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BackgroundGlobally, over 81 million people use e-cigarettes, and the majority of them are young adults. Using e-cigarettes causes different types of adverse health effects both in adults and elderly people. Over time, using e-cigarettes has detrimental consequences on lung function, brain development and numerous other illnesses.MethodsThis study employed a mixed-methods conducted between June and September 2023, comprising two phases: Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping of available e-cigarette point-of-sale (POS) locations and conducting 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with e-cigarette retailers, along with 5 key informant interviews (KIIs) involving tobacco control activists and policy experts. ArcGIS was employed for spatial analysis, creating distribution and type maps, and buffer and multi-buffer ring analyses were conducted to assess proximity to hospitals and academic institutions. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics for GIS mapping and qualitative analysis for interview transcripts, utilizing a priori codebook and thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 276 POS were mapped in the entire Dhaka city. About 55 POS were found within 100m distance from academic institutions in Dhaka city, which offers the easy accessibility of young generations to e-cigarettes. The younger generation is becoming the major target for e-cigarettes because of their alluring flavors, appealing looks, and variation in flavors. Sellers have been using different marketing tactics such as postering, offering discounts and using internet marketing on social media. Moreover, they try to convince the customers by saying that e-cigarettes are 'not harmful' or 'less harmful'. However, retailers were mostly taking e-cigarettes from local wholesalers or distributors. Customers buy these products both from in-store and online services. Due to the absence of laws and regulations on e-cigarettes in Bangladesh, the availability, marketing, and selling of e-cigarettes are increasing alarmingly.ConclusionE-cigarette retail shops are mostly surrounded by academic institutions, and it is expanding. Besides, frequent exposure, easy accessibility, and tactful promotion encourage the younger generations to consume e-cigarettes. The government should take necessary control measures on manufacturing, storage, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, marketing, distribution, sale, import, and export in order to safeguard the health and safety of young and future generations.

BackgroundSeveral safety measures like movement restrictions, closure of educational institutions, and social distancing measures continue over the world including Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the patterns of eating behaviors, physical activity, and lifestyle modifications among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic residing in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed among 490 adolescents in Bangladesh from December 2020 to May 2021. The survey was carried out through a semi-structured web-based questionnaire that asked questions about socio-demographics (i.e., age, sex, marital status, education, residence), perceived health status and quality of life, anthropometrics (i.e., height, weight), dietary habits (i.e., frequency of eating, daily intake of certain foods, number of meals eaten daily), and physical activity (i.e., modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form [IPAQ-SF]), as well as, pre- and during COVID-19 information on stress, and sleep.ResultsDuring the pandemic, 43.7% participants reported weight gain; and 23.5% reported an increased number of meals per day during COVID-19. Additionally, the participants' eating habits diverged from the local balanced diet principles and were more akin to 'unhealthy' eating patterns. Though, during the COVID-19 pandemic, physical exercise slightly increased (>3 times/ week: 8.2% vs. 13.5%; p5 hours/ week: 12.2% vs. 27.3%; pConclusionsAlthough lockdowns and social distancing are important safety measures to protect people from COVID-19, findings reveal that they might cause a variety of lifestyle changes, physical inactivity, and psychological issues in Bangladeshi adolescents.

In Bangladesh, an array of measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Such general population control measures could significantly influence perception, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. Here, we assessed KAP towards COVID-19 immediately after the lock-down measures were implemented and during the rapid rise period of the outbreak. Online-based cross-sectional study conducted from March 29 to April 19, 2020, involving Bangladeshi residents aged 12-64 years, recruited via social media. After consenting, participants completed an online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, perception, and KAP towards COVID-19. Of the 2017 survey participants, 59.8% were male, the majority were students (71.2%), aged 21-30 years (57.9%), having a bachelor's degree (61.0%), having family income >30,000 BDT (50.0%), and living in urban areas (69.8). The survey revealed that 48.3% of participants had more accurate knowledge, 62.3% had more positive attitudes, and 55.1% had more frequent practices regarding COVID-19 prevention. Majority (96.7%) of the participants agreed 'COVID-19 is a dangerous disease', almost all (98.7%) participants wore a face mask in crowded places, 98.8% agreed to report a suspected case to health authorities, and 93.8% implemented washing hands with soap and water. In multiple logistic regression analyses, COVID-19 more accurate knowledge was associated with age and residence. Sociodemographic factors such as being older, higher education, employment, monthly family income >30,000 BDT, and having more frequent prevention practices were the more positive attitude factors. More frequent prevention practice factors were associated with female sex, older age, higher education, family income > 30,000 BDT, urban area residence, and having more positive attitudes. To improve KAP of general populations is crucial during the rapid rise period of a pandemic outbreak such as COVID-19. Therefore, development of effective health education programs that incorporate considerations of KAP-modifying factors is needed.

