Availability of basic infection control items and personal protection equipment in 7948 health facilities in eight low- and middle-income countries: Evidence from national health system surveys.

Background: Hundreds of millions of people become infected globally every year while seeking care in health facilities that lack basic needs like infection control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE). We aimed to evaluate the availability of infection control items and PPE in eight low- and middle-income countries and identify disparities in the availability of those items. Methods: In this study, we combined publicly available nationally representative cross-sectional health system surveys (Service Provision Assessments by the Demographic and Health Survey Programme) conducted in eight countries between 2013 and 2018: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, and Tanzania. The availability of infection control items was evaluated using a list of six items (a waste receptacle, a sharps container, disinfectant, single-use disposable or auto-disposable syringes, soap and running water, or an alcohol-based hand rub, and guidelines for standard precautions). PPE includes four items: gloves, medical masks, gowns, and eye protection. We considered these items available in a facility if they were observed in general outpatient areas or any service-specific area (i.e. delivery room). Results: We analysed data from 7948 health facilities (694 hospitals and 7254 health centres/clinics). Overall, among the infection control items and PPE, most surveyed facilities had high availability of single-use disposable or auto-disposable syringes (91.40%) and latex gloves (92.56%). Of infection control measures, guidelines for infection control were the least available during the survey, with the lowest (6.15%) in Nepal and the highest (68.18%) in Malawi. Of the PPE items, eye protection was the least available during the survey, with the lowest (5.4% in Senegal) and the highest (28.17%) in Haiti. Only 1567 (19.71%) facilities looked to have all the basic infection control materials, and 1023 (12.87%) of the analysed facilities possessed all of the PPE. Within the same country, the availability of items varied more between hospitals and health centres/clinics than between them. Conclusions: All eight of our study countries experience shortages of the most fundamental standard precaution items to avert infection. Steps must be taken in each of these countries to reduce inadequacies and disparities and enhance efficiency in the conversion of health-system inputs into the facility's availability of standard precaution items for infection control - to curb the risk of infectious disease transmission.

The availability of essential medicines for diabetes at health facilities in Bangladesh: evidence from 2014 and 2017 national surveys.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh ranks among the world's top ten countries in the number of diabetic patients. The prevention of this disease requires treating patients with essential medicines, and the first crucial step in the uptake of these medicines is availability. We aimed to assess the availability of essential medicines for diabetes (EM-Diabetes) and to explore health facility characteristics associated with the availability of those medicines. METHODS: We performed the analysis using nationally representative data from the two waves of the cross-sectional Bangladesh Health Facility Survey (BHFS) in 2014 and 2017. Data are available for 1548 and 1524 health facilities in the 2014 and 2017 BHFS. Study samples of this study were 217 facilities (73 from 2014 and 144 from 2017) that offer diabetes diagnosis and treatment services. The outcome variable 'EM-Diabetes availability' was calculated as a counting score of the tracer medicines: metformin, glibenclamide, injectable insulin, and injectable glucose solution. A multivariable Poisson regression model was used to identify the health facility characteristics (such as, managing authority, location, external supervision, regular quality assurance activities, national guidelines for diagnosis and management of diabetes, etc.) associated with EM-Diabetes availability. RESULTS: Since 2014, there have been minimal increases in Bangladeshi health facilities that provide diabetes screening and treatment services (from 4.7% to 9.4%). Among facilities offering diabetes services, 64.5% (BHFS 2014) and 55.7% (BHFS 2017) facilities had no EM-Diabetes on-site at all. Between 2014 and 2017, the availability of metformin increased (from 27.5% to 40.1%), but there was a decrease in the availability of glibenclamide (from 16.5% to 9.1%), injectable insulin (from 20.4% to 11.4%), and injectable glucose solution (from 20.4% to 19.2%). Furthermore, publicly owned facilities [relative risk (RR) = 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.78 for 2014 and RR= 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41-0.71 for 2017] and facilities in rural settings [RR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12-0.55 for 2014 and RR= 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44-0.81 for 2017] were significantly associated with decreased availability of EM-Diabetes in both survey years. Moreover, routine user fees [RR=3.70, 95% CI: 1.86-7.38] and regular quality assurance activities [RR= 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12-2.34] were also significantly associated with increased EM-Diabetes availability in 2017 only. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the health facilities in Bangladesh had insufficient essential medicines for treating diabetes. In general, the availability of EM-Diabetes declined from 2014 to 2017, except for metformin. Policymakers should consider a wide range of policy implications, focusing on the management of public facilities, rural facilities, routine user fees, and quality assurance activities to improve the availability of EM-Diabetes at health facilities in Bangladesh.

