Global research consistently identifies significant disparities in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), strongly associated with family socioeconomic status and geographic location. However, such data from low-resource settings like Bangladesh is critically lacking. This case-control study aimed to characterize the socioeconomic and geographic profiles of children clinically diagnosed with ASD at a major tertiary centre in Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College & Hospital, Bangladesh; Institute of Pediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA), BMU; Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH), Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2021 to May 2022, enrolling 25 children with ASD and 25 typically developing controls aged 3-16 years. Data on key demographic indicators, including parental education, family income, place of birth and residence characteristics, were collected through parental interviews. Statistical analyses revealed profound disparities. Children with ASD were significantly more likely to come from families with higher parental education (Fathers: 80.0% vs. 16.0%; Mothers: 76.0% vs. 12.0%), higher monthly family income (92.0% vs. 44.0%) and an urban birthplace (80.0% vs. 32.0%). Furthermore, residence near a high-traffic road was a strongly associated environmental factor (92.0% vs. 44.0%). These findings highlight significant inequities in the pathway to an ASD diagnosis in Bangladesh, which are likely driven by differential access to specialized healthcare, varying levels of parental awareness and the urban concentration of diagnostic services rather than causal risk factors. The results underscore an urgent public health imperative: to develop and implement equitable strategies that enhance ASD awareness, decentralize diagnostic capabilities and ensure that all children in Bangladesh, irrespective of their socioeconomic background or place of residence, have an equal opportunity for timely identification and support.
Abdominal obesity, measured by waist-to-hip ratio, is an independent, potent risk factor for Ischemic Stroke. Risk of stroke can be minimized through primordial prevention. The study was conducted to assess the high waist hip ratio as a risk factor for Ischemic Stroke. A case control study was conducted with IRB approval in the department of Medicine and Neurology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for a period of six months with 100 admitted Ischaemic Stroke cases selected purposively following inclusion and exclusion criteria with equal number of age-sex matched pair controls from patients' relatives, hospital staffs and admitted patients other than Ischaemic Stroke. Waist-hip ratio was calculated by dividing the waist circumference with the hip circumference. Socio-demographic, clinical, biochemical and haematological data were collected as well. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants or their guardians/attendants for interview, physical measurements and taking blood samples for biochemical examinations. Data were collected by principal investigator using case record form and interview schedule. All the relevant ethical issues and measures for data quality were taken into consideration. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version-17.0, and presented in tables and figures. Mean age of the cases and controls was 63.4±2.0 years with a male-female ratio of 3:2. Of cases, 35(35.0%) were house-wives and 32(32.0%) were Farmers, while of controls, 40(40.0%) were house-wives and 23(23.0%) were farmers. Left hemisphere 58(58.0%), and cerebral cortex 48(48.0%) were commonly involved areas of the brain. Hemiplegia (57.0%) and hemi-paresis (31.0%) were commonplace with exacerbated ankle jerk (60.0%) and extension planter response (55.0%). As many as 12(12.0%) cases and 16(16.0%) controls were diabetic (p>0.05) with 7(7.0%) cases and 1(1.0%) control had past history of Ischemic Heart Disease (p<0.05). 59(59.0%) cases and 33(33.0%) controls had Systolic Hypertension (p<0.001), while 48(48.0%) cases and 21(21.0%) controls had Diastolic Hypertension (p<0.0001). Seventy-five (75.0%) cases and 30(30.0%) controls had high waist-hip ratio (p<0.001). At least 39(39.0%) cases and 37(37.0%) controls had high total cholesterol level (p>0.05), whereas 52(52.0%) cases and 30(30.0%) controls had low HDL cholesterol level (p<0.0001), 54(54.0%) cases and 46(46.0%) controls had high LDL cholesterol level (p>0.05) and 63(63.0%) cases and 37(37.0%) controls had high triglyceride level (p>0.05). Waist-hip ratio is high among cases with high statistical significance. A significant number of cases and controls are with total cholesterol and high LDL, low HDL and high TG levels.
This descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted to assess the post-partum family planning practices among 678 mothers who delivered in the last 12 months in selected areas of Gazipur district. The study was conducted from 17th September 2022 to 30th November 2022 and the data were collected through face to face interview from the villages of Sataish, Gutia and Rajabari of Gazipur district. A pre-tested, semi-structured, questionnaire was used to collect data for knowing their socio-demographic characteristics and practice of family planning methods. Out of 678 respondents, maximum (41.45%) mother were in the age group of 21-25 years. Almost all (96.00%) were Muslim. In terms of education 42.63% mothers were primary passed. Participants were mainly house wives (80.24%) and two-third (65.00%) mothers belong to nuclear family. Maximum mothers (42.92%) belongs to lower socio-economic class (10001-20000 taka). In the present study, the prevalence of postpartum family planning method use was (69.00%), among them more than half (59.00%) mothers used within 6 months after delivery. Almost half (49.00%) of the couple took decision combinedly and among user, most (41.79%) of them used combined oral pill. Majority (87.00%) of the mothers heard about family planning methods and half (51.87%) of the respondents got information from the health personnel. Two-third (66.99%) of the mothers received family planning counselling and (43.72%) received counselling during postnatal period. In this study, maximum (83.80%) mothers does not have any side effects after family planning methods use. Only (16.20%) had side effects, among them (32.85%) felt generalized weakness. Mothers (31.00%) who did not use family planning methods, among them (36.84%) had fear of side effects and very few (12.92%) reported that no sexual contact after delivery. Since family planning methods are not only for limiting births and the well-being of women, but also for the well-being of each family in society, improving the country's economy and maintaining the earth's ecological balance. As a result, family planning programs should be multidisciplinary in nature. It should include educating both husband and wife and other family members, enabling women to make decisions, raising literacy rates and developing the country's health system so that misconceptions about contraception can be corrected as needed by health workers and allied personnel.
Femoral neck fractures are common fractures and constitute a major health problem especially in elderly. Primary total hip arthroplasty has advantages with little or no comorbidities because it gives good functional outcomes. The study was aimed to assess the outcome of primary total hip arthroplasty in displaced fracture neck of femur in elderly patients. This quasi-experimental study was conducted at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka, from March 2021 to September 2023 among 30 patients with displaced fracture neck of femur, aged 60 years or more. All the cases underwent primary total hip arthroplasty by lateral Hardinge approach and were evaluated by clinical features, imaging by X-ray and Harris Hip Score (HHS). Six months follow up was done with clinical and functional assessment. The mean age was 62.5±2.58 years with a male predominance (53.0%). The main cause of injury was fall on ground (77.0%) and most cases there were left side involvement (57.0%). The mean interval between injury and surgery was 18.5±6.85 days. Complications were 2(7.0%) superficial wound infection and 2(7.0%) abductor weakness. In the last follow up after operation, 84.0% cases had no pain and 16.0% cases have complained slight pain. The mean flexion of hip at last follow up was 101.84°±7.25°. Mean abduction and adduction was 30.0°±0.0° and 25.67°±5.04° respectively. Internal rotation and external rotation at last follow up was 20.0°±0.0° and 20.0°±0.0° respectively. The mean HHS at 1st, 2nd and 3rd follow up was 68.64±5.94, 80.47±7.42 and 86.6±5.97 respectively and the increasement was statistically significant at each possible combination (p value <0.001 at each comparison). Finally, out of 30 cases, 16(53.0%) were excellent, 11(37.0%) were good, 2(7.0%) were fair and the rest 1(3.0%) was poor. Based on results of this study, it can be concluded that treatment of displaced femoral neck fracture in elderly patients with primary total hip arthroplasty is a satisfactory method.
