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The government of Bangladesh enacted the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disability Act of 2013 (the Act) in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This article sheds light on the Act with particular emphasis on (a) support offered to children with disabilities (CWDs) and their families to address their needs; and (b) the extent to which the Act is in line with the international disability policy analysis framework. We compared the Act with the 18 core concepts of disability policy developed by Turnbull et al. (2001). The results affirm the government’s effort toward Sustainable Development Goals in providing support to CWDs and their families. They indicate a high degree of congruency of the Act with the core concepts. The findings also highlight the need to embrace the concepts of autonomy, confidentiality, and family-centeredness in great detail in any policy initiatives pertaining to CWDs. Furthermore, the finding shows that collaboration and coordination among ministries are imperative to achieve the goal of policies related to disability. In addition, the results highlight the need for more budgetary allocation and robust monitoring systems to track the progress of policy initiatives. As policy implementation is affected by changes in global contexts such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, policymakers in Bangladesh and other low- and middle-income countries should ensure that emergency responses are disability-inclusive and appropriate for CWDs. To ensure a disability-inclusive response, it is critical to engage individuals with disabilities and their families in meaningful consultations to identify their needs.

The paper aims to identify and describe the European evidence on opportunities and barriers to access and utilization of palliative care among non- western migrants. A systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted in June 2020, searching Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO and EMBASE databases. PROSPERO# CRD42020193651. Studies included empirical research published between 2011 and 2020. Search words were, for example, ethnic groups and palliative care. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Twenty nine qualitative and six quantitative studies were included. Four main themes were identified: communication and language; knowledge and awareness; patient preferences, cultural and religious issues; and lack of resources at different levels of palliative care service provision. Migrants’ access to palliative care is impeded at system, community and individual levels, yet, recommendations are mostly at the individual level. Closer attention is required to these different levels when designing future palliative interventions for migrants.

International evidence supports the benefits of early use of palliative care, although the best use of services is often under-utilised among Danish migrants. The study aims to develop a theoretically informed, evidence-based intervention to increase support in palliative care service provision among non-western migrant patients with a life-threatening disease and their families in Denmark.The overall approach was guided by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions by involving stakeholders for example patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The intervention was developed iteratively by incorporating theory and evidence. Evidence was synthesized from a systematic review, semi-structured interviews, and group discussions with patients (n = 8), family caregivers (n = 11), healthcare professionals (n = 10); and three workshops with migrants (n = 5), social and healthcare professionals (n = 6). The study took place in six different settings in two regions across Denmark.The safe and secure complex intervention is a healthcare professional (e.g. nurse, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist) led patient-centred palliative care intervention at the basic level. The final intervention consists of three components 1. Education and training sessions, 2. Consultations with the healthcare professional, and 3. Coordination of care.This study describes the development of a supportive palliative care intervention for non-western migrant patients with palliative care needs and their families, followed by a transparent and systematic reporting process. A palliative care intervention combining multiple components targeting different stakeholders, is expected that safe and secure is more suitable and well customized in increasing access and use of palliative care services for non-western migrant families in Denmark.

ObjectiveSouth Asian migrants have a higher burden of life-threatening diseases and chronic diseases compared to other ethnic groups. Yet, knowledge gaps remain around their palliative care needs in the host countries. The aim of the review was to present results from a systematic literature review of available international evidence on experiences with and perspectives on palliative care among older South Asian migrants, relatives, and healthcare providers.MethodsA systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted in February 2018, searching PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and EMBASE databases. PROSPERO #CRD42018093464. Studies included empirical research, providing international evidence on experiences and perspectives on palliative care of South Asian migrants and were published between 2000 and 2018. Thematic synthesis was used to analyze data.ResultsA total of 30 articles were included: qualitative (24), quantitative (5), and mixed methods (1). Three main themes were discovered: 1) palliative care practice within the family, 2) trust as a precondition of palliative care, and 3) the importance of knowledge and cultural competency. All the themes, to a greater or lesser extent, are related to access to and use of palliative care services by South Asian migrant families.Significance of resultsInvolvement of family members in palliative care decision making could improve the satisfaction of South Asian migrant families toward the service. For example, Advanced Care Planning involving family members could be a possible way to engage family members in palliative care decision making. Supportive interventions, e.g. providing knowledge, aimed at patients and their family members might improve knowledge and increase awareness among South Asian migrant families of palliative care. Knowledge gained from this review could be implemented with other ethnic minority groups.

This study explores care experiences while utilising palliative care services of non-western migrant families from the perspectives of patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals in Denmark. Twenty-three semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted among eight patients with a life-threatening disease, 11 family caregivers, and ten healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: 1) Communication between families and healthcare professionals; 2) Building and lack of trusting relations, and feeling safe, and 3) Access to information and navigating in the healthcare system. Moreover, ‘‘language and culture’’ emerged as transaction themes that are not mutually exclusive, however, interconnect across the mentioned three themes. Non-western migrant families can be supported by healthcare professionals’ cultural competency training, negotiating on providing services concerning information, patient preferences, family involvement, and palliative care setting. This study findings urge inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure needs-oriented and linguistically and culturally appropriate palliative care services for non-western migrant families in Denmark.

