Browsing by Author "Ahmed, Syed Masud"

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A comparative trial of WHO recommended ORS with ORS effervescent tablets
(1982-12) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Islam, Rafiqul; Butler, Thomas
A comparision of low (20 mmols) and high (30 mmols) potassium/L oral rehydration solution in childhood diarrhoeam [abstract]
(1983) Islam, M.R.; Bardhan, P.K.; Ahmed, Syed Masud
A comparison of low (20 m. mols) potassium/l oral rehydration solution in childhood[abstract]
(1983) Islam, M.R,; Bardhan, P.K.; Ahmed, Syed Masud
A compartive trial of WHO recommended ORS with ORS effervescent tablets
(1982) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Islam, Rafiqul; Butler, Thomas
A guide to identification of affected persons, damage estimation and need-assessment during flood
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2000) Ahmed, Syed Masud
Bangladesh's topographic and climatic systems make it one of the most water-related disaster prone countries in the Asian region. Its unique geographical location makes it especially vulnerable to excessive rainfall both in the catchment area and within the country, and predisposes to annual flooding which at times becomes catastrophic (as in 1988 and 1998). Floods have caused a greater loss of life and property, and have affected livelihood of more families and communities in Bangladesh than all other natural hazards combined. In a poverty-stricken country like Bangladesh, resources are always less than needed, especially in a disaster situation. Therefore, the question arises: whom to give assistance? And how do we identify them? This report reviews the experience of BRAC as well as other NGOs during the flood in search of these queries and proposes a step-bystep guide for rapid identification of affected households, damage estimation and need assessment, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods and modified as the circumstances demand. Issues discussed are: selecting the areas and households for interventions, procedure to be followed for rapid survey, damage estimation, needs assessment, and maintaining and building Social Capital.
A multidimensional approach to measure poverty in rural Bangladesh
(2007-06) Bhuiya, Abbas; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Rana, A.K.M. Masud; Wahed, Tania; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Chowdhury, A. Mushtaque R.
A new social sciences network for infectious threats
(The Lancet, 2019-05) Giles-Vernick, Tamara; Kutalek, Ruth; Napier, David; Kaawa-Mafigiri, David; Dückers, Michel; Paget, John; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Cheah, Phaik Yeong; Desclaux, Alice; De Vries, Daniel; Hardon, Anita; MacGregor, Hayley; Pell, Christopher; Rashid, Sabina F; Rodyna, Roman; Schultsz, Constance; Sow, Khoudia; Wilkinson, Annie
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, new outbreaks of Lassa fever, yellow fever, measles, and other infectious diseases erupt around the world, and antimicrobial resistance intensifies from unmanaged use of these drugs. These infectious threats are intertwined with political and economic instability, changing ecological conditions, livestock management and food production practices, and local communities and their marginalised populations. The challenge in addressing these health security threats surpasses conventional response strategies. National governments and international agencies struggle to understand popular reactions to infectious disease emergence and outbreaks and to control deadly diseases.
A policy analysis regarding education, career, and governance of the nurses in Bangladesh: A qualitative exploration
(Sage Journals, 1/18/2021) Joarder, Taufique; Parvage, Md. Aslam; Rawal, Lal B.; Ahmed, Syed Masud
Nurses, short in production and inequitable in the distribution in Bangladesh, require the government’s efforts to increase enrolment in nursing education and a smooth career progression. Given the importance of an assessment of the current nursing scenario to inform the decision makers and practitioners to implement the new policies successfully, we analyzed relevant policies on education, career, and governance of nurses in Bangladesh. We used documents review and qualitative methods such as key informant interviews (n = 13) and stakeholder analysis. We found that nursing education faced several backlashes: resistance from diploma nurses while attempting to establish a graduate (bachelor) course in 1977, and the reluctance of politicians and entrepreneurs to establish nursing institutions. Many challenges with the implementation of nursing policies are attributable to social, cultural, religious, and historical factors. For example, Hindus considered touching the bodily excretions as the task of the lower castes, while Muslims considered women touching the body of the men immoral. Nurses also face governance challenges linked with their performance and reward. For example, nurses have little voice over the decisions related to their profession, and they are not allowed to perform clinical duties unsupervised. To improve the situation, the government has made new policies, including upliftment of nurses’ position in public service, the creation of an independent Directorate General, and improvement of nursing education and service. New policies often come with new apprehensions. Therefore, nurses should be included in the policy processes, and their capacity should be developed in nursing leadership and health system governance.