Plain English summary Eating disorders, maladaptive eating behaviors, and low diversified diets are major public health issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic among university students. The current study aimed to address these issues by investigating Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), food addiction (FA), and dietary diversity. Four-thousand-and-seventy-six students completed an online questionnaire. It was found that being underweight was associated with ON. On the other hand, being overweight/obese was associated with having FA. Individuals who were former smokers and who had poor social interaction were significantly associated with having Orthorexia Nervosa. 1st-year university students are more likely to have FA compared to 5th-year/master’s students. Active smokers were more likely to be food addicted. Students who had FA had less guilty feelings about violating food rules. Participants who had FA consumed more organ meats and eggs. Students who were from upper socio-economic status were more likely to have higher dietary diversity. Nutritional awareness programs focusing on DD and healthy eating habits should be implemented for students.

Abstract Background The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) is the most widely used screening tool in assessing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM-5) criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the newly translated Bangla PCL-5. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 10,605 individuals (61.0% male; mean age: 23.6 ± 5.5 [13–71 years]) during May and June 2020, several months after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. The survey included the Bangla PCL-5 and the PHQ-9 depression scale. We used confirmatory factor analysis to test the four-factor DSM-5 model, the six-factor Anhedonia model, and the seven-factor hybrid model. Results The Bangla PCL-5 displayed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90). The Bangla PCL-5 score was significantly correlated with scores of the PHQ-9 depression scale, confirming strong convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated the models had a good fit to the data, including the four-factor DSM-5 model, the six-factor Anhedonia model, and the seven-factor hybrid model. Overall, the seven-factor hybrid model exhibited the best fit to the data. Conclusions The Bangla PCL-5 appears to be a valid and reliable psychometric screening tool that may be employed in the prospective evaluation of posttraumatic stress disorder in Bangladesh.

University students may be particularly vulnerable to develop mental disorders, including depression, due to sudden and unexpected changes in their daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to assess depression among male smokers and non-smokers university students during the first wave of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 444 university male students using convenient and snowball sampling with a 1:1 ratio of male smokers and non-smokers from July to October, 2020. The prevalence estimates of moderate to severe depression were 53.6 % and 22.1 %, respectively among male smokers and non-smokers with an overall prevalence rate of 37.9 %. The participants who smoked cigarette were 4.05 times more likely to have depression compared to those who did not smoke (AOR = 4.05; 95 % CI = 2.60–6.30, p < 0.001). The following factors were found to be associated with depression: being smokers, having family members who lost jobs due to the impact of COVID-19, and having food scarcity due to COVID-19. The findings suggest mental health awareness and psychosocial support programs with a special focus on quitting smoking behavior among university students.

Abstract Background Mastalgia, or breast pain, is a prevalent and distressing condition experienced by women, impacting their daily lives and causing complications. It is common among women of reproductive age, with associations found with premenstrual syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, psychological distress, and, in rare cases, breast cancer. While Western societies have high frequencies of Mastalgia, it is less diagnosed in Asian cultures including Bangladesh. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with Mastalgia among early reproductive-aged women in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected from different regions of the country. A convenience sampling method was used to take 1,214 participants for the study. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to ascertain factors that were significantly associated with Mastalgia. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software 26 version. Results All the participants were female (mean age: 22.87 ± 2.64 years; age ranges: 18–35 years). The prevalence of Mastalgia was found to be 35.5%. The study was conducted using a self-reported semi-structured questionnaire. Participants with a higher education level and higher income were more likely to experience Mastalgia. A family history of breast cancer and severe abdominal pain during menstruation were also identified as associated factors for Mastalgia (p

