509 research outputs found
Sexual and reproductive healthcare utilisation and affordability for South Sudanese refugees and host populations in Northern Uganda: A mixed methods study.
No full textGiven Uganda's increasing refugee population, the health financing burden on refugee and host populations is likely to increase because Uganda's integrated health system caters to both populations. We used sexual, reproductive, and maternal health (SRMH) as a lens to assess the utilisation and user cost of health services in Northern Uganda to identify potential gaps in SRMH services and their financing. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 2,533 refugee and host women and girls in Arua and Kiryandongo districts. We conducted 35 focus group discussions and 131 in-depth interviews with host and South Sudanese refugees, community members, health workers, NGO and governmental actors. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using a framework approach. Quantitative data were analysed using t-test, chi-square tests, multivariate logistical regression, and a two-part model. We found high levels of access to maternal care services among refugee and host communities in Northern Uganda, but lower levels of met need for family planning (FP). Refugees had higher uptake of delivery care than host communities due to better-resourced refugee facilities, but incurred higher costs for delivery kits and food and less for transport due to facilities being closer. FP uptake was low for both groups due to perceived risks, cultural and religious beliefs, and lack of agency for most women. Host communities lack access to essential maternal healthcare services relative to refugees, especially for delivery care. Greater investment is needed to increase the number of host facilities, improve the quality of SRMH services provided, and further enhance delivery care access among host communities. Ongoing funding of delivery kits across all communities is needed and new financing mechanisms should be developed to support non-medical costs for deliveries, which our study found to be substantial in our study. All populations must be engaged in co-designing improved strategies to meet their FP needs
Burden of stroke in Bangladesh
No full textStroke is the third leading cause of death in Bangladesh. The World Health Organization ranks Bangladesh's mortality rate due to stroke as number 84 in the world. The reported prevalence of stroke in Bangladesh is 0·3%, although no data on stroke incidence have been recorded. Hospital-based studies conducted in past decades have indicated that hypertension is the main cause of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in Bangladesh. The high number of disability-adjusted life-years lost due to stroke (485 per 10 000 people) show that stroke severely impacts Bangladesh's economy. Although two non-governmental organizations, BRAC and the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, are actively involved in primary stroke prevention strategies, the Bangladeshi government needs to emphasize healthcare development to cope with the increasing population density and to reduce stroke occurrence
Rates and risk factors for antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths in 20 secondary hospitals in Imo state, Nigeria: A hospital-based case control study
No full textDespite Nigeria’s stillbirth rate reducing from 28.6 to 22.5 per 1,000 births from 2000–2021, progress trails comparable indicators and regional variations persist. We assessed stillbirth incidences and associated risk factors in 20 secondary hospitals in Imo state, to generate essential local evidence to inform policymaking to reduce mortality. The total numbers of births and their outcomes were determined through hospital maternity registers. An unmatched case-control study was conducted. We collected retrospective data about 157 antepartum and 193 intrapartum stillbirths, and from 381 livebirths (controls). Potential risk factors were categorised into sociodemographic, obstetric and maternity care and biological determinants using a theoretical framework. Independent multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association of risk factors with each stillbirth type. The overall stillbirth rate was 38 per 1,000 total births. The rate of antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths were 16 and 19 per 1,000 respectively. The risk factors independently associated with antepartum stillbirths were nulliparity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.87, 95%CI 1.04–3.36); preterm birth (aOR 14.29, 95%CI 6.31–32.38); being referred from another facility (aOR 3.75, 95%CI 1.96–7.17); unbooked pregnancy (aOR 2.58, 95%CI 1.37–4.85); and obstetric complications (aOR 4.04, 95%CI 2.35–6.94). For intrapartum stillbirths, associated factors were preterm birth (aOR 11.28, 95%CI 4.66–27.24); referral (aOR 2.50, 95%CI 1.19–5.24); not using a partogram (aOR 2.92, 95%CI 1.23–6.95) and obstetric complications (aOR 10.71, 95%CI 5.92–19.37). The findings highlight specific risk factors associated with antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths, shedding light on potential areas for targeted interventions
Effect of Transport Parameters and Device Geometry on Extraction Kinetics and Efficiency in Direct Immersion Solid-phase Microextraction
