The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Bangladeshi university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aimed at identifying the determinants of depression and anxiety. A total of 476 university students living in Bangladesh participated in this cross-sectional web-based survey. A standardized e-questionnaire was generated using the Google Form, and the link was shared through social media—Facebook. The information was analyzed in three consecutive levels, such as univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. Students were experiencing heightened depression and anxiety. Around 15% of the students reportedly had moderately severe depression, whereas 18.1% were severely suffering from anxiety. The binary logistic regression suggests that older students have greater depression (OR = 2.886, 95% CI = 0.961–8.669). It is also evident that students who provided private tuition in the pre-pandemic period had depression (OR = 1.199, 95% CI = 0.736–1.952). It is expected that both the government and universities could work together to fix the academic delays and financial problems to reduce depression and anxiety among university students.

Background. Improving maternal mortality attracts considerable interest with the critical invention through institutional delivery services (IDS) in reducing maternal death during delivery and ensuring safe childbirth. The influence of both individual and community-level factors is essential to using IDS. Problem Statement. Maternal death may occur at any time, but delivery without designated healthcare is by far the most dangerous time for both woman and her baby. Therefore, to combat the global burden of maternal mortality, it is necessary to ensure IDS worldwide. Objectives. This study explores the current knowledge of individual and community-level covariates and examines their extent of influence on the utilization of IDS in Bangladesh. Methods. Utilizing Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data, this study has used two-level random intercept binary logistic regression, together with the average annual rate of increase (AARI) in the utilization of IDS and related variables. Results. This study found appreciable changes in seeking IDS, increases from 3.4% in 2007 to 51.9% in 2017, and half of the total deliveries (51%) took place in healthcare. About 26% of the total variation in the utilization of IDS is owing to differences across communities. Further, covariates including communities with higher educated women, higher utilization of ANC and access to media and at individual level, religion, maternal and parental education, wealth index, and mother-level factors (i.e., age at birth, BMI, occupation, ANC visit, birth order, own health care decision, pregnancy intention, and exposure to media) showed significant association with the utilization of IDS. Conclusion. This study observed the association between individual and community-level factors and IDS uptake. Thus, any future strategies must address individual level and community-level challenges and undertake a multisectoral approach to enhance the uptake of IDS.

Introduction: The analysis of factors affecting birth interval helps to reveal the mechanism and dynamics of fertility behavior which changes the population structure of a country. This study aims to examine the association among different socioeconomic and demographic factors with birth intervals and to identify the statistically significant factors of birth intervals. Material and methods: This study has been used latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014 data based on two stage stratified sample of households. Different birth intervals have been analyzed using various statistical techniques such as Kaplan Meier estimator, log rank test, Cox proportional hazard model and Frailty model. Results: Among the ever married women, 92.40%, 76.80% and 61.60% have experienced live birth for first, second and third times, and the estimated median duration of birth intervals are 26, 46, and 58 months, respectively. Using the log rank test, this study found that region, place of residence, mothers education, partners education, contraceptive use, and mothers age are significantly associated with birth intervals. This study also considered mothers age and working status at first birth interval; mothers education, age, working status and survival status of previous child at second birth interval; mothers education, sex of household head, working status, mass media exposure, age, contraceptive use, religion, and survival status of previous child at third birth interval are protective factors in next births. Conclusions: Overall, mothers age, working status and mass media exposure are protective factors in birth intervals. To fulfill the target, government should pay attention to significant protective factors.

The evolving pandemic of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus are globally on the rise, and the trend is also escalating in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the prevalence trend and associated factors of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension- diabetes mellitus combined (HDC) among Bangladeshi adults from 2011 to 2018. Two nationally representative cross-sectional data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS): 2011 and 2017–18 were utilized. According to baseline characteristics, the average annual rate of change (AARC) was applied to quantify the annual rate of increase/decrease in HTN, DM, and HDC from 2011 to 2018. The prevalence ratios of HTN, DM, and HDC were assessed through modified Poisson regression with robust error variance (PR, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)). The data were prepared in SPSS version 23 and exported to Stata version 13 for further analysis. Among 11,686 participants, the overall mean age of the study participants was 52.79 years, Standard Deviation (SD)±12.99, and 42.28% were female. From 2011–2018, HTN, DM, and HDC prevalence in Bangladesh has increased by 13, 3.2, and 3.1 percentage points, respectively. The average annual rate of increase was observed in the HTN and HDC prevalence by all socio-economic and demographic categories during 2011–2018. The prevalence of HDC among Chittagong residents was approximately double in 2018: 3.95% (2011) versus 6.59% (2018). Increased age, inactive workers, overweight adults, and adults in wealthy families were common risk factors associated with HTN, DM, and HDC in Bangladesh. The prevalence of developing HTN and HDC was significantly higher among adults aged ≥ 70 years (PR: 2.70, 95% CI: 2.42–3.00; PR: 2.97, 95% CI: 2.08–4.24, respectively). A comprehensive approach of different stakeholders is required to develop appropriate strategies, including appropriate weight management, adequate physical activity, and healthier food habits. Health agencies should take initiatives to spread awareness among people at an early age, but special attention is needed for older people and those at risk for NCDs.

Caesarean delivery (C-section) has been increasing worldwide; however, many women from developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are deprived of these lifesaving services. This study aimed to explore the impact of certain socioeconomic factors, including respondent’s education, husband’s education, place of residence, and wealth index, on C-section delivery for women in Sub-Saharan Africa. We used pooled data from 36 demographic and health surveys (DHS) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Married women aged 15–49 years who have at least one child in the last five years were considered in this survey. After inclusion and excluding criteria, 234,660 participants were eligible for final analysis. Binary logistic regression was executed to determine the effects of selected socioeconomic factors. The countries were assembled into four sub-regions (Southern Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa), and a meta-analysis was conducted. We performed random-effects model estimation for meta-analysis to assess the overall effects and consistency between covariates and utilization of C-section delivery as substantial heterogeneity was identified (I2 > 50%). Furthermore, the meta-regression was carried out to explain the additional amount of heterogeneity by country levels. We performed a sensitivity analysis to examine the effects of outliers in this study. Findings suggest that less than 15% of women in many Sub-Saharan African countries had C-section delivery. Maternal education (OR 4.12; CI 3.75, 4.51), wealth index (OR 2.05; CI 1.94, 2.17), paternal education (OR 1.71; CI 1.57, 1.86), and place of residence (OR 1.51; CI 1.44, 1.58) were significantly associated with the utilization of C-section delivery. These results were also consistent in sub-regional meta-analyses. The meta-regression suggests that the total percentage of births attended by skilled health staff (TPBASHS) has a significant inverse association with C-section utilization regarding educational attainment (respondent & husband), place of residence, and wealth index. The data structure was restricted to define the distinction between elective and emergency c-sections. It is essential to provide an appropriate lifesaving mechanism, such as C-section delivery opportunities, through proper facilities for rural, uneducated, impoverished Sub-Saharan African women to minimize both maternal and infant mortality.