Search

A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University farm, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, during the Boro season, 2017 with six different K fertilizer rates: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg ha-1 to determine the optimum rate of potassium (K) fertilization for the improved yield of a specific rice variety in the irrigated ecosystem under floodplain area. Compared with no K fertilizer, adding K increased the rice grain and straw yields significantly, with all other yield contributing components, except 1000-grain weight. The highest yield of grain (7.07 ton ha-1) and straw (8.48 ton ha-1) were recorded in recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) of NPS + 50kg K treatment, which were statistically identical with RFD of NPS + 40 kg K. Rice grain and straw yields due to the different treatments increased by 18.65% to 53.74% and 18.67% to 53.78%, respectively over control. K content and uptake through grain and straw were significantly influenced by applying different levels of K. These results specified that the use of 40 kg K ha-1 had better performance on the grain and straw yields. Therefore, we conclude that the application of 40 kg K ha-1 along with the RFD of NPS for BRRI dhan29 cultivation is the best option for higher yield in Old Brahmaputra Floodplain soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 remains a public health burden that has caused global economic crises, jeopardizing health, jobs, and livelihoods of millions of people around the globe. Several efforts have been made by several countries by implementing several health strategies to attenuate the spread of the pandemic. Although several studies indicated effects of COVID-19 on mental health and its associated factors, very little is known about the underlying mechanism of job insecurity, depression, anxiety, and stress in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence of job insecurity and depression, anxiety, stress as well as the association between job insecurity, mental health outcomes also contributing determinants amongst humanitarian workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional study among 445 humanitarian workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in six sub-districts of Cox's bazar district of Bangladesh between April and May 2021. The questionnaire was composed of socio-demographic, lifestyle and work related factors. Psychometric instruments like job insecurity scale and depression, anxiety also stress scale (DASS-21) were employed to assess the level of job insecurity and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety and stress). STATA software version 14 was employed to perform statistical analyses. Results: The prevalence of job insecurity was 42%. The odds of job insecurity was higher in Kutubdia and Pekua (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.36, 7.22) Teknaf (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.33, 6.41), the impact of dissatisfaction on salary (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.49, 3.58) was evident with job insecurity. The prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress among humanitarian worker were (26%, 7%), (25%, 10%) and (15%, 7%) respectively. Further, the region of work, being female, marital status, work environment, and salary dissatisfaction were contributing factors for poor mental health outcomes. Those with job insecurity were almost 3 times more likely to experience depression (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.85, 4.04), anxiety (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.76, 3.71) and stress (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI 1.89, 4.26), respectively. Conclusion: Our findings highlight that job security remains essential to help tackle the severity of depression, anxiety and stress in humanitarian workers. The results reflected the critical importance of local and international NGOs addressing poor mental health conditions of their employees to prevent mental health outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated groundwater pollution and potential human health risks from arsenic, iron, and manganese in the rural area of Jashore, Bangladesh. Study results show that the mean value of groundwater pH is 7.25+0.31, with a mean conductivity of 633.94+ 327.41 µs/cm, while about 73, 97, and 91% of groundwater samples exceeded the Bangladesh drinking water standard limits for As, Fe, and Mn, respectively. Groundwater pollution evaluation indices, including the heavy metal pollution index, the heavy metal evaluation index, the degree of contamination, and the Nemerow pollution index, show that approximately 97, 82, 100, and 100% of samples are in the high degree of pollution category, respectively. Spatial distribution exhibited that the study area is highly exposed to As (73%), Fe (82%), and Mn (46%). In the case of non-carcinogenic health risk via oral exposure, about 94% of samples suggest a high category of risk for infants, and 97% of samples are found to be at high risk for children and adults. The carcinogenic risk of arsenic via an oral exposure pathway suggests that approximately 97% of the samples are found to be at high risk for infants, and all of the samples are at high risk for both adults and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Poor farmers are cultivating tobacco because they can obtain great profit and support from tobacco companies. However, they overlook tobacco-related health problems and consequences. In this study, we explored the impact of tobacco farming on farmers' health, drawing on an empirical study in seven villages of Ruposhipara union, Bandarban district in Bangladesh. Subjects and methods: Following a mixed research method, data were collected by administering 200 pre-tested structured questionnaires, five group discussions and five in-depth interviews. We also reviewed existing and proposed policies related to tobacco control in Bangladesh. We followed grounded theory for analysing qualitative data and conducted a Chi-square test to observe any significant associations for selected quantitative data. Results: Farmers' self-reported tobacco-related sicknesses were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, weakness, cough, dyspnoea and hypersalivation. Children, women and older people were equally affected. They experienced diverse tobacco-related health problems at different stages of tobacco farming. Continuous contact with tobacco leaves and not using any safety measures had put the farmers at greater risk of tobacco sickness. Conclusion: The proposed "Tobacco Cultivation Control Policy, 2017" emphasised to provide necessary supports to farmers for growing alternative crops. Implementation of this policy would encourage farmers to give up harmful tobacco farming and lessen their health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to understand the psychological and livelihood-related impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Bangladeshi lower income group people who depend on daily earnings for their living. Following the convenience sampling method, 576 respondents were interviewed for quantitative data and 30 in-depth interviews for qualitative information in several districts of Bangladesh. To 94.1% respondents, livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with an overall score of 3.20 ± 0.77 on a 4-point Likert-type scale. In comparison to unemployed respondents, daily workers have been hardly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR] = 7.957; P <.01), and so they are going outside more frequently in search of jobs (OR = 9.984, P <.01). Due to fear of COVID-19 infection and lack of livelihood means, respondents (76.6%) have been stressed out (overall score 3.19 ± 0.81 on a 4-point Likert-type scale), and those working in industries (OR = 5.818, P <.01), farmers (OR = 3.029, P <.05), and day laborers (OR = 2.651, P <.05) have been highly stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its adverse social and health consequences, the rate of help seeking for IPV is generally low. Although the level of IPV is much higher in urban slums of Bangladesh, the level and nature of help seeking of the victims are unknown. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature.Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey conducted between August 2011-February 2012, we explored disclosure of violence, help seeking behavior, and their correlates among randomly selected currently married women aged 15-29 in Dhaka slums (n = 2604).Results: About 60 % of the currently married women reported past year spousal physical violence, but only 21 % disclosed and 19 % sought any help. High acceptance of violence was the main reason for not seeking help. Help was most commonly sought from informal sources (89 %). Any education, frequent and severe physical abuse, and presence of children increased the likelihood of disclosure and help seeking. Most survivors from slum who disclosed also sought help.Conclusions: Despite widespread physical abuse, many survivors never sought help. Wide acceptance of violence hampering help seeking needs to be challenged. Increasing disclosure would also enhance help seeking. Awareness rising regarding rights of women to live a violence free life is essential. Although many services are available in the urban area, information about these services needs to be available to women. Promoting education is important in increasing both disclosure and service uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the psychometric properties of a Comprehensive Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-SF) and (2) examine the associated factors of GDS-SF among the elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to April 2020 in Dhaka City Corporation, Bangladesh. Data of 377 elderly were collected, including socio-demographic characteristics, social supports, comorbidities, sleep behaviours, and depression (as measured by the GDS-SF). We used the principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and logistic regression analysis to validate GDS-SF, and explore its associations. Results: The GDS-SF was reliable and homogeneous with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.836, and McDonald’s Omega = 0.841, with no floor/ceiling effects. The questionnaire demonstrated a good construct validity with item-scale convergent validity and KMO measure of sampling adequacy (0.869 for the total sample, 0.838 for the community subsample, and 0.851 for the slum subsample). In the multivariate model, older people had a higher likelihood of moderate and severe depression (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00, 1.12; p = 0.048). The likelihood of having moderate and severe depression was lower in men (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28, 0.85; p = 0.011) and those satisfied with their children’s support (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.08, 0.35; p < 0.001), compared with their counterparts, respectively. Conclusions: The GDS-SF is a reliable and valid survey tool for evaluating depression in Bangladeshi older adults. Age, gender, and satisfaction with children’s support were predictors of depression.