RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Menopause is a well-known risk factor for decreasing cognitive function in women. Postmenopausal women are increasing in number but relevant studies are very scarce. This study compared the cognitive function between urban and rural postmenopausal women and assessed the influence of socio-demographic factors on cognitive function. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the association between the cognitive function of urban and rural postmenopausal women. METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 87 urban and 87 rural postmenopausal women who were selected by purposive sampling method from the Nakhalpara and Dhamrai area of Dhaka district during the period from January to December 2020. Data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire based on the Bengali version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale through face-to-face interviews and record reviewing with a checklist. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and SPSS version 24 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: The mean age of postmenopausal women was 58.09 ± 8.163 years in urban areas and 60.00 ± 7.562 years in rural areas. The majority (31, 35.6%) of urban women were primary school pass whereas 58 (66.7%) rural women were illiterate. The mean family income of the women was 43022.99 ± 10992.57 Bangladeshi taka (BDT) in the urban group and 14022.99 ± 5023.14 BDT in the rural group. The study revealed that 31 (35.6%) women in the urban group and 53 (60.9%) women in the rural group had abnormal cognitive function. CONCLUSION: The percentage of abnormal cognitive function was higher in rural postmenopausal women. Cognitive function has an association with monthly family income, housing condition, family type, age at the time of marriage, lifestyle, and co-morbidities. Policymakers can take the findings as a guide to formulate policies and programs for the improvement of cognitive function of postmenopausal women.
RESUMEN
Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, self-medication (SM) has become a critical element in the healthcare system. SM can ease the burden on hospitals and medical resources by treating minor illnesses. However, inappropriate SM practices can lead to adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, and incorrect diagnoses, resulting in poor health outcomes. Methods To evaluate the prevalence, knowledge, causes, and practices of SM among the Bangladeshi population during the COVID-19 outbreak, a cross-sectional survey with structured questionnaires was conducted in Chittagong City, Bangladesh, from March to May 2022. The survey included 265 participants, with an average age of 35.09 years, and a multiple-choice questionnaire was used to gather information. Results The study found that 64.15% of the respondents had sufficient knowledge of SM, while 35.8% had insufficient knowledge. The primary reasons for SM during the pandemic were the influence of friends/family (90.74%), fear of infection or contact with COVID-19 cases (73.15%), and fear of quarantine or self-isolation (72.22%). Analgesics/pain relievers (84%) were the most commonly used drugs for SM for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Antiulcerants/antacid (42%), vitamin C and multivitamins (42%), and antibiotics (32%) were also frequently used. Conclusion This study suggests that SM is prevalent among Chittagong City residents, particularly those with less than a tertiary education. The study highlights the importance of building awareness about SM practices and taking necessary steps to control them.
RESUMEN
Background & objective: Developing countries are presently witnessing a great burden of rapid aging followed by losing the social values of older adults due to age-related cognitive impairment as well as rising depression levels. This study was designed to assess the cognitive impairment and depression status combinedly among older adults in elderly care homes. Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey among randomly selected 200 older adults aged between 60 and 80 years residing in some old homes in Dhaka district, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews while Cognitive function and level of depression were assessed by applying the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: Among all the respondents, the majority (81.5%) were staying in old homes for 1-5 years. The majority (91.0%) had difficulties with vision, 40.7% had difficulties with hearing and 19.6% had difficulties moving around. The MMSE test revealed that 43% had moderate cognitive impairment, 36% had mild and 19.5% were found normal while more than half (56%) had severe depression. Significant cognitive impairment was found among the illiterate respondents who did not have any family care support. In addition, higher-educated respondents were found to have more severe depression (OR/p = 6.33/<0.01; 95% CI: 2.36-16.96). Furthermore, severely depressed respondents had more severe cognitive impairment (COR/p = 3.83/0.01; 95% CI: 1.66-8.83). Functional disabilities were also a greater concern for cognitive impairment and depression. Conclusion: An increasing number of old home residents are suffering from significant mental disorders while there is no mental health support in the elderly care homes in Bangladesh. Finally, there is a great need to develop packages and programs of mental health care for senior citizens and their caregivers residing in old homes, which can be scaled up across the country's mixed healthcare delivery system.