No full textAn alternative strategy to increase mass transfer entails geometry optimization of the extraction systems including design of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) probes. In this work, a computational model was employed to elucidate practical aspects such as efficiency and kinetics of extraction by employing several new geometries. Extraction of a model analyte at static conditions with the configurations, such as thin-film, fiber, coated tip, and nanoparticles, was numerically simulated to obtain an in-depth understanding of the advantages and limitations of each geometry in microextraction and exhaustive modes. The attained results associated with the equilibration time dependency on shape were in good agreement with previously reported experimental observations. They demonstrate that the mass-transfer is highly dependent on the size and shape of the coatings and increases with a decrease in size of the devices particularly rapidly below 10 μm caused by radial diffusion effect. Nevertheless, extractions performed using octadecyl-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles demonstrated that higher enrichment factors are achievable with the use of a fewer number of particles in comparison to factors achieved via exhaustive extraction, where a larger number of particles must be employed, confirming theoretical predictions. The conclusions reached are valid for any extraction method. The results obtained herein are very useful toward the design and optimization of future extraction technologies and approaches.Fil: Alam, Md. Nazmul. University of Waterloo; CanadáFil: Nazdrajić, Emir. University of Waterloo; CanadáFil: Singh, Varoon. University of Waterloo; CanadáFil: Tascon, Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. University of Waterloo; CanadáFil: Pawliszyn, Janusz. University of Waterloo; Canad
BENGALI AUTHORSHIP CLASSIFICATION CORPUS (BACC-18)
No full textIf you use the Dataset, please cite the following paper. @ARTICLE{9478882,
author={Hossain, Md. Rajib and Hoque, Mohammed Moshiul and Dewan, M. Ali Akber and Siddique, Nazmul and Islam, Md. Nazmul and Sarker, Iqbal H.},
journal={IEEE Access},
title={Authorship Classification in a Resource Constraint Language Using Convolutional Neural Networks},
year={2021},
volume={9},
number={},
pages={100319-100338},
doi={10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3095967}
Investigating the utilization of healthcare services to manage respiratory tract infections (RTIs) among Qatari patients attended selected primary healthcare centers in Qatar
No full textBackground: Respiratory-Tract-Infections (RTIs) are a common cause for most of the GP consultations and antibiotic use at primary care. The study aims to investigate the pattern, distribution, and determinants of several healthcare services use (RTI-related GP visits, antibiotic use, other medication uses and tests and investigations) to manage RTIs among local Qatari patients presented at the selected Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Qatar.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the selected seven (7) Primary Health Care Centers in Qatar for which a complete primary healthcare services data is available on the CERNER system from July 2015 to December 2017. We analyzed electronic data on RTIs-related GP consultations, antibiotic use, other medication uses, and tests and investigations recorded by the PHCC. Trends were investigated by employing linear regression analysis, including months and seasonal dummies as independent-variables. The rates of services use (per 1000 total cause visits) were presented by age-categories, gender, and comorbidity-status. We also analyzed individual patient-level count data on RTI-related 4 selected healthcare services use. A separate negative binomial regression model was used to identify determinants of healthcare services use.
Results: A total of 171,447 RTI visits made by 58,786 patients during July-2015 to December-2017. The Mean age ±SD of participants is 24.80±18.5 years, among them 38.79% falls to age group 5-19 and 33.53% belongs to 20-44. Of the total patients, 48.91% are male and the rest are female. Highest number of patients with a comorbidity of Diabetes (12.85%), followed by Hypertension (10.54%). We have found no difference in the month-to-month rates of RTI-related GP visits (per 1000 total visits) over the study period (non-significant decreasing trend). However, there was a significant decreasing trend in the monthly rates of antibiotics consumption and an increasing trend in the tests/investigations done but there was no clear increasing or decreasing trend in the monthly rates of other medications use. As expected, we found lower number of RTI related healthcare services use during the summer months. After the bi-variate analysis of individual patient-level data of selected 4 health care services across age-categories, gender and various comorbidity status, we found healthcare services varied significantly across age-categories (younger patients relatively used more healthcare services compared to older patients) and whether patients had one of the five comorbidities. We have also found that age and comorbidity status (whether patients had a comorbidity or not) were important predictors for determining individual patient-level healthcare services use.