Addressing vulnerabilities in communities facing infectious disease threats: A need for social science-driven assessments
(Journal of Global Health, 2021-01) Osborne, Jacob; Paget, John; Napier, David; Giles-Vernick, Tamara; Kutalek, Ruth; Rodyna, Roman; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Dückers, Michel
An exploratory study of selected NGO health centers in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Khan, Shamsher Ali; Haque, Mohammad Raisul
Association of childhood feeding practices and occurrence of early childhood caries: A cross sectional study among children under 5 years of age across two urban slum areas of
(Brac University, 2023) Association of childhood feeding practices and occurrence of Early Childhood Caries: A Cross Sectional Study among children under 5 years of age across two urban slum areas of; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Naher, Nahitun
Introduction Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the occurrence of a carious lesion in a primary tooth in children less than 71 months. It is a significant dental problem that has negative effects on the growth and development of children affected. The objective of this study was to explore the association between early childhood feeding practices and the occurrence of dental caries in children under the age of 5 living in the selected slums of Dhaka city. Method ECC and risk factors were examined using data from 402 children (between ages of 6 months and less than 5 years old) recruited via systematic random sampling and cross-sectional explorative study design in Dhaka's Dholpur and Korail slums. The age, sex, socioeconomic position, oral hygiene practices, childhood-feeding practices, mother’s knowledge of oral health, and oral health seeking practices of children were collected from their mothers through a guided questionnaire tool. In addition, the oral hygiene and caries status of children were evaluated using the Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Using chi-square and logistic regression analysis, risk variables related with ECC were identified. Findings Fifty-five children (14 %) children had ECC. There was association between ECC and the child's age and consumption of sugary foods. Compared to 0-11-month-olds, 48-59-month-olds had 25 times more dental caries. Children who don't eat sugary foods are less likely to have dental caries, while those who do are three times as likely. Conclusion ECC is low in the population under study, but increasing mothers' oral health knowledge may lead to better oral hygiene behaviors and reduced sugary snack intake. It would be helpful to undertake more study to evaluate ECC risk factors to recommend appropriate strategies based on risk factors and dissemination of information / build awareness to reduce the occurrence.
Availability and rational use of drugs in primary healthcare facilities following the National Drug Policy of 1982: is Bangladesh on right track?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2010) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Islam, Qazi Shafayetul
In Bangladesh, the National Drug Policy (NDP) 1982 was instrumental in improving the supply of essential drugs of quality at an affordable price, especially in the early years. However, over time, evidence showed that the situation deteriorated in terms of both availability of essential drugs and their rational use. The study examined the current status of the outcome of the NDP objectives in terms of the availability and rational use of drugs in the primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Bangladesh, including affordability by consumers. The study covered a random sample (n=30) of rural Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and a convenient sample (n=20) of urban clinics (UCs) in the Dhaka metropolitan area. Observations on prescribing and dispensing practices were made, and exit-interviews with patients and their attendants, and a mini-market survey were conducted to collect data on the core drug-use indicators of the World Health Organization from the health facilities. The findings revealed that the availability of essential drugs for common illnesses was poor, varying from 6% in the UHCs to 15% in the UCs. The number of drugs dispensed out of the total number of drugs prescribed was higher in the UHCs (76%) than in the UCs (44%). The dispensed drugs were not labelled properly, although >70% of patients/care-givers (n=1,496) reported to have understood the dosage schedule. The copy of the list of essential drugs was available in 55% and 47% of the UCs and UHCs respectively, with around two-thirds of the drugs being prescribed from the list. Polypharmacy was higher in the UCs (46%) than in the UHCs (33%). An antibiotic was prescribed in 44% of encounters (n=1,496), more frequently for fever (36-40%) and common cold (26-34%) than for lower respiratory tract infection, including pneumonia (10-20%). The prices of key essential drugs differed widely by brands (500% or more), seriously compromising the affordability of the poor people.
Beyond drugs: TB patients in Bangladesh need urgent attention for nutrition support during convalescence
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2013-03) Islam, Qazi Shafayetul; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Islam, Md. Akramul; Kamruzzaman, Md.; Rifat, Mahfuza
Tuberculosis (TB) is a global disease, which is responsible for 1.4 million deaths each year (WHO 2010). Bangladesh is the sixth highest TB-burden country in the world. TB treatment may be complicated when malnutrition also coexists in patients. TB has been found to coexist with malnutrition among patients at the beginning of treatment in both developed and developing countries (Zachariah eta/. 2002, Onwubalili JK 1988, Kennedy et at. 1996, Harries et a/. 1988). Nutrition supplementation can play an important role in improving the disease condition to reduce further morbidity and mortality. Some TB-burden countries have already started food supplementation programme for patients' healthy life (Farmer eta/. 1991, Karyadi et a/. 2002, Paton et a/. 2004, Aye and Wyss 2009). There is no nutrition intervention programme for patients in DOTS (Directly observed treatment, short course) approach to TB treatment under National TB Control Programme (NTP) of Bangladesh, where malnutrition is prevalent. Even, Bangladesh does not have much information about the nutritional situation of TB patients to formulate nutrition intervention. To fill-in this knowledge gap and help in informed design of a nutrition intervention for TB patients, this study measured the nutritional status (using Body Mass Index or BMI) of TB patients before, at two months, and after completion of TB treatment (DOTS) to study the changes during treatment and its relation with various socioeconomic and demographic factors including household food availability and consumption.