Background: Telephone consultation for patients and their relatives is a new aspect in the area of palliative care (PC). The centre for palliative care (CPC) in Dhaka, Bangladesh has been delivering a 24/7 telephone service since 2009. Aim: The aim of the study is to describe this 24/7 PC telephone consultation service (TCS); the development and the use of the service and the challenges experienced by the physicians delivering the consultations. Methods: A descriptive mixed method study. Data on telephone consultations were collected from (CPC) from 2009 to 2016. Descriptive statistics were used to identify characteristics of patients, callers’ relationship to patients, reasons for calling, and suggestions/advice provided. A group interview with the consulting physicians was conducted and analysed to describe the development of the service and the challenges experienced. Results: From December 2009 until August 2016, a total of 4195 calls were registered from palliative patients and their carers. The service was utilized most frequently by informal caregivers of patients (80%), pain was the most commonly recorded symptom (24%), and suggestions were mainly provided about general medicine (31%). The service providers are facing many challenges but they are motivated by the positive feedback from patients and carers and by the ability to at least do something. Conclusion: The TCS developed at CPC is a convenient way of delivering advice to palliative patients and their families in rural areas of Bangladesh, where the PC service is not available.

Aims: To explore the knowledge of STI, HIV/AIDS and condom use behaviour among men and women who have been medically treated and not treated for STIs in relation to socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, the study will explore the perceptions of adolescent sexual health education at school in the aforementioned group.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in all Indian member states during 2005-2006.Methodology: Using nationally representative samples, a cross sectional study of 8924 women and 1644 men (2948 women & 745 men received medical treatment for STIs) were used to examine their knowledge, condom use behaviour and perception of adolescent sexual health education at school. Chi-square analysis was performed.Results: Gher proportions of respondents who were urban residents, higher educated and more affluent received medical treatment for STIs compared to their rural, less educated and poorer peers. More women (43%) who reported condom use during their last sexual intercourse received treatment vs. the group not using condoms (32%). Proportionally, more women and men who had heard about STIs and HIV/AIDS answered in favor of girl’s and boy’s sexual health education, condom use and HIV/AIDS education compared to their peers who did not hear about STIs and HIV/AIDS. Even after receiving treatment respondents reported not having enough information about STIs, or HIV/AIDS. STI patients suggested that sexuality education should be added to school curriculum for a better understanding of the diseases in the general population.Conclusion: Indian policy makers should place emphasis on providing necessary preventive information about STIs through different channels such as treatment centers,school curriculums and awareness campaigns.

The study explores inequalities in the utilization of delivery care services in different administrative divisions in Bangladesh, by key socioeconomic factors. It estimates the extent of the relationship between women’s socioeconomic inequalities and their place of delivery during 2004 and 2007. Trends in relation to place of delivery in relation to residency and education over a period of thirteen years (1993-2007) have also been measured. The study analyzed the trends and patterns in utilization of institutional delivery care among mothers, using data from the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) conducted during 1993-2007. The data was disaggregated by area of residence in different divisions in Bangladesh. Bi-variate analyses, concentration curves and multivariate logistic regression were employed in the analysis of the data. The study indicated slow progress in the utilization of institutional delivery care among mothers in Bangladesh between 1993 and 2007. Large variations in outcome measures were observed among the different divisions. Multivariate analyses suggested growing inequalities in utilization of delivery care services between different economic groups and parents with different educational levels. The use of institutional delivery care remains substantially lower among poor and less educated rural mothers in Bangladesh, irrespective of age and employment. Further studies are recommended to explore the specific causes relating to the non-utilization of institutional delivery care.

Aims: The study explores condom use among sex-buying men in India. The study also identifies the level of knowledge regarding the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and AIDS in relation to condom use. Methods: The observational study has designed in where purposively 156 Men were selected who reported that they paid for sex and used a condom during in the last 12 months. Respondents were from 29 Indian states during 2005-2006. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 20.0 for window for statistical analysis. Results: Majority of sex buyers were found in between 25-34 years age group, middle and higher income group were found more to buy sex than poor group. 77% of the participants used condoms every time they had paid sex with the female partner, majority of men had a good knowledge on AIDS ( 89%) and 78.8% has a believe that condom using can reduce risk of contaminated with HIV. Conclusion: Middle aged men in India with a high socio-economic status and educational background have a better perception, knowledge and attitude towards using condom during sex buying and have knowledge on HIV, however low poverty level men are vulnerable and they are expose to contamination with HIV AIDS.