KAP Study of Tobacco Users among the Garment Workers at Dhaka City in Bangladesh

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is a key sector of Bangladesh economy. This sector brings in about 78% of the country’s total merchandize export earnings. More than 3.2 million people are working in this sector and mostly females from underprivileged social classes.Employment in this Ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh provides workers with economic benefits and some empowerment. A descriptive cross-sectional study followed by a qualitative approach was utilized. Through proportionate quota sampling, 560 garments workers were recruited from 6(one large, two medium, and three small) garment factories in Mirpur area of Dhaka city.Almost all of the garments workers knew that both smoking and smokeless tobacco (98.4%) is harmful for health. Knowledge on specific health hazards of smoking (96.96%) tobacco was relatively higher than those of smokeless (90%) tobacco. Electronic media (Radio/TV/Cinema) was themost common source of their knowledge (92.9%). In case of smoking tobacco, cancer (63.6%) was the mostly reported disease caused by smoking tobacco, followed by lung cancer (15.7%) and heart attack (11.3%). On the other hand, for smokeless tobacco, cancer (29.8%), followed by oral cancer (26.6%) and lung cancer (15.0%) was mostly reported diseases by the garments workers. Garment workers’ knowledge on tobacco control policy was found to be very low. Only 35.0% knew about the policy. Although few garments workers know about the rules for prohibition of tobacco product in public place (25.7%) and public transport (11.3%), other specific rules under tobacco control policy were not known to majority of them. The present study provides a scientific base regarding current tobacco using practice among garments workers in Dhaka city and their knowledge and attitude towards tobacco. Finding revealed from qualitative analysis of data suggested that now-a-days smoking is considered as a trend; people have to smoke for showing smartness or to maintain social status. Peer influence also plays an important role for initiating and maintaining smoking status. Socio-cultural influence for smokeless tobacco consumption was not well documented by this study which indicated a need for more focused qualitative study.

Slow arsenic poisoning of the contaminated groundwater users

This paper gives impact of Arsenic contaminated water on human health as well as overview of the extent and severity of groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. Scalp hair is the most important part of the human body to monitor the accumulation of this type of poison. Therefore, an experiment has been carried out by Neutron Activation Analysis [NAA] at Atomic Energy Research Establishment [AERE], Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh on human hair of corresponding tube well water users of these areas to determine the total accumulation of arsenic to their body. Hair samples collected from the region where the groundwater was found highly contaminated with arsenic. The obtained results of arsenic concentration in the lower age [Hb] categories of users [below 12 years of age users] is in the range of 0.33 to 3.29 ?g/g [ppm] and that in the Hu categories [upper 12 years of age users] is 0.47 to 6.64 ?g/g [ppm]. Where as maximum permissible range is 1 ppm certified from WHO. Results show that the peoples are highly affected where the groundwater is highly contaminated with arsenic and acts as the primary source of arsenic poisoning among the peoples of those areas. The results indicate that human population is affected with arsenic locally using the contaminated water for a long time

Regional perspectives in research ethics: a report from Bangladesh

Health research in Bangladesh is increasing and hence there is a need to consider the ethical issues with regard such research. This paper describes the measures being taken in Bangladesh to address research ethics, such as the bioethics educational programmes and the ethics review committees functioning within the country. The role and work of the Central Ethics Review Committee and the regulatory guidelines are outlined. The paper also discusses the situation regarding research ethics within the South Asia region

Promoting road traffic injuries research in South Asia: capacity strengthening in health research

Ideally, health policies should be based on valid scientific evidence and such evidence requires health research. Health research is also an essential tool for achieving equity in health and development. Although the need to carry out health research is now well accepted, South Asian countries still lag behind and do not make any meaningful contributions to health research and development. This paucity in research work is due to a lack of incentives, shortage of skilled manpower, poor exposure and insufficient orientation to the methods and materials of biomedical research. Research capacity is a tool to help a country deal with its national health problems in as effective and efficient a manner as possible. It is, therefore, part of the national health system and should be integrated in a comprehensive national health plan for the promotion of health and the delivery of health services to the country. Capacity strengthening is recognized as a crucial step in the process of integrating the use of research for decisionmaking in the health system of a country. This is especially true for conditions such as road traffic injuries, which present a new challenge for existing health systems

An evaluation of workshop approach in research manpower development.

Effectiveness of organised training workshop on research methodology was assessed by administering pre and post-test questionnaire and analysis of the responses. A structured questionnaire containing 13 propositions, each having three options were used both for pre and post testing. Issues raised in the questionnaire relate to the rules, tools and techniques of biomedical research. The participants mean score for 5 days, 15 days and 30 days groups were 5,82; 7,33 and 5,41 respectively before the workshop. The corresponding scores after the workshop were 7,17; 9,42 and 8,67 respectively. The post-test scores were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the pre-test scores and indicated that improvement in the participants' knowledge on research methodology had taken place.

Importance of thermovision in radial mononeuropathy of compressive and ischaemic origin.

This prospective study was aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic values of Thermovision in compressive and ischaemic radial mononeuropathy. Thermography was carried out in case of 30 patients before and after treatment. Twenty healthy volunteers were included as control. Comparative analysis of the obtained particulars proved the diagnostic and prognostic values of Thermovision (t = 6.4, p less than 0.001) in radial neuropathy of compression-ischaemic origin.

Effects of long-acting steroid contraceptives on ovarian and uterine histology of rats.

Subcutaneous injection of single doses (5 to 20 mg/kg) of DMPA or NE in virgin female rats caused reduction in number and diameter of CL, and increase in number of atretic and cystic follicles in the ovary. Histological examination of the endometrium of these animals showed low cubiodal cells with sparse distribution of low columnar cells, glands with atrophic changes and compact uterine stroma with or without patches of oedema. The results suggest regressive and atrophic changes in the ovary and endometrium.