Browsing by Author "Hashima-e-Nasreen"

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An assessment of clints' knowledge of family planning in Matlab[book]
(Dhaka:BRAC-ICDDR,B Joint Research Project, 1996. v, 31 p., 1996) Hashima-e-Nasreen; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas; Rana, AKM Masud; Pieris, Indrani
BRAC HIV and AIDS Programme: the mid-term evaluation
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2005-12) Hashima-e-Nasreen
Factors influencing utilization of Manoshi delivery centers in urban slums of Dhaka
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2009-12) Rashid, Sarawat; Hashima-e-Nasreen; Akter, Mahmuda
BRAC introduced Manoshi - a community-based maternal, neonatal and child health initiative in urban slums of Bangladesh in 2007. Community delivery centers were established to provide appropriate management of delivery and essential newborn care along with referral facilities. A population and facility-based exploratory qualitative study, conducted during November 2007 to January 2008, aimed to identify factors affecting the use of delivery centers. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, exit interviews, informal discussion with different service providers and non-participant observations. Findings suggest that slum residents preferred delivery centers because of free service, delivery attended by trained birth attendants, and management of complications through referral linkages. Preference of home delivery and essential newborn care were identified as an important factor that hindered the use of delivery centers though delivery at the centers was safer than the delivery at home. Other reasons for not using the delivery centers were preference for family birth attendants, facing no problem at home, and objection from mothers-in-law. The delivery-centre related factors, namely, absence of medical doctors, non availability of drugs and injections and fear for surgery were also found to be factors resisting use of delivery centers. Provision for salary or other incentives for health providers, quality performance, training of health providers on effective management of complications and good client-provider interaction may influence better use of delivery centers and play a significant role to continue Manoshi in urban slums without BRAC support.
Is there a role for non-formal health practitioners in controlling sexually transmitted diseases: a plea for a community perspective
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2000-08) Hashima-e-Nasreen
In a country like Bangladesh, where sexual health problems other than HIV/AIDS are more apparent and immediate, and when most women are impoverished and illiterate, a broad genderbased approach to sexual health is needed. Given the importance of non-formal sector in rural health care for the poor, it is expected that sexual health services would be improved when traditional healers and other existing practices become integrated rationally into the system. This paper describes the existing practices of the non-formal practitioners in managing STD patients and also, the possibility of their participation in public health interventions to improve STD management and services. Study findings revealed that rural people, when infected with a STD often seek help from pharmacists or village doctors, traditional healers and community health workers. They do not feel free to go to the formal health sector due in part to the social stigmatization of the discussion of sexuality and sexual health related problems. The too often high cost of treatment and the low quality of clinic counseling also discourage people from going to STD clinics. Therefore, a community based RTI/STD control and prevention programme is needed which will bring the networks of the non-formal health sectors together with the formal health sectors. Study findings also revealed that neither the non-formal nor the formal health providers were able to give adequate information about control and prevention of STDs. Programmes should be innovative in the planning and designing of materials and training curriculum for the non-formal health practitioners. Because of the high level of illiteracy, picture stories would be the most appropriate means to mirror the social context of risk and vulnerability and to encourage active participation of the target community. With regards to some of their high-risk treatments, both healers and patients will have to be taught about the dangers so that they can easily avoid them and make appropriate referrals, if needed. It is encouraging to note that the non-formal health providers in Matlab expressed their interest in becoming sexual health educators if they receive appropriate training and incentives.
Neonatal death: any role for development interventions?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2002-09) Hashima-e-Nasreen
Objective: The study aimed to explore whether or not the women focused development interventions have any effect on neonatal death. Methods: The qualitative research method was used. Case study of cases (died within 28 days) and controls (live children and taken from the nearest door of cases) who born during the year 1999-2000 was the main method employed. lCDDR, B surveillance database provided the sampling frame. Results: The antenatal care of mothers and maternal nutrition carried out an important role in reducing neonatal death. On the other hand, physical abuse and emotional stress, and congenital anomalies are associated with increased risk of neonatal death. It is noted that women who were members of any government and non-government organization including BRAC were better exposed to antenatal care and nutrition as well as have had less physical abuse or emotional stress. Nevertheless, the study did not find any effect of mother's reproductive history, and birthing and newborn care on neonatal death. Conclusion: Regular medical check-up, following rules and regulations of antenatal care as well as the development intervention may have an influence over reduced trend of neonatal death over the year. In order to prove this hypothesis, a quantitative study, such as, a nested case-control study can be performed. To address whether or not BRAC's interventions have any influence, the study may, therefore, be performed in both BRAC and non-BRAC area.
Reproductive and sexual health promotion in a sensitive socio-cultural environment developing a module for the grassroots
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999) Hashima-e-Nasreen; Cash, Kathy; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas; Ahmed, Syed Masud
The general population of Bangladesh is in poor health, has little access to health facilities, has increasing incidence of STDs and is in close proximity to countries with high rates of HIV/AIDS. Up to date little has been done to educate rural Bangladesh citizens about STDs including HIV/AIDS, RTls and other sexual and reproductive health problems. In 1997 a sexual and reproductive health project began in a rural community under the collaborative research model of two organizations, the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research (ICDDR,B) and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), an indigenous non-governmental organization which pursues integrated rural development strategies. The goal of this project was to improve the sexual and reproductive health of rural women, men and youth in Bangladesh. The target population was a representative sample of the rural poor. Initial qualitative in-depth interviews with 65 different women, men, boys and girls revealed significant sexual health problems and experiences and little knowledge about treatment and prevention. Data from these initial interviews was transformed into a series of flip-charts which contained both sex education information and picture stories that mirrored risk behavior. Because of the sensitive nature of the topics, only those who had perceived legitimacy to talk about sexual health were identified and trained. Sixty eight health providers and 1890 community people were trained. Qualitative evaluations of health providers revealed significant changes in their knowledge and bt4iiefs about sexual health and disease. Health providers integrated the program into their ongoing work. Furthermore, they reported improvements in their selfconfidence, btJsiness, personal interactions with their family members and with their clients due to this program. In conclusion, this program demonstrated that a gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health initiative could be a positive force for change in a rural Bangladesh setting.
Three studies on HIV/AIDS : 1. AIDS knowledge in rural Bangladesh, II. Providing AIDS awareness education through village based women's organization, III. Communication network in reproductive health information dissemination to the adolescents
(Dhaka:BRAC-ICDDR,B Joint Research Project, 1998, 21 p., 1998) Fulton, Elisabeth; Kamal, Nashid; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Khan, Monirul; Hashima-e-Nasreen; Chowdhury, Mushtaque; Bhuiya, Abbas; Rana, AKM Masud; Aziz, Ayesha