Conclusion: In this study, antibiotic consumption for RTIs significantly decreased, as did consultation rates but investigations use rate significantly increased. The large seasonal variation indicates additional likelihoods to decrease healthcare service use. After the bi-variate analysis of individual patient-level data of selected 4 healthcare services across age-categories, gender and various comorbidity status, healthcare services varied significantly across age-categories and whether patients had one of the five comorbidities. We have also found that age and comorbidity status (whether patients had a comorbidity or not) were important predictors for determining individual patient-level healthcare services use. So, the first ever study investigating the utilization of healthcare services use by RTI patients presented at the 7 PHCC healthcare centers in Qatar, which may help policymakers to comprehend the scale of the utilization and to plan a better management of RTIs at primary care setting in Qatar.خلفية: عدوى الجهاز التنفسي تعد سببا شائعا لمعظم استشارات أطباء العموم ولاستخدام المضادات الحيوية
في الرعاية الصحية الأولية. تستهدف هذه الدراسة استقصاء نمط وتوزيع ومحددات الاستخدام لخدمات الرعاية الصحية
المتنوعة )زيارات أطباء العموم ذات الصلة بعدوى الجهاز التنفسي، استخدام المضادات الحيوية، استخدامات الأدوية
الأخرى، والاختبارات والفحوص( لمعالجة عدوى الجهاز التنفسي لدى المرضى القطريين المحليين في مراكز الرعاية
الصحية الأولية (PHCCs) المختارة بقطر.
طرق البحث: تم إجراء دراسة مقطعية مرجعية في سبعة مراكز للرعاية الصحية الأولية في قطر لديها بيانات
مكتملة عن خدمات الرعاية الصحية الأولية متوفرة على نظام السجلات الطبية الإلكترونية ) سيرنر( من يوليو 2015
إلى ديسمبر 2017 . قمنا بتحليل البيانات الإلكترونية عن استشارات الأطباء المتعلقة بعدوى الجهاز التنفسي، واستخدام
المضادات الحيوية واستخدامات الأدوية الأخرى، والاختبارات والفحوص المسجلة من قبل مراكز الرعاية الصحية
الأولية. تم اختبار الاتجاهات باستخدام تحليل الانحدار الخطي باعتبار المتغيرات الشكلية للشهور والمواسم كمتغيرات
مستقلة. تم عرض معدلات استخدام الخدمات )لكل ألف من إجمالي أسباب الزيارات( من خلال الفئات العمرية، الجنس،
والحالة المرضية. قمنا أيضا بتحليل بيانات عددية فردية على مستوى المريض عن استخدام أربع خدمات رعاية مختارة
متعلقة بعدوى الجهاز التنفسي. استخدم نموذج انحدار ثنائي سلبي منفصل لتحديد محددات استخدام خدمات الرعاية
الصحية.
النتائج: إجمالا هناك 171447 زيارة بسبب الإصابة بعدوى الجهاز التنفسي قام بها 58786 مريضا خلال
يوليو 2015 إلى ديسمبر 2017 . متوسط العمر ± الانحراف المعياري للمشاركين هو 24.80 ± 18.5 سنة، من بينهم
38.79 %ينتمون للفئة العمرية 5 - 19 عاما و 33.53 % ينتمون إلى الفئة العمرية 20 - 44 عاما. 48.91 % من إجمالي
المرضى ذكور والباقي إناث. أعلى عدد من المرضى كانوا من الذين لديهم السكري كمرض مصاحب ) 12.85 ،)%
يليه ارتفاع ضغط الدم ) 10.54 %(. لم نجد فرقا في المعدلات الشهرية لزيارات أطباء العموم المتعلقة بعدوى الجهاز
التنفسي )لكل ألف زيارة إجمالية( على مدار فترة الدراسة )اتجاه تناقصي غير مهم إحصائيا(.