BRAC HIV/AIDS program
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2004) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Nasreen, Hashima
Capability Development among the Ultra-poor in Bangladesh: A case study
(BMC, 2009-08) Ahmed, Syed Masud
Microcredit is advocated as a development tool that has the potential to reduce poverty, empower participants, and improve health. Results of several studies have shown that the extreme poor, or the ultra-poor, often are unable to benefit from traditional microcredit programmes and can, as a result of taking a loan they cannot repay, sink deeper into economic and social poverty. This case study describes an intervention directed at enabling the ultra-poor rural populations to pull themselves out of poverty. The intervention integrates multiple components, including asset grants for income generation, skills training, a time-bound monthly stipend for subsistence, social development and mobilization of local elite, and health support. Results of an evaluation showed that, after 18 months, the programme positively impacted livelihood, economic, social and health status to the extent that 63% of households (n=5,000) maintained asset growth and joined (or intended to join) a regular microcredit programme. Impacts included improved income, improved food security, and improved health knowledge and behaviour. Applying a social exclusion framework to the intervention helps identify the different dynamic forces that can exclude or include the ultrapoor in Bangladesh in development interventions such as microcredit.
Career preferences of final year medical students at a medical school in Kenya – a cross sectional study
(© 2016 BMC Medical Education, 2016-01) Dossajee, Hussein; Obonyo, Nchafatso; Ahmed, Syed Masud
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended physician to population ratio is 23:10,000. Kenya has a physician to population ratio of 1.8:10,000 and is among 57 countries listed as having a serious shortage of health workers. Approximately 52 % of physicians work in urban areas, 6 % in rural and 42 % in peri-urban locations. This study explored factors influencing the choice of career specialization and location for practice among final year medical students by gender. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on final year students in 2013 at the University of Nairobi’s, School of Medicine in Kenya. Sample size was calculated at 156 students for simple random sampling. Data collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics of the population, first and second choices for specialization. Outcome variables collected were factors affecting choice of specialty and location for practice. Bivariate analysis by gender was carried out between the listed factors and outcome variables with calculation of odds ratios and chi-square statistics at an alpha level of significance of 0.05. Factors included in a binomial logistic regression model were analysed to score the independent categorical variables affecting choice of specialty and location of practice. Results Internal medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynaecology and Paediatrics accounted for 58.7 % of all choices of specialization. Female students were less likely to select Obs/Gyn (OR 0.41, 95 % CI =0.17-0.99) and Surgery (OR 0.33, 95 % CI = 0.13-0.86) but eight times more likely to select Paediatrics (OR 8.67, 95 % CI = 1.91-39.30). Surgery was primarily selected because of the ‘perceived prestige of the specialty’ (OR 4.3 95 % CI = 1.35-14.1). Paediatrics was selected due to ‘Ease of raising a family’ (OR 4.08 95 % CI = 1.08-15.4). Rural origin increased the odds of practicing in a rural area (OR 2.5, 95 % CI = 1.04-6.04). Training abroad was more likely to result in preference for working abroad (OR 9.27 95 % CI = 2.1-41.9). Conclusions The 4 core specialties predominate as career preferences. Females are more likely to select career choices due to ‘ease of raising a family’. Rural origin of students was found to be the most important factor for retention of rural health workforce. This data can be used to design prospective cohort studies in an effort to understand the dynamic influence that governments, educational institutions, work environments, family and friends exert on medical students’ careers.
Changing health-seeking behaviour in Matlab, Bangladesh: do development interventions matter
(2003) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Adams, Alayne M.; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas
Changing health-seeking behaviour in the context of development interventions: experiences from Matlab, Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2002) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Adams, Alayne M; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas
It is generally assumed that socioeconomic development interventions will enhance the-material and social capacities of the poor who are disenfranchised to prevent ill health, and to seek appropriate and timely care. Using cross-sectional data from surveys undertaken in 1995 and 1999 as part of the BRAC-ICDDR, B Joint Research Project in Matlab, Bangladesh, this paper explores patterns of health-seeking behaviour over time, with the hypothesis that exposure to integrated socioeconomic development activities will enhance gender equity in care-seeking, and the use of qualified medical care. While there is tentative evidence of greater gender equity in treatment choice among households benefiting from development interventions, a preference for qualified medical care is not apparent. Findings reveal a striking and generalized rise in selftreatment over the four year period that is attributed to the repercussions of a major flood in 1998, and greater heath awareness due to the density of community health workers in Matlab. Also noteworthy is the substantial reliance on informal and often unqualified practitioners (over 20%) such as pharmacists and itinerant drug sellers. Factors associated with the type of health care sought were identified using logistic regression. Self-care is associated with female gender, the absence of low cost health services, and illnesses of relatively short duration. Medical care, on the other hand, is positively predicted by male gender, geographic location, greater socioeconomic status, and serious illness of long duration. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of enhancing local capacities to determine whether self-treatment is indicated, to self-treat appropriately, or in cases where health care is sought, to judge provider competence and evaluate whether treatment costs are justified. The provision of training on the rational and informed use of allopathic drugs to the full spectrum of informal health care providers is also recommended.
Child to child approach under ECD Programme of BRAC: any change in knowledge and practice?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-05) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Rana, AKM Masud; Khan, Aniere Ehmar
Chronic energy deficiency in women from rural Bangladesh: some socioeconomic determinants
(Cambridge University Press, 1998) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Adams, Alayne; Bhuiya, Abbas; Chowdhury, A.M..R.