Objective: To examine sex differences in height-for-age z-scores and the percentage stunting among Bangladeshi children estimated using three growth references. Design, setting and subjects: Data collected between 1990 and 1999 by Helen Keller International's nutritional surveillance system in rural Bangladesh were analyzed for 504 358 children aged 6-59 months. Height-for-age z-scores were estimated using the 1977 NCHS, 2000 CDC and 1990 British growth references. Results: The shape of the growth curves for Bangladeshi boys and girls, and their positions relative to one another, depend on which of the three growth references is used. At 6 months of age the British reference showed no sex difference whereas the NCHS and CDC showed girls to have higher average z-scores than boys by 0.14 and 0.28 s.d., respectively. While all references showed a faster deterioration of girls' z-scores from 6 to 24 months, the magnitude and direction of the sex differences, and how they changed with age, were different. There was greater disagreement about girls' z-scores than boys. Discontinuities at 24 months in the NCHS and CDC produced jagged curves whereas the British curves were smooth. Conclusions: The assessment of sex differences in linear growth depends on the growth reference used. Reasons for the different results need to be determined and may aid the final development of the new WHO international growth reference and the guidelines for its use. The findings suggest that anthropometry as a tool to explore the effects of societal gender inequality must be used with caution.

SummaryDespite the ongoing problems of undernutrition and infectious disease, obesity and overweight have become a major problem in developing countries, including Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight among school children aged 6-12 years in Bangladesh. The study was conducted from June 2012 to May 2013 and the study sample comprised 1768 children (980 boys; 788 girls) from eight purposively selected schools in different areas of Dhaka city. Students were interviewed about their diet and physical activity, and anthropometric measurements were made, including height, weight, mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass index (BMI). Undernutrition, overweight and obesity were defined using internationally accepted BMI cut-off points. Mean height, weight, BMI, MUAC, waist circumference and hip circumference values were found to be higher in boys than in girls, except at age 12 when these were found to be significantly higher in girls than in boys (p<0.05). The mean prevalence of overweight was 10.0% (boys 10.2%; girls 9.8%), and that of obesity 5.0% (boys 4.3%; girls 5.8%). The prevalence of underweight was 16.3% in boys and 12.7% in girls. The prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in poor than in rich children (22.1% vs 11.2%) and that of obesity was higher in rich than in poor children (9.9% vs 1.3%; p<0.001). A family history of obesity and hypertension emerged as a significant predictor of developing overweight and obesity (p<0.001). The data suggest that underweight and obesity co-exist in urban areas of Bangladesh, posing a challenge for the nutritional health of Bangladeshi children.

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in some rural communities of Sreepur Thana during the month of April 2007. The study population included those aged 50 years or more and residing in the study areas. A total of 226 respondents were selected purposively and were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. The objective of this study was to assess their socio economic condition and identify their health problems.

Background and objectives: World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Health Policy of Bangladesh have repeatedly been emphasizing on the use of essential drugs prescribed by generic names. The prescription monitoring studies provide a bridge between areas like rational use of drugs and evidence based medicine. Knowledge on distribution and burden of diseases in a community is essential for planning rational use of drugs in a community. The present study tried to determine the morbidity profile and drug prescribing practices of healthcare providers in a rural primary health care. Methods: The study was conducted at a rural health center located 50 Km north of capital city Dhaka. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data on socio-demographic conditions, clinical complaints and types of drugs prescribed. WHO prescribing indicators was used to find out the drug prescribing pattern. Results: A total of 583 patients were enrolled. Problems related to respiratory system (21.1%), musculoskeletal system (17.3%) and skin diseases (11.1%) were common reasons for visiting health centre. Oral drugs were prescribed with highest proportion (96.1%). More than half (62.6%) of the drugs were prescribed from essential drug list. About half (49.1%) were antibiotics and 45.6% of the drugs were prescribed in their generic name. Anti-microbial (64.5%), anti-peptic ulcer (43.1%) and NSAIDs (42.5%) were most frequently prescribed. Out of five WHO core prescription indicators, four were below the acceptable values. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there is an urgent need to promote rational use of drugs among the healthcare providers. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 50-56

This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on ‘HIV/AIDS awareness' among the blood donors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The aim of the study was to assess the level of awareness among blood donors on HIV/AIDS and to assess their knowledge regarding its prevention and control. A total of 110 (87.3% male, 12.7% female) donors participated in this study. Their mean age was 24.9 ± 5.2 years. More than 60% of the respondents had primary or secondary level of education. Two-thirds (66.11%) of them donated blood for their relatives, while the rest did it for donation's sake. Although 93.6% of the respondents heard about AIDS (TV being the most common source), none had a good or excellent level of awareness about the disease. About mode of transmission, 20.9% had average and very few had a good level of knowledge regarding its prevention. When asked for an opinion about the country's risk for HIV/AIDS, more than half (54.2%) had the view that the country was at a risk from the disease and nearly three quarters (72.5%) were of the opinion that mass awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS could improve the situation. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2009; 3(2): 63-66 Key Words: HIV/AIDS, blood donors, awareness, Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/imcj.v3i2.4219