غير أنه كان هناك اتجاه تناقصي ملحوظ في المعدلات الشهرية لاستهلاك المضادات الحيوية واتجاه تزايدي
في الاختبارات / الفحوص التي أجريت، لكن لم يكن هناك اتجاه تزايدي أو تناقصي واضح في المعدلات الشهرية
لاستخدام الأدوية الأخرى. وكما هو متوقع، وجدنا استخداما أقل للموارد ذات الصلة بعدوى الجهاز التنفسي أثناء أشهر
الصيف.
بعد التحليل ثنائي المتغير للبيانات الفردية على مستوى المريض عن أربع خدمات رعاية صحية مختارة عبر
الفئات العمرية والجنس وحالة الأمراض المصاحبة، وجدنا أن خدمات الرعاية الصحية تختلف بشكل ملحوظ في الفئات
العمرية )استخدم المرضى الأصغر سنا خدمات صحية أكثر نسبيا مقارنة بالمرضى كبار السن( وتختلف فيما إذا كان
المرضى يشكون من واحد من الأمراض المصاحبة الخمسة. وجدنا أيضا أن العمر وحالة الأمراض المصاحبة )إذا كان
المرضى لديهم مرض مصاحب أم لا( كانت منبئات مهمة لتحديد استخدام خدمات الرعاية الصحية الفردية على مستوى
المريض.
الاستنتاج: في هذه الدراسة، انخفض استهلاك المضادات الحيوية لعدوى الجهاز التنفسي بشكل ملحوظ
إحصائيا، وبالمثل معدلات الاستشارات لكن معدل استخدام الفحوص ازداد بشكل ملحوظ. ويدل التغير الموسمي الكبير
على وجود احتمالات إضافية لتقليل استخدام موارد الرعاية الصحية. بعد إجراء التحليل ثنائي المتغير للبيانات الفردية
على مستوى المريض عن أربع خدمات رعاية صحية مختارة عبر الفئات العمرية والجنس وحالة الأمراض المصاحبة
المختلفة، تفاوتت خدمات الرعاية الصحية بصورة ملحوظة في الفئات العمرية وفيما إذا كان المرضى لديهم واحدا من
الأمراض المصاحبة الخمسة. وجدنا كذلك أن العمر وحالة المرض المصاحب )فيما إذا كان المرضى لديهم أمراض
مصاحبة أم لا( كانا منبئين مهمين لتحديد استخدام خدمات الرعاية الصحية الفردية على مستوى المريض.هذه الدراسة
هي الدراسة الأولى على الإطلاق التي تستقصي عبء استخدام موارد الرعاية الصحية من قبل مرضى عدوى الجهاز
التنفسي في سبعة مراكز للرعاية الصحية الأولية تابعة لمؤسسة الرعاية الصحية الأولية في قطر، ما قد يساعد واضعي
السياسات على فهم حجم العبء والتخطيط لمعالجة أفضل لعدوى الجهاز التنفسي في بيئة الرعاية الأولية بدولة قطر
Surface Laser Treatment on Ferritic Ductile Iron: Effect of Linear Energy on Microstructure, Chemical Composition, and Hardness
No full textSurface transformation treatments like laser surface melting and laser surface hardening have been mostly developed in austempered ductile iron and gray cast iron. In this work, we explore the effects of the linear laser energy of the treatment on the microstructure, chemical composition, and hardness of ferritic nodular cast iron, using a fiber delivery diode laser. We found changes in the microstructure above 120 J/mm, characterized by the presence of graphite nodules surrounded by martensitic/dendritic shells. Above 316 J/mm, Fe3C and γ-Fe2O3 phases arise, together with a saturation of the microhardness around 1000 HV0.3 within the first 200 μm of depth, and of the surface hardness around 90 HR15N. Changes in microstructure and composition due to the laser treatment directly affect the thermal diffusion between the surface-modified zones and the nodular cast iron bulk. Our work highlights the importance of the linear energy in the design and planning of laser treatments.Fil: Catalán, Néstor. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica y Metalurgica; ChileFil: Ramos Moore, Esteban. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Física; ChileFil: Boccardo, Adrian Dante. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Celentano, Diego Javier. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica y Metalurgica; ChileFil: Alam, Nazmul. No especifíca;Fil: Walczak, Magdalena. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica y Metalurgica; ChileFil: Gunasegaram, Dayalan. No especifíca
Determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of listed corporations in Bangladesh: an empirical study