Are Bangladeshi healthcare facilities prepared to provide antenatal care services? Evidence from two nationally representative surveys.

Identifying high-risk pregnancies through antenatal care (ANC) is considered the cornerstone to eliminating child deaths and improving maternal health globally. Understanding the factors that influence a healthcare facility's (HCF) preparedness to provide ANC service is essential for assisting maternal and newborn health system progress. We aimed to evaluate the preparedness of HCFs to offer ANC services among childbearing women in Bangladesh and investigate the facility characteristics linked to the preparedness. The data for this study came from two waves of the Bangladesh Health Facilities Survey (BHFS), conducted in 2014 and 2017 using a stratified random sample of facilities. The study samples were 1,508 and 1,506 HCFs from the 2014 and 2017 BHFS, respectively. The outcome variable "ANC services preparedness" was calculated as an index score using a group of tracer indicators. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify the significant correlates of ANC service preparedness. We found that private hospitals had a lower chance of having high preparedness than district and upazila public facilities in 2014 (RRR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.22, p-value = <0.001) and 2017 (RRR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07-0.74, p-value = 0.01), respectively. HCFs from the Khulna division had a 2.84 (RRR = 2.84, CI: 1.25-6.43, p-value = 0.01) and 3.51 (RRR = 3.51, CI: 1.49-8.27, p-value = <0.001) higher likelihood of having medium and high preparedness, respectively, for ANC service compared to the facilities in the Dhaka division in 2017. The facilities that had a medium infection prevention score were 3.10 times (RRR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.65-5.82; p-value = <0.001) and 1.89 times (RRR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.09-3.26, p-value = 0.02) more likely to have high preparedness compared to those facilities that had a low infection prevention score in 2014 and 2017 respectively. Facilities without visual aids for client education on pregnancy and ANC were less likely to have high (RRR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16-0.53, p-value = <0.001) and (RRR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30-0.99, p-value = 0.04) preparedness, respectively, than those with visual aids for client education on pregnancy and ANC in both the surveys. At all two survey time points, facilities that did not maintain individual client cards or records for ANC clients were less likely to have high (RRR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-.92, p-value = 0.02) and (RRR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25-0.66, p-value = <0.001) preparedness, respectively, compared to their counterparts. We conclude that most facilities lack adequate indicators for ANC service preparedness. To improve the readiness of ANC services, government authorities could focus on union-level facilities, community clinics, private facilities, and administrative divisions. They could also make sure that infection control items are available, maintain individual client cards or records for ANC clients, and also ensure ANC clients have access to visual aids.

The availability of essential medicines for cardiovascular diseases at healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: The case of Bangladesh.

