Identifying the level of health related quality of life (HQoL) and their influencing factors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people is of extreme importance in implementing an interventional program to support this group. This cross sectional study was an attempt to determine the level and factors associated with HQoL among the people living with HIV. A convenient sample of 82 HIV-infected people from three NGOs and one Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), were interviewed using an interviewer administered, semi structured questionnaire developed by adopting the "WHOQOL-HIV BREF instrument". A majority of the respondents were with low Quality of Life (QoL) in all the domains of HQoL. The proportion of respondents with low QoL was highest in the domain of social relationship (64.6%) followed by psychological domain (59.8%), physical domain (58.5%), level of independence domain (56.1%), environmental domain (52.4%) and spirituality domain (52.4%) of HQoL. Bivariate analysis revealed that the overall perception of QoL was better in the respondents living in urban area, who were employed and asymptomatic of the centre for disease control (CDC) stage of HIV. The perception of overall health was higher in females, all respondents less than 35 years of age, asymptomatic of the CDC stage of disease and with a current CD 4 count greater than 200 cell/mm 3 . These findings highlight the need for enhanced socio-psychosocial support and a better environment for improving the health related quality of life among people living with HIV.

Background: : Slum dwellers are likely to be among the most deprived people in urban areas. Poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitary conditions play major roles in the increased burden of communicable diseases within developing countries like ours.Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice about personal hygiene and environmental sanitation in selected slums of Dhaka city.Materials and method: This cross sectional study was conducted in purposively selected urban slum areas of Moghbazar slum, Bashabo slum and T&T slum of Dhaka city during February 2014 to April 2014. Convenient sampling technique was applied. Semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire was used and face to face interview was conducted. Total 475 subjects, irrespective of age and sex, were included in this study.Results: Out of 475 respondents, more than fifty percent slum dwellers resided in tin shaded room while 21.7% in ‘kacha’ houses. Sixty six percent of the respondents used to drink water from tube-well and 24% used supplied water provided by the city corporation. The study revealed that near 59% of the respondents used sanitary latrine. About 67% slum dwellers regularly practiced hand washing before taking meal and 59.2% respondents used soap after defecation. About fifty percent respondents brushed their teeth regularly with tooth paste. Regarding personal cleanliness, 81% subjects took bath regularly while 78% washed clothes irregularly. A statistically significant relation was found between washing of hands before meal (p=0.001), washing of hands after defecation (p=0.02), tooth brushing (p=0.001), bathing (p=0.009), washing of cloths (p=0.001), use of footwear (p=0.63) with knowledge of personal hygiene of the slum dwellers.Conclusion: Continuous community hygiene education along with adequate access to water supply and sanitation improves hygiene behaviour and policy makers and health care providers should have definite strategy and implementation.Delta Med Col J. Jul 2015; 3(2): 68-73

Aging is universal and it is inescapable, beginning at birth, which should be regarded as a normal biological process leading to functional deterioration, vulnerability and ultimately culminating to extinction of life. Population ageing is becoming a major concern both in the developed and developing countries. Many health problems are known to increase with age and this demographic trend may lead to an increase in the absolute number of health conditions in this population. To identify health problems of elderly population and assess their socioeconomic condition. This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out over 531 elderly people selected purposively from some urban slums of Dhaka city during July to December, 2013. Each eligible participant was informed about the purpose and procedure of the study. Trained interviewers collected information by face to face interview using a pre-tested questionnaire having both structured and open ended questions. Majority 389 (73.3%) were from the age group of 60-69 years. The mean age of the respondents was found to be 65 years; (SD±7.048). Majority of them were male 68.7%, illiterate 78.8%, employed as small businessman 26% and belonged to joint family 75.0%. Their average monthly income was 4747.02 ± 2796.368 Taka. About 272(51.2%) respondents were dependent on other earning family members. A significantly higher proportion of women suffered from diabetes, hearing impairment, vertigo, joint pain, depression, while chest pain, chronic cough, difficulty in micturation, anxiety were observed more in elderly men. The study sheds new light which may help to provide adequate guideline for the senior citizens to overcome old age health problems. As there is a rapid increase in the number of elderly population, there is an urgent need to develop affordable and accessible health care services.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2015; 33(4): 202-206

Abstract

Infants are the most vulnerable group among all the groups in our society. Infants constitute about 3% of the total population of Bangladesh. About 1 new born comes to the earth per 11 seconds in Bangladesh. Breastfeeding of infants is an essential health and medical decision for both the mother and her baby. Breastfeeding results in significant health gain, obesity reduction and cost saving to society. Breastfeeding decisions and practices are influenced by multiple factors including knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, as well as socio-cultural and physiological factors. This was a rural based cross sectional descriptive study carried out among 320 villagers of selected villages, at Dhamrai upazilla health complex, Dhaka provides information about breast feeding practices & awareness regarding usefulness of it from 7th December to 30th December 2011. Result shows, 48.1% of the respondents were from the age group of 21-25 years. The mean age of the respondents was 25.34 yrs & SD = ± 4.281. About half of the respondents 151(47.2%) had primary education & 96(30%) had secondary education. Most of the respondents 301(94.1%) were housewife, 14(4.4%) were service holder and 5(1.6%) were agriculture worker. The mean monthly family income of the respondents was 7626.56±3171.248 Taka. Out of 320 respondents about 137(42.8%) of the responding mothers continued breast feeding to their babies for 9-12 months and 239 (91.6%) weaned their babies at correct times that means within 6 months of life. The present study showed that most mothers 315(98.4%) were aware about the usefulness of breast feeding, we found 218 (68.1%) had the knowledge of starting weaning food. The present study was done in selected villages of Dhamrai, covering a small group of population which does not represent the whole nation. Therefore, a large scale community based study is needed to know the real situation of the country DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v18i2.16020 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2012; 18 (02): 30-36