No full textCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as an ‘inescapable priority’ for corporations. CSR considers business management practices of corporations in terms of responsible behaviour towards internal and external stakeholders and society at large. Developing countries have been largely neglected in CSR literature. CSR practices in such countries are eclectic, ad hoc, unevenly applied and limited to few businesses, but they are gaining popularity among corporations aspiring to be considered good corporate citizens. This is especially important because the business epicentre is shifting from industrialised nations to developing Asia. The main objective of this research is to understand the challenges and prospects of CSR practices of national and multi-national corporations (MNCs) conducting business in a developing country, Bangladesh, and to guide businesses in incorporating appropriate CSR practices in their activities. The thesis asks: (i) what are the perceived determinants that influence CSR practices of listed corporations in Bangladesh? (ii) how do the perceived determinants influence the organisational readiness and managerial practices of CSR?; and (iii) to what extent do listed corporations practise CSR? This thesis argues that CSR should be conceptualised as ‘a corporation’s responsible behaviour that covers economic, legal, ethical, philanthropic and environmental issues of business and society’. It uses the experience of Bangladesh, specifically in pharmaceutical businesses listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), to propose an operational framework of CSR practices in the developing country context which will make it possible to: (i) examine a developing country’s existing CSR domains; (ii) explore practical issues of CSR practices; (iii) identify a list of perceived determinants that influence the adaptation of practices; (iv) suggest necessary modifications; and (v) develop a custom-built, country-specific CSR framework. This research has classified major theoretical CSR models and frameworks into two schools of thought: (i) academic, emphasising the nature of global issues of CSR practices and (ii) institutional, focusing on how global issues of CSR can be measured. Fourteen models of CSR practices were examined in order to identify any gaps in them and explain the operation of CSR in a developing country context, using Bangladesh as a case study. It is argued that present CSR models and practices of developed countries cannot be replicated in developing countries without a prior comprehensive examination of the different contextual factors of the latter. Macro-environmental conditions and country-specific characteristics act as determinants which influence the nature and extent of CSR practices in developing countries. A country’s CSR practices are influenced positively by level of economic development, democratic practices, and socio-cultural and religious beliefs of the citizens; they may be inhibited by the regulatory regime, corruption and the lack of a level-playing field between national corporations and MNCs. CSR issues for Bangladesh are not delineated according to the needs of the country, for example, workplace health and safety, women’s rights, consumers’ rights, anti-corruption, disaster management, job creation and industry establishment standards. Rather they – and government policy – focus on philanthropic responsibilities of corporations, ignoring other aspects of CSR
An experimental study on the design, performance and suitability of evaporative cooling system using different indigenous materials
No full textBangladesh in the rapid alert system for food and feed notifications in the period 2000-2012: A review
No full textInformation provided in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal database of the European Commission on "crustaceans and products thereof" for Bangladesh during 2000-2012 was investigated to analyse the trends of occurrences. A total of 159 (10.56%) notifications (alert -- 40; border rejection -- 47; information -- 72) were recorded for Bangladesh against a worldwide 1505 notifications. During the period 120 (20.27%) notifications were identified for residue of veterinary medicinal products against 592 notifications recorded in the portal. Forty-eight consignments were re-despatched to Bangladesh while 11 consignments were destroyed at the European border as a consequence of the notifications by the European countries
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