Engaging rural communities in Bangladesh to tackle antimicrobial resistance through the Community Dialogue Approach: a process evaluation protocol for COSTAR project in Cumilla, Bangladesh.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem and is especially threatening for low-and-middle income countries like Bangladesh. The COSTAR (Community-led Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance) project includes a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Community Dialog Approach (CDA) to improve levels of correct and appropriate knowledge and reported practice about antibiotics, antibiotic use, and antibiotic resistance (ABR) from a One Health perspective, among adult community members in 5 selected sub-districts of Cumilla. The CDA is a community engagement approach involving community members in active discussions also known as Community Dialogs (CD), run by local facilitators.

Conducting tobacco control surveys among schoolchildren in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: A feasibility study.

Most of the world's 300 million smokeless tobacco (ST) users live in South Asia but ST policies for that region are poorly researched, developed and implemented. Longitudinal studies to understand the uptake and use of ST and smoking, and influences on these, such as health promotion strategies, are lacking. We planned to conduct longitudinal surveys among secondary school students in three countries with the highest ST burden: Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to explore ST and smoking uptake, use and health promoting strategies.

Core outcome sets for trials of interventions to prevent and to treat multimorbidity in adults in low and middle-income countries: the COSMOS study.

Introduction: The burden of multimorbidity is recognised increasingly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), creating a strong emphasis on the need for effective evidence-based interventions. Core outcome sets (COS) appropriate for the study of multimorbidity in LMICs do not presently exist. These are required to standardise reporting and contribute to a consistent and cohesive evidence-base to inform policy and practice.

The Effect of Adult Smoking Behavior on Children's Exposure to Secondhand Smoke. An Analysis Based on Salivary Cotinine Levels Among Children in Dhaka and Karachi.

Introduction: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) risks children's health. However, biomarkers are rarely used to study SHS exposure among children in low- and middle-income countries.

Aims And Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data collected between March and November 2022 for a cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating a Smoke-Free Intervention in 2769 children aged 9-15 in 74 schools (34 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and 40 in Karachi, Pakistan).

Behavioural support and nicotine replacement therapy for smokeless tobacco cessation in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Smokeless tobacco (ST) use in South Asia is high, yet interventions to support its cessation are lacking. We tested the feasibility of delivering interventions for ST cessation in South Asia.

Design: We used a 2 × 2 factorial design, pilot randomized controlled trial with a duration of 26 weeks, including baseline and follow-up (6, 12 and 26 weeks) assessments.

The Lifetime Health and Economic Burden of Smokeless Tobacco use in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan: Results From ASTRAMOD.

Introduction: Under the current policy landscapes, the lifetime health and economic burden of smokeless tobacco (ST) products, consumed by over 297 million ST users in South Asia, is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the lifetime health effects and costs attributable to current and future ST use in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan where the majority of ST users live.

Aims And Methods: We developed a Markov-based state-transition model (ASTRAMOD) to predict the lifetime costs of treatment of four diseases (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal cancers, and stroke) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), attributable to the current and future use of ST under existing ST policy scenario.

Multicomponent Behavioural Intervention during Pregnancy to Reduce Home Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial in Bangladesh and India.

Background: Pregnant women exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) are at increased risk of poor birth outcomes. We piloted multicomponent behavioural intervention and trial methods in Bangalore, India, and Comilla, Bangladesh.

Methods: A pilot individual randomised controlled trial with economic and process evaluation components was conducted.

Own price elasticities of the demand for sugar-sweetened beverages in Bangladesh.

Background: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is a major global public health problem. Increasing the price of SSBs through taxation is an effective tool to reduce SSB consumption. Price-elasticity estimates are useful in measuring the effect of taxation on consumption.

Is smokeless tobacco use associated with lower health-related quality of life? A cross-sectional survey among women in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Bangladesh has 22 million adult users of smokeless tobacco (ST). The prevalence among women is higher (24.8%).

Perspectives on reforming the tobacco tax administration system in Bangladesh to enhance public health.

Background: Taxation is the most cost-effective instrument to regulate the consumption of tobacco products. However, weak tax administration can compromise the effectiveness of taxation. This paper aimed to understand the process of the current tobacco tax administration system in Bangladesh, identify gaps and outline the policy priorities to strengthen the tobacco tax administration process in Bangladesh.

Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews.

Mental disorders are increasing in South Asia (SA), but their epidemiological burden is under-researched. We carried out a systematic umbrella review to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm in the region. Multiple databases were searched and systematic reviews reporting the prevalence of at least one mental disorder from countries in SA were included.

