Browsing by Author "Hossain, Md. Tarek"

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‘Feminization’ of physician workforce in Bangladesh, underlying factors and implications for health system: Insights from a mixed-methods study.
(PLOS ONE, 1/11/2019) Hossain, Puspita; Gupta, Rajat Das; YarZar, Phyoe; Jalloh, Mohamed Salieu; Tasnim, Nishat; Afrin, Ayesha; Naher, Nahitun; Hossain, Md. Tarek; Joarder, Taufique; Ahmed, Syed Masud
Background Bangladesh is currently faced with an emerging scenario of increased number of female physicians in the health workforce which has health system implications. For a health system to attract and retain female physicians, information is needed regarding their motivation to choose medical profession, real-life challenges encountered in home and workplaces, propensity to choose a few particular specialties, and factors leading to drop-out from the system. This exploratory mixed-methods study attempted to fill-in this knowledge gap and help the policy makers in designing a gender-sensitive health system. Methods Three-hundred and fifteen final year female medical students from four purposively selected medical colleges of Dhaka city (two each from public and private colleges) were included in a quantitative survey using self-administered questionnaire. Besides, 31 in-depth interviews with female students, their parents, and in-service trainee physicians, and two focus group discussions with female students were conducted. Gender disaggregated data of physicians and admitted students were also collected. Data were analysed using Stata version 13 and thematic analysis method, as appropriate. Results During 2006–2015, the female physicians outnumbered their male peers (52% vs. 48%), which is also supported by student admission data during 2011–2016 from the sampled medical colleges, (67% in private compared to 52% in public). Majority of the female medical graduates specialized in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (96%). Social status (66%), respect for medical profession (91%), image of a ‘noble profession’ (91%), and prospects of helping common people (94%) were common motivating factors for them. Gender disparity in work, career and work environment especially in rural areas, and problems of work-home balance, were a few of the challenges mentioned which forced some of them to drop-out. Also, this scenario conditioned them to crowd into a few selected specialties, thereby constraining health system from delivering needed services. Conclusions Increasing number of female physicians in health workforce, outnumbering their male peers, is a fact of life for health system of Bangladesh. It’s high time that policy makers pay attention to this and take appropriate remedial measures so that women can pursue their career in an enabling environment and serve the needs and priorities of the health system.
Impact of the COVID-19 on the Textile Industry of Bangladesh: Is there an Ensuing Disaster?
(Faculty of Business Studies, BUFT, 2022-08-01) Hossain, Md. Tarek; Asgar, Asif; Sharif, Md. Jamil
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the financial health of the selected listed companies in the textile industry of Bangladesh during the first fiscal year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Financial health of 30 listed companies in the textile industry of Bangladesh has been determined through a popular bankruptcy model named the Altman Z Score model. The impact of a few variables of this model has also been further analyzed. Findings: The study reveals that the financial health of the 30 companies deteriorated during the COVID year (2019-2020) than it was in the previous 3 fiscal years. Furthermore, to understand the changes in the factors related to the calculation of the Z-score we have analyzed Net Sales, EBIT, Current Assets, Current Liabilities, Net Working Capital, Non Current Assets, Non-Current Liabilities, Retained Earnings, Total Liabilities, Debt to Asset Ratio, Total Asset & Market Value of the 30 sample firms across the FY 2016/17 to FY 2019/20, the result of which also shows the evidence of diminishing financial health of the companies during the COVID Year (2019-2020). Practical Implications: The findings of this study can be useful for the investors to make investment decisions, for the managers and analysts to identify the significant variable for financial growth, and for other stakeholders to comprehend the financial health of the textile industry of Bangladesh. Originality: No other contemporary study has used the Altman Z Score and analyzed the variables of the model further to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the financial health of the textile industry of Bangladesh. This study provides detailed quantitative results from the statistical analysis such as the T-test as well as the implication of the Altman Z Score Model. Limitations: This study has used a quantitative model to measure the impact of COVID-19 on the textile industry of Bangladesh hence there are further scopes to explore the impact of the pandemic through analyzing a few qualitative aspects such as Government policies, Customer Behaviour, etc.
Women’s preferences for maternal healthcare services in Bangladesh: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment.
(MDPI, 1/23/2019) Mahumud, Rashidul Alam; Alamgir, Nadia Ishrat; Hossain, Md. Tarek; Baruwa, Elaine; Sultana, Marufa; Gow, Jeff; Alam, Khorshed; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Khan, Jahangir A.M.
Despite substantial improvements in several maternal health indicators, childbearing and birthing remain a dangerous experience for many women in Bangladesh. This study assessed the relative importance of maternal healthcare service characteristics to Bangladeshi women when choosing a health facility to deliver their babies. The study used a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative methods (expert interviews, focus group discussions) were initially employed to identify and develop the characteristics which most influence a women’s decision making when selecting a maternal health service facility. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was then constructed to elicit women’s preferences. Women were shown choice scenarios representing hypothetical health facilities with nine attributes outlined. The women were then asked to rank the attributes they considered most important in the delivery of their future babies. A Hierarchical Bayes method was used to measure mean utility parameters. A total of 601 women completed the DCE survey. The model demonstrated significant predictive strength for actual facility choice for maternal health services. The most important attributes were the following: consistent access to a female doctor, the availability of branded drugs, respectful provider attitudes, a continuum of maternal healthcare including the availability of a C-section delivery and lesser waiting times. Attended maternal healthcare utilisation rates are low despite the access to primary healthcare facilities. Further implementation of quality improvements in maternal healthcare facilities should be prioritised.