Abstract Background The world is facing a public health emergency situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological wellbeing among individuals worldwide has been negatively affected by the pandemic especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. The present study aimed to assess the estimate of depressive symptoms and investigated its associations with COVID-19 preventive practice measures, daily activities in home quarantine, and suicidal behaviors in a large-scale Bangladeshi online survey. Methods An online-based cross-sectional survey was widely distributed to Bangladeshi citizens. A total of 13,654 participants (61.0% male; mean age = 24.0 years [SD = 6.0]; age range 18–65 years) completed the survey between May and June (2020). The survey included socio-demographics and COVID-19-related questions, along with lifestyle, suicidal, and psychometric measures. Hierarchical regression was performed to determine significant associations between depression and examined variables. Results The estimate of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic was 43.5%. Based on hierarchical regression analysis, depression was significantly associated with not engaging in COVID-19 preventive measures, daily activities in home quarantine (e.g., playing videogames), and suicidal behaviors. Conclusions Depressive symptoms appeared to be high during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. To fight against the pandemic, mental health issues as well as physical health issues need to be taken into consideration.

Background and Objective: The COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak has become a public health threat all over the world. From December 31, 2019 to March 19, 2020, 146 countries were affected. Evidence on the management approaches of current COVID-19 pandemic is still limited though the numbers of affected countries are increasing as the days go by. This study was aimed at determining the attack rate (AR) and case fatality rate (CFR) of Covid-19 in six different regions around the world in the first quarter of 2020. An attempt was also made to provide an overview of the ongoing situation of COVID-19. Methods: The design of the study was mixed approach where a retrospective analysis of surveillance data of six different regions around the world were collected from COVID-19 dashboard of World Health organization, between 31 December 2019 to 19 March 2020 (Time: 2:00 pm. BST [CET: 9 am]). Besides, other different validated sources (example: Worldometer, Center for Disease Control and Prevention) were used to assess the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19. A statistical software SPSS version 26 was used to analyze the data. Results: There were a total of 207,860 confirmed cases and 8779 deaths across six different regions around the world from 31 December 2019 to 19 March 2020, with the highest AR of 9.92/100,000 population in Europe region, followed by Asia (2.7/ 100,000), Australia (1.75/100,000), North America (1.42/100,000), South America (0.23/100,000) and Africa (0.06/100,000) regions. Study results revealed statistically significant association between attack rates and the six regions of the world (p=0.002), meaning that AR varied in the regions around the world. The CFR was high in Europe region (4.81%), followed by Asia (4.06%), Africa (2.72%), South America (1.41%), Australia (1.12%), and North America (0.69%) regions. Data reviewed from different countries revealed that the highest number of cases was confirmed in the United States, followed by Spain and Italy. The findings revealed that the reported confirmed cases varied widely in different regions of the world. Conclusion: The severity and variation in -geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths suggest that urgent response from various government and public health authorities should be taken and research regarding underlying factors determining this severity should be sought for. IMC J Med Sci 2020; 14(2): 001. EPub date: 16 August 2020 *Correspondence: Most. Zannatul Ferdous, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh. Email: m.zannatul.ferdous@juniv.edu

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately impacts individuals with medical conditions, including with respect to their mental health. The present study investigated depression and anxiety and their correlates among individuals with medical conditions in Bangladesh. Methods: Subjects were recruited to participate in an internet-based survey. Data were collected from November 2020 to January 2021 using convenience sampling by a semi-structured questionnaire through online platforms. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine associations applying Bonferroni correction (p

Background: Although internet use can boost individuals’ quality of life in various aspects, activities on the internet (e.g., gambling, video gaming, social media use, pornography use, etc.) can be used as coping strategy to deal with psychological stressors and mood states (e.g., fear, anxiety, depression) particularly during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: The present study assessed problematic internet use (PIU) among Bangladeshi youth and adults in Bangladesh and examined its correlation with lifestyle and online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was utilized between May and June 2020 comprising 13,525 Bangladeshi individuals (61.3% male; age range 18–50 years; mean age 23.7 years) recruited from various online platforms. The self-report survey included questions concerning socio-demographics, lifestyle, and online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as psychometric scales such as the nine-item Internet Disorder Scale-Short Form (IDS9-SF). Results: Utilizing hierarchical regression analysis, problematic internet use was significantly and positively associated with those who were younger, having a higher level of education, living with a nuclear family, engaging in less physical exercise, avoiding household chores, playing online videogames, social media use, and engaging in recreational online activities. Conclusions: Excessive internet use appears to have been commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic period and young adults were most vulnerable to problematic internet use.