Research Reports (2005): Health Studies, Vol - XXXVIII

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/13100

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

Trial effectiveness of daily and flexible administration of micronutrient sprinkles to control anaemia in young children in rural Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-10) Haseen, Farhana; Hyder, Ziauddin; Ip, Hedy; Rahman, Mizanur; Zlotkin, Stanley
Iron deficiency-anaemia is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Infants and young children aged between 6-24 months are one of the most vulnerable groups. Although iron intervention programme, such as iron-folate tablets, have been implemented for pregnant women at the national level in many countries, a suitable effective public health strategy to control childhood anaemia remains to be established. In response to this need, researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto in Canada developed "Sprinkles", an innovative 'home-fortification' strategy. Sprinkles consist of microencapsulated iron (as ferrous fumarate) and other essential micronutrients in powder fonn that are packed into single serve sachets, which are to be mixed into any kind of weaning food right before serving. The efficacy of Sprinkles in improving anaemia status of young children has been tested in several countries around the world. A previous efficacy trial in Bangladesh, testing daily and weekly administration of Sprinkles, revealed in focus group discussions that caregivers preferred more flexible instructions for Sprinkles use. Therefore, in this study, the flexible administration of Sprinkles was examined on the basis that it may increase programme effectiveness by improving adherence.
Saving newborn lives in rural communities: learning from the BRAC experience
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-12) Hadi, Abdullahel; Ahmed, Munir
SNL study is a pilot project of BRAC to improve the health of the newborn in two sub-districts in Bangladesh. Neonatal mortality -- major health crisis in the poor countries -- has gripped poor countries for many years. This problem has been compounded by a lack of health care resources and poverty. The neonatal mortality has been very high in Bangladesh. Policy makers are therefore seeking ways to reduce illness and prevent deaths by improving neonatal care in the home and at local health facilities. Method SNL project has two service delivery strategies tb improve the health of the neonates. The operations research (OR) design includes a comparison area for each of the two delivery strategies. All women living in the study areas, who gave birth were identified and included in this study. The data were collection for this study continued from March 2004 - March 2005. The data collection includes several steps: identification of pregnant women, antenatal interview before two weeks of the delivery, interview at 48 hours after delivery and follow-up interviews after four weeks of delivery. Outcomes The outcome measures include changes in patterns of home care, health practices and referral. Other outcomes included estimates of neonatal mortality and illness. The study also generated a body of information on the process of introducing such an intervention in communities, and on the programme experiences with planning and participation. Lessons Learned The SNL initiative demonstrates that safe delivery and essential newborn care can be strengthened at the community level. Short duration of programme implementation is unlikely to produce visible changes and, thereby, to reach to any credible conclusions. Not all improvements are likely to sustain in the absence of continuity of the efforts. The programme design and implementation plan could have been more realistic than it has been.
Primary healthcare in later life: improving services in Bangladesh and Vietnam (PHILL): post-intervention report on qualitative data
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-11) Hossain, Awlad; Luong, D H; Zaman, Shahaduz; Oanh, Tran Thi Mai
When thinking of the development of primary healthcare, the position of older people within households and communities should be taken into account. Relationships between primary healthcare and infonnal support for older people, health education and the promotion of health active life expectancy are of primary importance. The Primary Healthcare in Later Life: Improving Service in Bangladesh and Vietnam (PH ILL) project aimed at developing innovative and policy-relevant primary healthcare delivery strategies for low-income countries targeted for older people. The project was conducted with the aim to identify the effectiveness of low-cost, preventive and health promotion interventions in improving the primary healthcare of people sixty years and older in rural communities in Bangladesh and Vietnam. The three-year project (October 2002- September 2005) was implemented as a collaborative project with four member partnerships including the Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh, the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) in Vietnam and Overseas Development Group (ODG)lUniversity of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK. Both Bangladesh and Vietnam have placed a strong emphasis on the development of primary healthcare services. Still, the scarcity of resources in the healthcare sector, compounded by inadequate training, have often hindered the delivery of basic health services to vulnerable groups. Although many changes have taken place within the society incluping the healthcare sector, no study has investigated the impact of these changes on older people, and no specific policies nor interventions have been introduced to improve healthcare for this particular population group in these countries. The study and its aims The purpose of the study is to describe perceptive and cognitive aspects relating in health of old people in Bangladesh and Vietnam, including aspects related to quality of life. The study will also examine the healthcare related outcomes of the interventions provided. The study sites in Bangladesh were located in four villages (Ashikati, Damokergaon, Kumardugi and Mandari), in two unions (Ashikati and Shahmahmudpur), under Chandpur Sadar thana in the Chandpur district. In these areas lived approximately 600 older persons. In Vietnam, the study site was conducted in two communes in Chi Linh district, Hai Duong province. The interventions were directed to older people, family caregivers and formal care providers. All the caregivers came from elderly household. They were provided educational interventions directed formal care providers and family caregivers and for older people themselves. The interventions also had health check-ups and training activities for the older people. Even self-help groups for older people were conducted. Methods In both countries the qualitative study was conducted both pre- and post-intervention by focus group and individual interviews with older people themselves, main family caregivers and healthcare providers. The data were obtained from the 60 years old and older people, their caregivers and healthcare providers both before and after the intervention. The participants were purposefully selected.
Micro Health Insurance (MHI) pilot of BRAC: a demand side study
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-12) Matin, Imran; Imam, Nuzhat; Ahmed, Syed Masud
Identifying Non-communicable Disease (NCD) risk factors in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-11) Hadi, Abdullahel
Effect of Anthelminthic treatment on Helminth infection and Anaemia among the female workers of the Ayesha Abed Foundation in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-05) Khan, Marufa Aziz; Islam, Qazi Shafayetul; Quashem, Iftekhar; Jalal, Chowdhury SB
Child to child approach under ECD Programme of BRAC: any change in knowledge and practice?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-05) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Rana, AKM Masud; Khan, Aniere Ehmar
BRAC HIV and AIDS Programme: the mid-term evaluation
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-12) Hashima-e-Nasreen

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