Summaryobjectives To pilot two intensive hand hygiene promotion interventions, one using soap and one using a waterless hand sanitizer, in low-income housing compounds in Dhaka, Bangladesh and assess subsequent changes in handwashing behaviour and hand microbiology.methods Fieldworkers randomized 30 housing compounds: 10 received handwashing promotion with free soap, 10 received handwashing promotion with free waterless hand sanitizer and 10 were nonintervention controls. Fieldworkers assessed handwashing behaviour by structured observation and collected hand rinse specimens.results At baseline, compound residents washed their hands with soap 26% of the time after defecation and 30% after cleaning a child's anus but <1% at other times. Compared with baseline, residents of soap intervention compounds were much more likely to wash their hands with soap after faecal contact (85-91%), before preparing food (26%) and before eating (26%). Compounds that received waterless hand sanitizer cleansed their hands more commonly than control compounds that used soap (10.4% vs. 2.3%), but less commonly than soap intervention compounds used soap (25%). Postintervention hand rinse samples from soap and sanitizer compounds had lower concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria compared with baseline and control compounds.conclusions Waterless hand sanitizer was readily adopted by this low-income community and reduced hand contamination but did not improve the frequency of handwashing compared with soap. Future deployments of waterless hand sanitizers may improve hand hygiene more effectively by targeting settings where soap and water is unavailable.keywords handwashing, health behaviour, Bangladesh

Bicyclic polystyrene was prepared by combining atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry. The bicyclic polymer was separated from concurrently produced acyclic (branched) polymers through fractional precipitation, and its purity was quantified by two-dimensional liquid chromatography analysis. The structure of bicyclic polymer was characterized by SEC, MALDI–TOF MS, 1H NMR, and FT-IR.

Background While acknowledged as one of social marketing’s necessities, limited reporting of segmentation exists. The current study seeks to extend segmentation drawing on all four segmentation bases within the context of Queensland young adult sexual health behaviour. Methods An online survey was used to collect data from 15 to 29 year old people in Queensland, Australia. Data collection was undertaken online to capture the broader population of young adults and in person on campuses to gather data from students who were currently enrolled at University. Quotas were set to ensure a broad representation was attained reflecting the States demography. Results Two-step cluster analysis revealed three different segments. The most important variables in segment formation were age, household type, experience of risky sexual encounters and previously being tested or treated for sexually transmissible infections (STIs). The results suggest that demographic and behavioural variables were the most effective in segment definition. Conclusions This study investigated young people aged 15–29 in Queensland, Australia to examine group differences drawing from four bases. This study revealed three distinct segments in a sexual health context and highlighted the importance of behavioural variables in segment formation, insight and understanding. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6696-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We have synthesized nitrilotriacetic acid end-functionalized polystyrene (NTA–PS) for the controlled bioconjugation with histidine-tagged green fluorescence proteins (His6–GFP). NTA–PS was prepared using initiators containing tert-butyl protected NTA moiety via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene; the protected tert-butyl group was subsequently removed at the α-chain end of polystyrene. The structure of NTA–PS was characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GPC. NTA chain ends of the polystyrenes were complexed with Ni2+ to produce Ni–NTA–PS, of which the specific binding properties were studied by forming spherical aggregates with His6–GFP in aqueous phase. The reversible association of His6–GFP with polystyrene spherical aggregates (with Ni2+) was controlled with imidazole and monitored with fluorescence microscope. Again, Ni–NTA–PS produced well-defined micelles with His6–GFP in water/DMF (DMF 4 vol %) and the size of micelles decreased when excess imidazole was added.

BackgroundRespiratory infections are the leading cause of childhood deaths in Bangladesh. Promoting respiratory hygiene may reduce infection transmission. This formative research explored community perceptions about respiratory infections.MethodsWe conducted 34 in-depth interviews and 16 focus group discussions with community members and school children to explore respiratory hygiene related perceptions, practices, and social norms in an urban and a rural setting. We conducted unstructured observations on respiratory hygiene practices in public markets.ResultsInformants were not familiar with the term "respiratory infection"; most named diseases that had no relation to respiratory dysfunction. Informants reported that their community identified a number of 'good behaviors' related to respiratory hygiene, but they also noted, and we observed, that very few people practiced these. All informants cited hot/cold weather changes or using cold water as causes for catching cold. They associated transmission of respiratory infections with close contact with a sick person's breath, cough droplets, or spit; sharing a sick person's utensils and food. Informants suggested that avoiding such contact was the most effective method to prevent respiratory infection. Although informants perceived that handwashing after coughing or sneezing might prevent illness, they felt this was not typically feasible or practical.ConclusionCommunity perceptions of respiratory infections include both concerns with imbalances between hot and cold, and with person-to-person transmission. Many people were aware of measures that could prevent respiratory infection, but did not practice them. Interventions that leverage community understanding of person-to-person transmission and that encourage the practice of their identified 'good behaviors' related to respiratory hygiene may reduce respiratory disease transmission.