Publications (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development)

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    Menstrual hygiene management in flood-affected Bangladesh: addressing socio-cultural barriers, infrastructure gaps, and policy responses
    (Frontiers in Public Health, 2025) Al-Mamun, Md.; Kamal, Abul; Karim, Md. Zawadul; Alam, Marufa; Khan, Tauhid Hossain
    Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its geographic location, with flooding being the most frequent and severe catastrophe. In 2024, heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across 11 districts, affecting approximately 1 million households and marooning around 4.9 million people in the northeast and southeast regions, resulting in 20 fatalities. Essential services and infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of 26,584 water taps and 62,528 toilets. Women were disproportionately affected, with an estimated 2.54 million experiencing the impacts of the floods. These events highlight the recurring vulnerability of Bangladesh to flood disasters and underscore the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and targeted support for affected populations, particularly women and other vulnerable groups.
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    Navigating the psychosocial challenges and coping mechanisms of parents raising children with Autism spectrum disorder in Bangladesh
    (Sage Journals, 2025-02) Karim, Md. Zawadul; Al-Mamun, Md.; Kalam, Abul; Eva, Maliha Azad; Ali, Md. Hazrat
    This narrative review explores the psychosocial challenges faced by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Bangladesh and the coping strategies they use to manage these challenges. Findings reveal that Bangladeshi parents experience significant social stigmatization, exclusion, religious misconceptions, and negligence in healthcare settings. Many parents report being marginalised within their families and communities, leading to high levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Mothers, in particular, are more vulnerable to these challenges, reporting severe levels of stress and depression due to societal pressures. Parents also struggle with a lack of adequate support services and professional guidance, especially in rural areas. Despite these difficulties, parents employ various coping strategies, such as building peer support networks, improving their knowledge of ASD, practicing religious spirituality, and using problem-focused approaches. The study underscores the need for improved mental health services, public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and policy initiatives to provide better support to parents of children with ASD. These measures are essential to alleviate the psychological and social burdens faced by families, particularly parents, in Bangladesh.