Dataset Information

Epidemiology of childhood blindness: A community-based study in Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and causes of childhood blindness in a rural area of Bangladesh. We adopted a cross-sectional quantitative study design for this study, which was performed in three unions (sub-districts) located in Raiganj Upazila of the Sirajganj district in Bangladesh. Using a validated tool, a screening program was conducted at the household level. After initial screening, a team of ophthalmologists confirmed the diagnoses by clinical examinations. The prevalence of childhood blindness was observed to be 6.3 per 10,000 children, whereas the rate of uniocular blindness was 4.8 per 10,000 children. Congenital problems were the major causes of both uniocular and binocular blindness (uniocular blindness: 84% and binocular blindness: 92%). The whole globe was the site responsible for binocular blindness (28.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.1, 47.7), whereas the cornea was responsible for uniocular blindness (57.8%, 95% CI: 35.3, 78.1). Childhood blindness is a public health problem in Bangladesh and is highly prevalent, regardless of sex. The major causes of childhood blindness are congenital.

SUBMITTER: Hussain AHME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6555501 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Epidemiology of childhood blindness: A community-based study in Bangladesh.

Hussain A H M Enayet AHME Ferdoush Junnatul J Mashreky Saidur Rahman SR Rahman A K M Fazlur AKMF Ferdausi Nahid N Dalal Koustuv K

PloS one 20190607 6

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and causes of childhood blindness in a rural area of Bangladesh. We adopted a cross-sectional quantitative study design for this study, which was performed in three unions (sub-districts) located in Raiganj Upazila of the Sirajganj district in Bangladesh. Using a validated tool, a screening program was conducted at the household level. After initial screening, a team of ophthalmologists confirmed the diagnoses by clinical examinations. The prevalenc ...[more]

PMID: 31173584

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionSub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to the growing global burden of hypertension, but epidemiological studies are limited and barriers to optimal management are poorly understood. Therefore, we undertook a community-based mixed-methods study in Tanzania to investigate the epidemiology of hypertension and barriers to care.MethodsIn Northern Tanzania, between December 2013 and June 2015, we conducted a mixed-methods study, including a cross-sectional household epidemiological survey and qualitative sessions of focus groups and in-depth interviews. For the survey, we assessed for hypertension, defined as a single blood pressure ?160/100?mm Hg, a two-time average of ?140/90?mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medications. To investigate relationships with potential risk factors, we used adjusted generalised linear models. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as a two-time average measurement of ?160/100?mm Hg irrespective of treatment status. Hypertension awareness was defined as a self-reported disease history in a participant with confirmed hypertension. To explore barriers to care, we identified emerging themes using an inductive approach within the framework method.ResultsWe enrolled 481 adults (median age 45 years) from 346 households, including 123 men (25.6%) and 358 women (74.4%). Overall, the prevalence of hypertension was 28.0% (95% CI 19.4% to 38.7%), which was independently associated with age >60 years (prevalence risk ratio (PRR) 4.68; 95%?CI 2.25 to 9.74) and alcohol use (PRR 1.72; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.58). Traditional medicine use was inversely associated with hypertension (PRR 0.37; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.54). Nearly half (48.3%) of the participants were aware of their disease, but almost all (95.3%) had uncontrolled hypertension. In the qualitative sessions, we identified barriers to optimal care, including poor point-of-care communication, poor understanding of hypertension and structural barriers such as long wait times and undertrained providers.ConclusionsIn Northern Tanzania, the burden of hypertensive disease is substantial, and optimal hypertension control is rare. Transdisciplinary strategies sensitive to local practices should be explored to facilitate early diagnosis and sustained care delivery.

Project description:BackgroundGlobally, more than 97% of children needing palliative care reside in low- and middle-income countries, where there is very limited access to palliative care. Several community-based palliative care programs focused on adults, have been described in resource limited settings, suggesting a simple and low-cost approach to providing palliative care. The implementation of community-based palliative care for children has not previously been described.ContextThis community case study describes the implementation of an innovative model of community-based palliative care program in and urban informal settlement, (Korail Slum, Bangladesh). The program is led by a local government hospital, with experience in community-based palliative care, in partnership with the local community.ProblemChildren with serious conditions in an urban unformal settlement do not have access to health services which address their medical, psychosocial and spiritual needs. This gap leads to a significant burden of preventable suffering for them and their families.SolutionA community-based palliative care program was implemented, which includes home care by trained community health workers, with support and supervision from palliative care nurses and physicians. The program's objective is to provide effective symptom management, clear communication about the child's condition with parents, and psychosocial support including support for basic needs. The program was free for families including medications, medical equipment, physiotherapy, and speech therapy. The program was monitored through regular assessments of quality of life using standardized tools (PedsQL Family Impact Module), as well as interviews and focus group discussions.Conclusion and lessons learnedA model of community-based palliative care for children can be implemented in an urban informal settlement. Program effectiveness is enhanced by community health workers who share language, culture, and life-experiences with the individuals they serve. Partnerships with local health care facilities and community groups strengthen the program's sustainability. Ensuring financial sustainability remains a challenge.

Project description:BackgroundArsenic in drinking water was associated with increased risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular death in adults. However, the extent to which exposure is related to all-cause and deaths from cancer and cardiovascular condition in young age is unknown. Therefore, we prospectively assessed whether long-term and recent arsenic exposures are associated with all-cause and cancer and cardiovascular mortalities in Bangladeshi childhood population.Methods and findingsWe assembled a cohort of 58406 children aged 5-18 years from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System of icddrb in Bangladesh and followed during 2003-2010. There were 185 non-accidental deaths registered in-about 0.4 million person-years of observation. We calculated hazard ratios for cause-specific death in relation to exposure at baseline (µg/L), time-weighted lifetime average (µg/L) and cumulative concentration (µg-years/L). After adjusting covariates, hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause childhood deaths comparing lifetime average exposure 10-50.0, 50.1-150.0, 150.1-300.0 and ?300.1µg/L were 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-2.57), 1.44 (95% CI, 0.88-2.38), 1.22 (95% CI, 0.75-1.98) and 1.88 (95% CI, 1.14-3.10) respectively. Significant increased risk was also observed for baseline (P for trend?=?0.023) and cumulative exposure categories (P for trend?=?0.036). Girls had higher mortality risk compared to boys (HR for girls 1.79, 1.21, 1.64, 2.31; HR for boys 0.52, 0.53, 1.14, 0.99) in relation to baseline exposure. For all cancers and cardiovascular deaths combined, multivariable adjusted HRs amounted to 1.53 (95% CI 0.51-4.57); 1.29 (95% CI 0.43-3.87); 2.18 (95%CI 1.15-4.16) for 10.0-50.0, 50.1-150.0, and ?150.1, comparing lowest exposure as reference (P for trend?=?0.009). Adolescents had higher mortality risk compared to children (HRs?=?1.53, 95% CI 1.03-2.28 vs. HRs?=?1.30, 95% CI 0.78-2.17).ConclusionsArsenic exposure was associated with substantial increased risk of deaths at young age from all-cause, and cancers and cardiovascular conditions. Girls and adolescents (12-18 years) had higher risk compared to boys and child.

Dataset Information

Epidemiology of childhood blindness: A community-based study in Bangladesh.

Publications

Epidemiology of childhood blindness: A community-based study in Bangladesh.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets