Assessment of socioeconomic and health vulnerability among urban slum dwellers in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Bangladesh is rapidly urbanizing and approximately half of its urban population resides in deprived slums with limited access to basic needs. However, there is a dearth of information on vulnerability levels among slum dwellers. We aimed to assess the level of vulnerability within and between slums via various socioeconomic and health indicators.

Effective community-based interventions to prevent and control infectious diseases in urban informal settlements in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Background: The impact of rapid urbanization taking place across the world is posing variegated challenges. Especially in terms of communicable disease, the risk is more concentrated in urban poor areas where basic amenities are inadequate. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the effective community-based interventions (CBIs) aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases among the urban poor in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Pandemic lessons on essential healthcare services for the urban poor: a qualitative perspective of users and providers in Bangladesh.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed unprecedented challenges to health systems globally. This study explored slum dwellers' experience of receiving essential health services during the pandemic and the challenges faced by healthcare providers in urban areas of Bangladesh.

Design: The study followed a cross-sectional study design using qualitative methods.

Predicting higher child BMI z-score and obesity incidence in Malaysia: a longitudinal analysis of a dynamic cohort study.

Background: To target public health obesity prevention, we need to predict who might become obese i.e. predictors of increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) or obesity incidence.

Knowledge of gendered needs among the planners and policy makers for prevention of NCDs in Bangladesh: a qualitative exploration.

Background: Globally, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly the primary cause of mortality and morbidity among women. Like many developing countries, Bangladesh also faces a growing burden of NCDs. The "Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, 2018-2025" signifies Bangladesh's commitment to comprehensively combating the rising burden of NCDs.

Risk communication and community engagement in the context of COVID-19 response in Bangladesh: a qualitative study.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted nations worldwide, and Bangladesh was no exception. In response, the government of Bangladesh implemented community awareness initiatives aimed at containing the spread of the virus, aligned with international guidelines and recommendations. Despite these efforts, a lack of comprehensive community awareness programs played an essential role during the pandemic, not the preventive measures.

Preterm birth and neonatal mortality in selected slums in and around Dhaka City of Bangladesh: A cohort study.

Background: Although under-five mortality has declined appreciably in Bangladesh over the last few decades, neonatal mortality still remains high. The objective of the study is to assess the level and determinants of preterm birth and the contribution of preterm birth to neonatal mortality.

Methods: Data for this study came from selected slums in and around Dhaka city, where; since 2015, icddr,b has been maintaining the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS).

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of hypertension interventions in faith-based organisation settings.

Background: Hypertension is the global, leading cause of mortality and is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Community-based partnerships can provide cost-saving ways of delivering effective blood pressure (BP) interventions to people in resource-poor settings. Faith-based organisations (FBOs) prove important potential health partners, given their reach and community standing.

Qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on the food environment of urban informal settlements of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Objective: Our study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food environment from the perspective of the urban poor and food vendors.

Design: This was a qualitative study conducted during September 2020 and February 2021.

Setting: The study was carried out in two purposively selected informal settlements of Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Psychosocial health of school-going adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a nationwide survey in Bangladesh.

Background: Common psychosocial health problems (PHPs) have become more prevalent among adolescents globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the psychosocial health of school-going adolescents has remained unexplored in Bangladesh due to limited research during the pandemic. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PHPs (i.

Improving understanding of disease control implementation research through a mooc with participants from low- and middle-income countries: Evaluating participant reactions and learning.

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases developed a massive open online course (MOOC) on implementation research with a focus on infectious diseases of poverty (IDPs) to reinforce the explanation of implementation research concepts through real case studies. The target MOOC participant group included public health officers, researchers and students. By reshaping institutions and building resilience in communities and systems, implementation research will allow progress towards universal health coverage and sustainable development goals.

The Promise of Teleconsultation in the Era of Pandemic: A Case from Bangladesh.

In 2016, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) established a teleconsultation service called to increase access to physicians. During COVID-19 pandemic, health care access became limited due to movement restrictions. In response, GoB made toll free, publicized the number through media, increased the number of call center doctors, introduced automated messages on COVID-19 preventive measures, and developed a scoring system to classify risk groups for COVID-19.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated factors among Bangladeshi slum and non-slum dwellers in pre-COVID-19 vaccination era: October 2020 to February 2021.

Background: Seroprevalence studies have been carried out in many developed and developing countries to evaluate ongoing and past infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Data on this infection in marginalized populations in urban slums are limited, which may offer crucial information to update prevention and mitigation policies and strategies. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with seropositivity in slum and non-slum communities in two large cities in Bangladesh.

Challenges and opportunities for breast cancer early detection among rural dwelling women in Segamat District, Malaysia: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Breast cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries often present at an advanced stage. This qualitative study elicited views regarding the challenges and opportunities for breast cancer screening and early detection among women in a low-income semi-rural community in Segamat district, Malaysia.

Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews with 22 people (health professionals, cancer survivors, community volunteers and member from a non-governmental organization) and four focus group discussions (n = 22 participants) with women from a local community were conducted.

The economic burden of dementia in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a systematic review.

Introduction: More than two-thirds of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), resulting in a significant economic burden in these settings. In this systematic review, we consolidate the existing evidence on the cost of dementia in LMICs.

Methods: Six databases were searched for original research reporting on the costs associated with all-cause dementia or its subtypes in LMICs.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on intimate partner violence: Issues of non-reporting in Bangladesh.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown as prevention and control measure, forced people globally to limit their movements and to stay at home for extended period of time. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of lockdown on intimate partner violence in Bangladesh.

Methods: We conducted a secondary research by employing a Poisson regression model to estimate the effect of pandemic-led lockdown policy on the change in the number of intimate partner violence-related calls during pandemic using national emergency helpline 999 call logs.

Risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: With no treatment for dementia, there is a need to identify high risk cases to focus preventive strategies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the burden of dementia is greatest. We evaluated the risk of conversion from mild cognitive ompairment (MCI) to dementia in LMICs.

Methods: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched from inception until June 30, 2020.