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.

Infertility is an experience that strikes at the very core of a woman's life and as a whole her family and society. Studies in Bangladesh to evaluate the factors are difficult to come by. This case control study was carried out from Jan 2010 to June 2010 to find out the factors associated with secondary infertility. A total of 70 cases were selected from the infertility unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and 70 unmatched controls from the same hospital attending the pediatrics unit with their children were also recruited. Data were collected by interview and review of documents. No age difference was noticed between the cases (29.26 ± 4.13) and controls (29.21 ± 3.95). Association of secondary infertility was found with body mass index (p=0.036), previous bad obstetric history (p = 0.011) and previous caesarian delivery (p=0.044). Women with secondary infertility were more than four times more likely to have gynecological problem(s) than their fertile counterparts [OR 4.76 with 95% CI (2.018-11.270)]. The factors identified in this study might help the policy makers in designing prevention and health care programmes and thus reducing the hidden burden of secondary infertility.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2011; 5(1): 17-21

Bangladesh is facing a big challenge in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. Addressing maternal health issues is now on the global social agenda in the new millennium. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the unions of Sreepur Upazilla in March 2010 among 300 rural married women having at least one living child. Data were collected by face to face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on maternal health care of married women in Sreepur Upazilla. The mean ± SD age of women was 33.5 ± 10.4 years and monthly income was Tk. 6,518.3 ± 5,142.4. Reproductive history of the women reveals that mean ± SD age at marriage, age at first child, and parity were 15.3 ± 2.9, 18.2 ± 3, 3 ± 2 years respectively. Only 42.3% of the respondents knew about swelling of the foot, 36.3% were aware of fits, 25.7% knew about severe headache and 24.7% knew about unusual bleeding as warning signs of pregnancy. About 84.3% respondents knew that the first meal of the baby should be colostrum. Among the participants 57%, 70.7% and 62.3% had average knowledge on ANC, INC and PNC respectively. Rural married women having a positive attitude towards maternal health care was 96.3% in ANC, 80% in home delivery, 61.3% in hospital delivery and 95.3% in PNC. It was found that 35.6% and 27.1% respondents were taking ANC 3 and 4 times respectively. Among the respondents 66.7% had done their laboratory examination and 84.7% took vitamins adequately. About 67.2% respondents performed normal physical work as before during pregnancy and 30.5% took more food than before. Home delivery was practiced by 88.3% respondents and 10.3% women delivered their baby at the hospital. Among the respondents who delivered their baby at home, 64.9% of them practiced few of the features of safe home delivery. Practice was good on ANC among 55.3% respondents where poor practice was found 69.3% on INC and 72.3% on PNC. Age and monthly income were related to knowledge on ANC (P<.001, P<.05) and PNC (P<.01, P<.05) respectively. Practice on maternal health care also related to socio-economic condition of the rural women. Women in rural settings are vulnerable due to poor maternal health care and exposed to risk of pregnancy and child birth. Appropriate health education activities, encouraging institutional delivery and development of socio-economic status are key factors to improve our maternal health.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2011; 5(1): 13-16 Key Words: Knowledge; attitude; practice; maternal health care; Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/imcj.v5i1.9855

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This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in two purposively selected rural areas of Faridpur district -Alfadanga and Boalmari. The objectives were to find out the age at marriage and fertility pattern amongst the adolescent married women residing in the study areas. A total of 426 women were selected purposively and interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Most (97.2%) were in the age group of 15-19 years, being married by 15.5 ± 1.5 years. Although 57.5% had a secondary level education, almost all (97%) were found to be housewives. Monthly income was between Taka 2001-4000 in 41.3% of the households. Regarding fertility pattern, 19% of the adolescent women were found to be pregnant at the time of survey. The total fertility rate (TFR) among this age group was estimated to be 2.6 per woman. To help improve the situation, awareness on the negative consequences of early marriage and consequent childbearing needs to be created not only among the young adolescent girls but should be targeted towards their parents too.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2007; 1(2): 9-12