Satisfaction of pregnant women regarding antenatal care at the selected Upazilla Health Complexes during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) envisions a world where every pregnant woman and newborn receives comprehensive care throughout the pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. This study aims to assess the satisfaction of pregnant women with antenatal care services at selected Upazilla Health Complexes during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction levels of pregnant women with the antenatal care services provided at selected Upazilla Health Complexes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at three selected Upazilla Health Complexes in Kishorganj district, Bangladesh, namely Hussainpur Upazilla Health Complex, Karimganj Upazilla Health Complex, and Pakundia Upazilla Health Complex. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 163 married pregnant women attending antenatal care services at these health complexes. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews ensuring privacy and analyzed using SPSS 26, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Most pregnant women (54.6%) were aged 18-23 years. Education levels: 40.5% had SSC education, 9.2% were illiterate. Respondents expressed high satisfaction with key aspects at the Upazilla Health Complex, including medicine supply and awareness about ANC services. Continuous monitoring is crucial for patient satisfaction. Medicine supply significantly impacted satisfaction, emphasizing its importance in healthcare quality. Conclusions: Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Upazilla Health Complexes have effectively provided antenatal care, satisfying the majority of respondents, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under spinal-epidural anesthesia versus general anaesthesia: a prospective randomized study

Background: The choice between spinal-epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy depends on various factors, including patient characteristics, surgical team expertise, and institutional guidelines. While both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, spinal-epidural anesthesia offers an alternative to general anesthesia, potentially reducing complications and improving patient outcomes. Objective of the study was to compare spinal anesthesia with the gold standard general anesthesia for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in healthy patients. Methods: This study was conducted at Sheikh Hasina Medical College, Hobiganj, Bangladesh. In this prospective comparative study, we enrolled one hundred patients diagnosed with symptomatic gallstone disease and classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status I or II. These patients were subjected to randomization, with fifty of them assigned to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy under spinal anesthesia, while the remaining fifty received general anesthesia. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive assessment, comparing various intraoperative parameters, postoperative pain levels, incidence of complications, recovery rates, and patient satisfaction during the follow-up period, with the aim of evaluating the differences between these two anesthesia methods. Results: All the procedures were completed by the allocated method of anesthesia, as there were no conversions from spinal to general anesthesia. Pain was significantly less at 4 hours (p<0.001), 8 hours (p<0.001), 12 hours (p<0.001), and 24 hours (p=0.02) after the procedure for the spinal anesthesia group compared with those who received general anesthesia. There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding complications, hospital stay, recovery, or degree of satisfaction at follow-up. Conclusions: Spinal anesthesia is adequate and safe for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in otherwise healthy patients and offers better postoperative pain control than general anesthesia without limiting recovery.

Association of biomass fuel smoke exposure and hypertension among rural women of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Exposure to biomass fuel smoke has detrimental health effects causing chronic diseases. This study investigated the relationship between biomass fuel smoke exposure and hypertension among the rural Bangladeshi women. A total of 410 women aged 19–60 years were enrolled in this study during April–May 2017 who regularly cooked with biomass fuel in traditional cook stove for the past ?1 year. Self-reported daily cooking hours and lifetime cooking experience of the participants were recorded, and their blood pressure was measured. Participants' age ?40 years, parental history of hypertension, body mass index ?25 kg/m2, and cumulative exposure to biomass smoke were found to be the significant risk factors of hypertension. Every 1 year increase in cumulative exposure to biomass smoke eventually exacerbated the risk of hypertension by 61% (adjusted odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.22; P < 0.01). This study provides evidence that long-term exposure to biomass fuel smoke is associated with hypertension.

Molecular characterization of shiga like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from pigs oedema.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: An oedema outbreak occurred in a Guwahati pig farm. Escherichia coli isolates from different necropsy samples collected from the dead piglets with oedema were characterized to confirm the virulence. METHODS: Haemolytic E. coli isolates recovered from liver, lung and intestine of pigs with oedema were examined for presence of genes encoding pathogroups such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), (eae/bfpA), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC), (eagg), enterotoxigive Escherichia coil (ETEC), (elt/est) and shiga like toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), (stx1/ stx2) by PCR and molecular typing by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR). RESULTS: The three haemolytic E. coli recovered from diseased pigs were STEC because of presence of the stx2 and eae genes. Analysis by RAPD-PCR indicated that two of the three isolates were genetically related. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The isolation of STEC isolates from pigs with oedema was shown. Although the three isolates were untypable, presence of eae and stx2 genes clearly indicated these as prime cause of pig oedema disease. Further, demonstration of STEC in pigs becomes a public health concern, as pigs are potential reservoir of such agents, which may cause human illness.

Passive immunization of piglets against enterotoxigenic colibacillosis by vaccinating dams with K88ac pili bearing bacterins.

Day-old-piglets were passively immunized by vaccinating the pregnant sows with K88ac enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) vaccine. High level of ETEC specific antibodies was excreted in colostrum (3733.33 +/- 1152.13) and maintained a detectable level (100.00 +/- 0.00) up to 21 day post partum (DPP). The IgG was the predominant immunoglobulin followed by IgA and IgM. Piglets born of vaccinated dam (group A) and unvaccinated dam (group B) were challenged in 7 day of age. Clinical and faecal scores were significantly (P < 0.01) low in group A than that of group B. Piglets of group A developed mild diarrhoea (33.33%), while all the control piglets developed profuse diarrhoea and 3 of these died before 14 day of challenge infection.