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Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/7176

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McDonaldization without a McDonald's: globalization and food culture as social determinants of health in urban Bangladesh
(© Association for the Study of Food and Society 2013, 2013) Zaman, Shahaduz; Selim, Nasima; Joarder, Taufique; James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
Bangladesh is one of the few developing countries where there is no McDonald's and yet the process of “McDonaldization” is in full progress. This paper explores the food consumption practices of a group of affluent university-educated urban youth in Bangladesh to illustrate this process of McDonaldization. Based on in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, document review, informal observation and content analysis of advertising materials, the authors show how globalization and youth food cultures interact with each other as social determinants of health with considerable impact on the health and wellbeing of the affluent urban youth of Bangladesh.
Developing effective policy strategies to retain health workers in rural Bangladesh: a policy analysis
(© 2015 Rawal et al.; licensee BioMed Central., 2015) Rawal, Lal B; Joarder, Taufique; Islam, Sheikh Md. Shariful; Uddin, Aftab; Ahmed, Syed Masud; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health
Introduction: Retention of human resources for health (HRH), particularly physicians and nurses in rural and remote areas, is a major problem in Bangladesh. We reviewed relevant policies and provisions in relation to HRH aiming to develop appropriate rural retention strategies in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a document review, thorough search and review of relevant literature published from 1971 through May 2013, key informant interviews with policy elites (health policy makers, managers, researchers, etc.), and a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders and policy makers. We used the World Health Organization's (WHO's) guidelines as an analytical matrix to examine the rural retention policies under 4 domains, i) educational, ii) regulatory, iii) financial, and iv) professional and personal development, and 16 sub-domains. Results: Over the past four decades, Bangladesh has developed and implemented a number of health-related policies and provisions concerning retention of HRH. The district quota system in admissions is in practice to improve geographical representation of the students. Students of special background including children of freedom fighters and tribal population have allocated quotas. In private medical and nursing schools, at least 5% of seats are allocated for scholarships. Medical education has a provision for clinical rotation in rural health facilities. Further, in the public sector, every newly recruited medical doctor must serve at least 2 years at the upazila level. To encourage serving in hard-to-reach areas, particularly in three Hill Tract districts of Chittagong division, the government provides an additional 33% of the basic salary, but not exceeding US$ 38 per month. This amount is not attractive enough, and such provision is absent for those working in other rural areas. Although the government has career development and promotion plans for doctors and nurses, these plans are often not clearly specified and not implemented effectively. Conclusion: The government is committed to address the rural retention problem as shown through the formulation and implementation of related policies and strategies. However, Bangladesh needs more effective policies and provisions designed specifically for attraction, deployment, and retention of HRH in rural areas, and the execution of these policies and provisions must be monitored and evaluated effectively
Meaning of death: an exploration of perception of elderly in a Bangladeshi Village
(6/25/2014) Joarder, Taufique; Cooper, Alicia; Zaman, Shahaduz; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of meaning of death among the elderly in a Bangladeshi community, and to understand how the meaning of death affects one’s overall well-being. Understandings of death were explored through the explanations respondents provided on the journey of the soul during lifetime and the afterlife, concepts of body-soul duality, and perceived “good” and “bad” deaths. The relationship to well-being was expressed in terms of longevity, anxiety/acceptance of death, and preferred circumstances for death. Seven in-depth interviews and one informal discussion session provided the bulk of the data, while Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) tools, including daily routines and body mapping, supplemented our findings. Elderly members of the community had very specific ideas about the meaning of death, and provided clear explanations regarding the journey of the soul, drawing on ideas of body-soul duality to substantiate claims. Due to long coexistence fusion of Hindu and Muslim ideas around death was found. Anxiety/fear of death was associated with some secular issues, on the contrary the perception of longevity was found linked with spirituality. Insights revealed from this study of subtle differences in the perceptions regarding issues around death may aid the policy makers develop effective end-of-life interventions.

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