Browsing by Author "Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R"

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Barriers to Emergency Obstetric Care (EOC) and birth practices in rural Manikganj
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-09) Gazi, Rukhsana; Goodbum, Liz; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R; Karim, Fazlul
This study aimed to explore the situation during delivery in rural homes and to identify the barriers to emergency obstetric care (EOC). Twenty sO< pregnant women were followed-up at home by experienced female interviewers. No notes were taken during the conversations but a detailed diary of each visit was made immediately after they returned to the base. Women themselves were often not aware of self care. A fear of sin which was attributed to the presence of unknown male doctors in the hospital acted as barrier. Women's relationship with their in-laws was found to be important. An early assessment and indication for referral by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) was important in the decision making process. TBAs were often trying to manage the complications by themselves. The hospital is a unfamiliar place for rural people. A common perception was that the hospital people pay attention only to rich and educated people. In-laws and neighbours jointly undertook the decision for hospitalization. All members of the community need to be educated about the danger signs of obstetric emergencies. For this poster charts, audio visual aids, folk drama might be used as effective tools for the information campaign. TBA training interventions should give more emphasis to early recognition of complications and early indications for referral.
Education Watch 2001 : renewed hope daunting challenges
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R; Nath, Samir R; Choudhury, Rasheda K; Manzoor Ahmed
The Education Watch came into existence in 1998. The first report of the Watch titled Hope not Complacency: Stale of Primary Ed11cation in Bangladesh was published in 1999. The main purpose of this report was to look into internal efficiency of primary education sub-system. Although there were some radical revel<~tions, the report was an instant success. The stakeholders, the practitioners, the development partners and the civil society representatives accepted the report with enthusiasm. Encournged by the success and acceptance of the first Watclt we decided to devote the second Walcll to quality aspects of primary education. As it was not possible to deal with all the quality indic<~tors of primary education we picked up two mnjor issues, assessment of lenming achievement of students and tcacher education. The first Watch found out that there was considerable exp:-~nsion of prim:-~ry education nnd near gender parity. It can not, however, be said that we achieved similnr success so fM as qu<~lity is concerned. Quality assurance remJins J distnnt go;~ I. r:or the third Watclt we have decided to revisit the intern.1l efficiency scenario. Two additional are.1s included in this Waldt <~rc private cost of educc1tion c111d income nnd expenditure of schools, nnd literacy. Findings of the internal efficiency indicators showed consistency with the first Watch. There was reasonnble qunntit<~tiv<' expnnsion. 13ut qunlity rem<~ined illusive. The government, the policy plnnncrs c1nd the stakeholders need to be concerned ;~bout how to improve quality in t;~ndem with qu<~ntit;~tivc exp
Factors affecting mortality and disbursement of insurance benefits to female members of BRAC village organization
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2001-01) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R; M Showkat Gani
BRAC has been implementing multi faceted programmes such as rural development programme, education prograrnme, health and nutrition programme for poverty alleviation. The core of rural development programme IS the fom1ation of village organizations (VO) . Through the YOs BRAC organizes the poor (BRAC members), and provide them with credit facility and other technical support. Unlike developed countries, taking up life insurance policy is not very common in Bangladesh. In 1990, BRAC introduced a life insurance scheme for its YO members. At the death of any member BRAC pays Tk. 5000 for each claim from the interest fund of the micro finance programme. There are some eligibility of receiving the insurance claims; however, all members are entitled to the insurance. In 1998, 3,879 VO members died and the insurance claims of a total of Tk. 19,395,000 was paid to their nominees. The mam goals of this study were to find out the causes of death and mortality differentials of BR;\C members and also to look at the settlement of insurance claims of BRAC members. To know the hum:m health status, mortality is the key indicator. It is hardly found the mortality study among BRAC members (adult female) . So Research and Evaluation Di\'ision (RED) took an initiative to study the BRAC members who died in 1998. Before actual study a pilot survey was carried out in Tangail and Sylhet regionsa during December 1999 - February :woo and survey methods and tools were tested and finalised . Based on the learning from the pilot survey, RED therefore decided to conduct a crosssectional sample survey. The broad objective of this study was to assess the death rates of BRAC YO members in 1998 and also to provide the sociodemographic determinants of mortality and causes of "Region constitutes of 12-20 BR..AC areas which consists of 160 units each with 50 target households to form a village organization. death of the members. This study also looked at the disbursement process against insurance claims; and the ways the money was used by beneficiaries.
Perception of rural women on RTI/ STls
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-09) Gazi, Rukhsana; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R
Poverty alleviation programmes reduce inequities in health : evidence from Bangladesh*
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R
Over the previous two decades many poverty alleviation programmes have been implemented in developing countries. Evaluation of such programmes have traditionally looked at their success in increasing the income levels of participants but less on the broader goals of human well-being. This chapter looks a~ the poverty alleviation programme of BRAe, a large non-governmental organization in Bangladesh, and, based on a scientifically designed study, presents its impact on selected components of 'human well-being'. The study found better child survival and nutritional status in households served by the programme. Similar impacts were also found in other areas such as expenditure pattern, family planning practice and children's education. The likely influence of 'selectively bias ' on the above results is also discussed
Targeted nutrition project at Muktagacha in Bangladesh: lessons learned
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R; Hyder, S.M. Ziauddin; Mahmud, Zeba; Chowdhury, Sadia A.
Millions of people suffer and many of them die from malnutrition in developing countries. BRAC, a non-governmental organisation in Bangladesh, has made significant progress towards planning and implementing nutrition programmes. Targeted nutrition interventions incorporated into programmes aimed at poverty alleviation significantly contribute to nutritional improvement.
Towards 2000: health scenario of Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-02) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R