Efficacy of a Telephone-Intervention on Caregiving Burden and Mental Health among Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia in Malaysia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Identifying effective and accessible interventions for family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) is crucial as the prevalence of dementia increases in Asia. This study investigated the efficacy of a telephone-intervention on the reduction in caregiver burden, as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms among family caregivers (FCs) of PWD in Malaysia. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was carried out with 121 FCs of PWD selected from memory or psychiatry clinics in three tertiary hospitals in Malaysia, who were randomly allocated into the intervention or control group.

Caregiver burden, mental health, quality of life and self-efficacy of family caregivers of persons with dementia in Malaysia: baseline results of a psychoeducational intervention study.

Background: The majority of persons with dementia (PWD) are mainly cared for by their family members in the home. Evidence is however scarce on family caregivers' psychosocial burden and quality of life in Asian countries including Malaysia. This study describes the baseline data of a telephone-delivered psychoeducational intervention study and examines the determinants of outcome measures (caregiver burden, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life and caregiving self-efficacy) among Malaysian family caregivers to PWD.

Impact of parental perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms trajectories on early parent-infant impaired bonding: a cohort study in east and west coasts of Malaysia.

The association between maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms and impaired bonding with infants were widely studied, but not in fathers and none in Malaysia. We investigated the impact of different trajectories of perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms on parent-infant impaired bonding during 2-3 months postpartum in both mothers and fathers in two areas of Malaysia. This study originated from a psychiatric morbidity cohort study carried out in health clinics in east and west Malaysia.

Impact of maternal antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms on birth outcomes and mode of delivery: a prospective cohort study in east and west coasts of Malaysia.

Background: Antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms (ADS and AAS) are prevalent in Malaysia. Prior evidence linking maternal ADS and AAS with adverse birth outcomes and caesarean section (CS) or instrumental delivery is conflicting. There is no research in Malaysia on the association between maternal mental disorders and adverse birth outcomes and mode of delivery.

Prevalence and determinants of antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms in expectant mothers and fathers: results from a perinatal psychiatric morbidity cohort study in the east and west coasts of Malaysia.

Background: Research on antepartum psychiatric morbidities investigating depressive and anxiety symptoms in expectant mothers and fathers is lacking in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antepartum depressive, anxiety and co-occurring significant symptoms and explore the associated factors in a cross-section of Malaysian expectant mothers and fathers.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from a prospective cohort study of 911 expectant mothers and 587 expectant fathers during their third trimester of pregnancy, from health clinics of two states in the east and west coasts of Malaysia.

Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Infant Temperament.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during the first year postpartum is common in Bangladesh, and many infants are exposed to hostile and aggressive environment. The aim of the current study was to investigate how IPV (physical, emotional, and sexual) impacts on the mother's perception of her infant's temperament 6 to 8 months postpartum, and whether maternal depressive symptom at 6 to 8 months postpartum is a mediator in this association. A total of 656 rural Bangladeshi women and their children 6 to 8 months postpartum were included in this study.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Disadvantaged Adolescents: Results from a Population-Based Study in Bangladesh.

Problem: Few studies have examined the adolescents' depression in low-income countries and no research has yet been carried out in Bangladesh. This study estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and explored the associated factors and help seeking behavior among adolescents in Bangladesh.

Methods: Data originated from a cross section of 2,440 randomly selected boys and girls aged 13-19 years in a rural district and urban slums of Dhaka city, Bangladesh, during October-November 2012.

Community perceptions of behaviour change communication interventions of the maternal neonatal and child health programme in rural Bangladesh: an exploratory study.

Background: This qualitative study explored community perceptions of the components of the behaviour change communication (BCC) intervention of the BRAC Improving Maternal, Neonatal and Child Survival (IMNCS) programme in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and informal group discussions were conducted to elicit community views on interpersonal communication (IPC), printed materials, entertainment education (EE) and mass media, specifically (a) acceptance of and challenges presented by different forms of media, (b) comprehensibility of terms; printed materials and entertainment education and (c) reported influence of BCC messages.

Results: IMNCS BCC interventions are well accepted by the community people.

Pesticides Exposure and Cardiovascular Hemodynamic Parameters Among Male Workers Involved in Mosquito Control in East Coast of Malaysia.

Background: Research findings have linked exposure to pesticides to an increased risk of cardiovascular (CVS) diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of chronic mix-pesticides exposure on CVS hemodynamic parameters.

Methods: A total of 198 male Malay pesticide-exposed and 195 male Malay nonexposed workers were examined.

"I can't stop worrying about everything"—experiences of rural Bangladeshi women during the first postpartum months.

