The chemicals used for the staining and preservation of slides for the sterilization and cleaning of equipment and surroundings are potentially harmful to the laboratory technician and the environment. There has been no formal training of staff to teach them how to deal with the disposal of medical wastes, although they received training on laboratory analysis, but it is done on an adhoc basis. Environmental and health impacts associated with laboratory, delivery and tuberculosis wastes are: accumulation of toxic chemicals within the soil (proximity to agricultural fields. humans. soil organisms, wildlife, cattle); ground water contamination; public nuisance; improper sterilization of instruments used in labour room causing infection to mother and child; habitat destruction due to the increasing the number of sites necessary for disposal of degradable and non-degradable wastes. Open air burning does not guarantee proper incineration, and releases toxic fumes into the atmosphere from the burning of plastics i.e., PCB's. In conclusion. it can be said that close monitoring of existing safety regulations and guidelines. increasing awareness on environmental hazards, and proper waste management planning m needed to ensure health and environmental safety.
Decline in child immunization in rural Bangladesh: issues for policy implication
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-09) Hadi, Abdullahel; Kamal, Firoz M.
The study was conducted on all the under two children living in 70 BRAC surveillance villages in 10 districts of Bangladesh. The data were collected in October 1996. A decline was observed in immunisation coverage in 1996 compared to 1995 coverage in the same area. However, the lowest coverage area like Kishoregonj showed an increase from 27.7 percent to 45.8 percent in one year. In high coverage districts with the immunisation rate more than 90 percent, there was a decline. Such district-wise variation was statistically significant (p<0.001). This effective and efficient way of reducing morbidity and mortality has started showing stagnation and in some areas a clear reversal. The study also reinforces the finding of some previous studies that parents education plays a significant role in child immunisation. Hence, the issue of developing much needed sociocultural infra-structure through education has an implication on policy planning.
National Immunization Day (NID) campaign in Bangladesh: are the participation and coverage increasing?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-12) Hadi, Abdullahel; Kamal, Firoz M.
Report on the first seasonal round survey: household health economy (BRAC-ICDDR,B joint research project)
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1996-03) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas; Khan, Monirul Islam
Morbidity prevalence and health care-seeking behavior of BRAC member and non-member households households: evidences from Matlab. Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas
Understanding the morbidity profile-and health care seeking behaviour of socioeconomic strata of the community is important for planning and delivery of appropriate health services, especially for the poor. This paper attempts to explore the effects of the BRA.C development interventions on changes in health care-seeking behaviour of the beneficiary households. It is hypothesized that BRAC 's economic and non-economic inputs (like preventive health and nutrition intervention) through it's comprehensive Rural Development Programme (RDP) will influence the health care-seeking behaviour of the participant households by reducing the proportion of those who currently go without treatment or seek spiritual healing or largely in-effective traditional medicine.
Household sanitation and hygiene practices of BRAC member and non-member households: evidences from Matlab, Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas
Provision of potable water and sanitation facilities for the vast majority of the poverty-stricken people of developing countries remains a formidable challenge for sustainable development To accomplish this task, policy makers agree that water and sanitation should be a task of the people with government participation rather than being a task of the government with people's participation. The health benefits resulting from improved sanitation and water supplies will be limited if behaviour modification does not occur simultaneously. NGOs can play a significant role in this :field. BRAC's EHC integrates preventive health inputs with RDP's mainstream activities in a comprehensive package. We tried to see how these activities translate into desirable health behaviour among beneficiary households by comparing them with households of a similar socioeconomic status but not receiving these inputs.
Providing AIDS awareness education through village based women’s organization
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-11) Hashima-E-Nasreen; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Bhuiya, Abbas; Rana, AKM Masud
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a basic AIDS education module delivered through grassroot NGO network in rural Matlab, Bangladesh. It also explored the level of dissemination of knowledge gained by the BRAC members to their spouses and neighbours. Methods: Some basics of AIDS awareness education was provided to the local BRAC staff, shasthya shebika (village health workers) and village women through a one-day training workshop, village organization meetings and campaign. Two surveys, one before intervention (baseline) and the another after intervention were carried out in 10 villages of Matlab RDP area where BRAC is working either alone or jointly with ICDDR,B. A total of 788 BRAC members, their husbands and neighbours were surveyed randomly using a pretested structured questionnaire covering sociodernographic information, respondents' knowledge on what HIV/AIDS is, its transmission, facts and myths of HIV/AIDS, prevention and high risk behaviour/population. Pre- and post intervention findings were compared. Appropriate statistical tests were done where needed. Results: The analysis showed significant improvement in knowledge of BRAC members following intervention. This improvement was not seen in case of neighbours and husbands. The dissemination of knowledge from the BRAC members to their neighbours and husbands was found to be very poor. Conclusion: Findings of this study would be helpful for the policymakers in formulating low-cost strategies for effective IEC on AIDS through grassroot NGO network in rural Bangladesh.
Communication network in reproductive health information dissemination to the adolescents
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-12) Hashima-E-Nasreen; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Aziz, Ayesha; Rana, AKM Masud

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