Tobacco use in people with severe mental illness: Findings from a multi-country survey of mental health institutions in South Asia.

Introduction: People with severe mental illness (SMI) tend to die early due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, which may be linked to tobacco use. There is limited information on tobacco use in people with SMI in low- and middle-income countries where most tobacco users reside. We present novel data on tobacco use in people with SMI and their access to tobacco cessation advice in South Asia.

Risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in people with severe mental illness in South Asia: cross-sectional study in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Obesity is one of the major contributors to the excess mortality seen in people with severe mental illness (SMI) and in low- and middle-income countries people with SMI may be at an even greater risk. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in people with SMI and investigate the association of obesity and overweight with sociodemographic variables, other physical comorbidities, and health-risk behaviours. This was a multi-country cross-sectional survey study where data were collected from 3989 adults with SMI from three specialist mental health institutions in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Addressing antimicrobial resistance through community engagement: a framework for developing contextually relevant and impactful behaviour change interventions.

Background: Community engagement (CE) interventions often explore and promote behaviour change around a specific challenge. Suggestions for behaviour change should be co-produced in partnership with the community. To facilitate this, it is essential that the intervention includes key content that unpacks the challenge of interest via multiple sources of knowledge.

Co-designing community-based interventions to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR): what to include and why.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a social and biological problem. Although resistance to antimicrobials is a natural phenomenon, many human behaviors are increasing the pressure on microbes to develop resistance which is resulting in many commonly used treatments becoming ineffective. These behaviors include unregulated use of antimicrobial medicines, pesticides and agricultural chemicals, the disposal of heavy metals and other pollutants into the environment, and human-induced climatic change.

Isotopic characteristics (δC, δN, and δO) of honey from Bangladesh retail markets: Investigating sugar manipulation, botanical and geographical authentication.

The study analyzed stable isotope composition (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen) of Bangladesh origin monofloral and multifloral honey for the first time to identify the C-4plant sugar adulteration, botanical and geographical differentiation. The C-4 sugar content (11.90 to 86.

Price elasticity of cigarette smoking in Bangladesh: evidence from the Global Adult Tobacco Surveys (GATS).

Introduction: The overall prevalence of cigarette smoking has not changed significantly for over a decade in Bangladesh. Raising the price of cigarettes through taxation is an important policy instrument for reducing consumption and achieving public health goals. The price elasticity of cigarette demand is an important parameter for evaluating the effectiveness of raising prices through tax increases in reducing cigarette consumption.

Cross-country analysis of national mental health investment case studies in sub-Saharan Africa and Central, South and South-East Asia.

Introduction: Despite the increasing interest in and political commitment to mental health service development in many regions of the world, there remains a very low level of financial commitment and corresponding investment. Assessment of the projected costs and benefits of scaling up the delivery of effective mental health interventions can help to promote, inform and guide greater investment in public mental health.

Methods: A series of national mental health investment case studies were carried out (in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Philippines, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe), using standardized guidance developed by WHO and UNDP and implemented by a multi-disciplinary team.

The crowding-out effect of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on household expenditure patterns in Bangladesh.

Background: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks may reduce or even eliminate the household income allocation for other essential commodities. Reducing expenditure for consumption of other household commodities is known as the crowding-out effect of SSB. We aimed to determine the crowding-out effect of SSB expenditure on other household commodities.

Children Learning About Secondhand Smoke (CLASS III): a protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-based smoke-free intervention in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of premature death and disease, especially among children. Children in economically developing countries are particularly affected as smoke-free laws are typically only partially implemented and private homes and cars remain a key source of SHS exposure. Currently, firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the available evidence on the effectiveness of non-legislative interventions designed to protect children from SHS exposure.

The global impact of tobacco control policies on smokeless tobacco use: a systematic review.

Background: Smokeless tobacco, used by more than 300 million people globally, results in substantial morbidity and mortality. For smokeless tobacco control, many countries have adopted policies beyond the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which has been instrumental in reducing smoking prevalence. The impact of these policies (within and outside the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) on smokeless tobacco use remains unclear.

Prevalence of physical health conditions and health risk behaviours in people with severe mental illness in South Asia: multi-country cross-sectional survey.

Background: People with severe mental illness (SMI) die earlier than the general population, primarily because of physical disorders.

Aims: We estimated the prevalence of physical health conditions, health risk behaviours, access to healthcare and health risk modification advice in people with SMI in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and compared results with the general population.

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in adults with SMI attending mental hospitals in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.