Over recent years, researchers have found evidence which indicates that the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms crosses cultural boundaries and is reported to be at least as high in non-Western countries as in Western countries. However, qualitative studies about new mothers' experiences from non-Western countries, such as Bangladesh, are rare, particularly in rural areas. This study aims to describe the experiences and concerns of rural Bangladeshi mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms.

Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6-8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh.

Background: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), a gross violation of human rights, ranges widely across the world with higher prevalence reported in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence related mainly to physical health shows that IPV has both direct and indirect impacts on women's health. Little is known about the impact of IPV on the mental health of women, particularly after childbirth.

"Can community level interventions have an impact on equity and utilization of maternal health care" - evidence from rural Bangladesh.

Background: Evidence from low and middle income countries (LMICs) suggests that maternal mortality is more prevalent among the poor whereas access to maternal health services is concentrated among the rich. In Bangladesh substantial inequities exist both in the use of facility-based basic obstetric care and for home births attended by skilled birth attendant. BRAC initiated an intervention on Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Survival (IMNCS) in the rural areas of Bangladesh in 2008.

Factors influencing stillbirth in bangladesh: a case-control study.

Background: Studies on a limited scale in urban settings of Bangladesh report stillbirth rates that do not specifically provide information on the situation of underprivileged slum populations. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, stillbirth in a developing population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted on women having a singleton birth between November 2008 and April 2009 in 34 slum areas in Dhaka.

Impact of maternal depressive symptoms and infant temperament on early infant growth and motor development: results from a population based study in Bangladesh.

Background: Evidence linking maternal depressive symptoms with infant's growth and development in low-income countries is inadequate and conflicting. This study investigated the independent effect of maternal perinatal depressive symptoms on infant's growth and motor development in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: A cohort of 720 pregnant women was followed from the third trimester of pregnancy to 6-8 months postpartum.

Men's knowledge and awareness of maternal, neonatal and child health care in rural Bangladesh: a comparative cross sectional study.

Background: The status of men's knowledge of and awareness to maternal, neonatal and child health care are largely unknown in Bangladesh and the effect of community focused interventions in improving men's knowledge is largely unexplored. This study identifies the extent of men's knowledge and awareness on maternal, neonatal and child health issues between intervention and control groups.

Methods: This cross sectional comparative study was carried out in six rural districts of Bangladesh in 2008.

Oral misoprostol for preventing postpartum haemorrhage in home births in rural Bangladesh: how effective is it?

Aims: Evidence exists about prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) by oral administration of misoprostol in low-income countries, but effectiveness of prevention by lay community health workers (CHW) is not sufficient. This study aimed to investigate whether a single dose (400 µg) of oral misoprostol could prevent PPH in a community home-birth setting and to assess its acceptability and feasibility among rural Bangladeshi women.

Methods: This quasi-experimental trial was conducted among 2,017 rural women who had home deliveries between November 2009 and February 2010 in two rural districts of northern Bangladesh.

Prevalence and associated factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: a population based study in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Few studies have examined the associated factors of antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms (ADS and AAS) in low-income countries, yet the World Health Organization identifies depressive disorders as the second leading cause of global disease burden by 2020. There is a paucity of research on mental disorders and their predictors among pregnant women in Bangladesh. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and explore the associated factors in a cross-section of rural Bangladeshi pregnant women.

Impact of postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms on mothers' emotional tie to their infants 2-3 months postpartum: a population-based study from rural Bangladesh.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of depressive and anxiety symptoms on maternal bonding to the infant 2-3 months postpartum and the influence of the mother's bonding to the infant during pregnancy and to her own caregiver during her childhood on maternal bonding 2-3 months postpartum. This study originated from a community-based cohort study carried out in rural Bangladesh. Trained staff collected data and administrated the questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy, at childbirth and 2-3 months postpartum.

Women-focused development intervention reduces delays in accessing emergency obstetric care in urban slums in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Recognizing the burden of maternal mortality in urban slums, in 2007 BRAC (formally known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) has established a woman-focused development intervention, Manoshi (the Bangla abbreviation of mother, neonate and child), in urban slums of Bangladesh. The intervention emphasizes strengthening the continuum of maternal, newborn and child care through community, delivery centre (DC) and timely referral of the obstetric complications to the emergency obstetric care (EmOC) facilities. This study aimed to assess whether Manoshi DCs reduces delays in accessing EmOC.

Low birth weight in offspring of women with depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: results from a population based study in Bangladesh.

Background: There is a high prevalence of antepartum depression and low birth weight (LBW) in Bangladesh. In high- and low-income countries, prior evidence linking maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms with infant LBW is conflicting. There is no research on the association between maternal mental disorders and LBW in Bangladesh.