Long-term, often lifelong care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients requires consistent use of medicine; hence, the availability of essential medicine for CVD (EM-CVD) is vital for treatment, quality of life, and survival. We aimed to assess the availability of EM-CVD and explore healthcare facility (HCF) characteristics associated with the availability of those medicines in Bangladesh. This study utilized publicly available cross-sectional data from the 2014 and 2017 waves of the Bangladesh Health Facilities Survey (BHFS). The analysis included 204 facilities (84 from the 2014 BHFS and 120 from the 2017 BHFS) that provide CVD diagnosis and treatment services. The outcome variable "EM-CVD availability" was calculated as a counting score of the following tracer medicines: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (enalapril), thiazide, beta-blockers (atenolol), calcium channel blockers (amlodipine and nifedipine), aspirin, and simvastatin/atorvastatin. A multivariable Poisson regression model was used to identify the HCF characteristics associated with EM-CVD availability. The number of Bangladeshi HCFs that provide CVD screening and treatment services increased just a little between 2014 and 2017 (from 5.4% to 7.9%). Since 2014, there has been an increase in the availability of calcium channel blockers (from 37.5% to 38.5%), aspirin (from 25.3% to 27.9%), and simvastatin/atorvastatin (from 8.0% to 30.7%), whereas there has been a decrease in the availability of ACE inhibitors (enalapril) (from 12.5% to 6.5%), thiazide (from 15.7% to 11.1%), and beta-blockers (from 42.5% to 32.5%). The likelihood of EM-CVD being available was higher among private and urban facilities than among public and rural facilities. Furthermore, facilities that had 24-hour staff coverage and performed quality assurance activities had a higher chance of having EM-CVD available than those that did not have 24-hour staff coverage and did not undertake quality assurance activities. Government authorities should think about a wide range of policy implications, such as putting more emphasis on public and rural facilities, making sure staff is available 24 hours a day, and performing quality assurance activities at facilities to make EM-CVD more available.

Correlates of attempting to quit smoking among adults in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Quit attempts are very essential in population-based smoking cessation. Little is known about the correlates of making a quit attempt of smoking in Bangladesh. We aimed to examine correlates of making a quit attempt of smoking among adults in Bangladesh. METHODS: We used data from the 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, Bangladesh. A total of 2217 adult current smokers (2141 males and 76 females) aged 15 years and older who participated in the survey were included. We compared socio-demographic, behavioral, motivational, knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, quitting methods utilized, use of social media to quit smoking, and environmental characteristics of current smokers who made an attempt to quit with those who made no quit attempt during the previous 12 months of the survey. We applied multivariable logistic regression models for analyzing the data. RESULTS: Among the 2217 current smokers, 1058 (47.72%) made attempt to quit. We found respondents who smoked their first cigarette within 6 to 30 min of waking up were more likely to make an attempt to quit than those who smoked their first cigarette within 5 min of waking. Moreover, among daily current smokers who smoked 10-19 manufactured cigarettes per day were less likely to make a quit attempt. We also found intention to quit smoking, smoking rules inside the home, and exposure to anti-smoking advertisements as significant correlates of making a quit attempt of smoking among adults in Bangladesh. CONCLUSIONS: Policymakers should consider our findings when implementing tobacco control programs in Bangladesh.

Correlates of unsuccessful smoking cessation among adults in Bangladesh.

Having 21.9 million adult smokers, Bangladesh ranks among the top ten heaviest smoking countries in the world. Correlates of unsuccessful smoking cessation remain unknown. We aimed to identify the correlates of unsuccessful smoking cessation among adults in Bangladesh. We used data from the 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for Bangladesh. We compared socio-demographic, belief about health effect of smoking, and environmental characteristics of current smokers who had a recent failed quit attempt during the past 12 months of the survey (unsuccessful quitters) with those former smokers who had quit ≥ 12 months earlier of the survey and had not relapsed (successful quitters). Data were analyzed using logistic regression model and generalized estimating equations. A total of 1552 smokers (1058 unsuccessful quitters and 494 successful quitters) aged 15 years and older who participated in the survey was included in this study. Among the smokers, 1058 (68%) were unsuccessful quitters. Our analysis showed that older aged, female, and higher educated smokers were less likely to quit unsuccessfully. Moreover, who believed that smoking causes serious illness were also less likely to quit unsuccessfully. For the interaction between place of residence and smoking rules inside home, we found that among the smoker's, in those house smoking was allowed, and who lived in urban place were less likely to be unsuccessful in quitting than those who lived in rural place. Our findings suggest a cessation program that requires integrated approach with a view to considering these findings in setting up.