scholarly journals 738Health Status and Quality of Life of Indigenous Elderly Population of Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farah Naz Rahman ◽  
AKM Fazlur Rahman ◽  
Hafiz T.A Khan

Abstract Background Indigenous people, although constitute 1.8% of the country’s population, are one of the most deprived communities of Bangladesh in all sectors. This study was conducted to explore the health status and quality of life of indigenous elderly of Bangladesh as there is scarcity of knowledge regarding this. Methods A mixed-method approach was deployed on October,2019 in Sylhet-division of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 indigenous elderlies from 8 tea-gardens and ten in-depth-interviews were conducted with health-service providers of tea-garden health-facilities. Results Of the indigenous elderly-respondents, majority (79.5%) were suffering from any kind of chronic diseases. Visual difficulty was found predominant (74%) among the chronic conditions, followed by locomotion difficulty (49%) and gastrointestinal problem (41%). Extreme age, being male, living alone and low family income were significantly associated with suffering from chronic conditions. Furthermore, having chronic condition and extreme-age was found to be significantly associated with low quality of life. Health-service providers identified lack of logistical support in health-facilities, economic crisis and lack of awareness as the causes of poor health-status and health-seeking behavior of the indigenous elderly. Conclusions Indigenous older men in extreme old age are more vulnerable to adverse health conditions and poor quality of life. Health literacy and health seeking behaviour is poor among indigenous older adults generally and there is a huge gap in the health services and social supports available to them. Key messages Indigenous, Older population, Bangladesh.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247957
Author(s):  
Farah Naz Rahman ◽  
Hafiz T. A. Khan ◽  
Md. Jahangir Hossain ◽  
Anthony Obinna Iwuagwu

Background There are currently 1.5 million indigenous people in Bangladesh, constituting 1.8% of the total population and representing one of the country’s most deprived communities. This study explores the health status and quality of life along with their determinants among indigenous older people in Bangladesh in order to fill the knowledge and evidence gap on this topic. Methods A mixed-methods approach was deployed in October 2019 in the Sylhet division of Bangladesh which involved a cross-sectional survey among 400 indigenous older adults (200 males, 200 females) from 8 tea gardens using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Ten in-depth interviews were also conducted with providers of the tea garden health facilities. Descriptive analysis, multiple logistic and multi-nominal linear regression were performed to explore associated factors around health and quality of life. Results Of the total respondents, the majority (79.5%) had chronic diseases, with visual difficulty being predominant (74%) among the conditions. Almost all (94%) of the respondents experienced delays in receiving treatment and poverty was identified by most (85%) as the primary cause of those delays. Extreme age, being male, living alone and low family income were significantly associated with suffering from chronic conditions. Furthermore, having a chronic condition and extreme age were found to be significantly associated with a low quality of life. Health service providers identified lack of logistical support in the health facilities, the economic crisis and lack of awareness as the major causes of poor health status and poor health seeking behaviour of the indigenous older adults. Conclusion Indigenous older men in extreme old age are more vulnerable to adverse health conditions and poor quality of life. Health literacy and health seeking behaviour is poor among indigenous older adults generally and there is a huge gap in the health services and social supports available to them.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Amegovu K. Andrew

Physical and emotional wellness, as well as access to healthcare, are foundations for successful resettlement. Without feeling healthy, it is difficult to work, to go school, or take care of a family. Many factors can affect refugee health, including geographic origin and refugee camp conditions. Refugees may face a wide variety of acute or chronic health issues (Office of Refugee Resettlement, ORR Annual Report to Congress 2014; http://www.acf.hhs.gov). Resettlement of refugees in Uganda is usually supported by concerted efforts of UNHCR, Governments through the Office of the Prime Minister, OPM with support from host communities, local and international Non-Governmental Organizations. Due to resource constraints and local factors, immigrants are often subjected to poor living conditions which coupled with inadequacy inessential medical supplies might significantly affects quality of care and health service delivery and hence, rendering refugees to poor health status. This study was conducted from 2013-2014 to assess the determinants of health status of Congolese refugees living in Nakivale refugee settlement, in Isingiro district- South Western Uganda. A cross-sectional study design was used involving mixed techniques of both qualitative and quantitative KAP survey. The study focussed on Congolese refugee population in Nakivale Refugee settlement. 2401 key informants’ interviews and 8 focus group discussions respectively were conducted targeting service providers and beneficiaries/Congolese refugees in this case. The data was analysed using SPSS ver.20, 2011. Although majority (97%) of respondents sought medical services from established health facilities, findings confirm a high level of ill health prevalence among Congolese refugees in Nakivale camp, however, the difference in health services and perceived health status in camp versus the one in DRcongo is insignificant ( p=0.000) with respondents perceiving their health status as worse than when they were their own Country before the resettlement. Identified key challenges affecting access & uptake of available health services includes: language barrier; inadequate drugs; and the long distances to access health facilities. The health status of refugees could be improved by addressing the challenges related to language, drug supplies in addition to humanising conditions of shelter, providing appropriate waste disposal facilities while proving adequate food rations and clean & safe drinking water.


2014 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond L. Ownby ◽  
Amarilis Acevedo ◽  
Robin J. Jacobs ◽  
Joshua Caballero ◽  
Drenna Waldrop-Valverde

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya A Derua ◽  
Deus RS Ishengoma ◽  
Rwehumbiza T Rwegoshora ◽  
Filemoni Tenu ◽  
Julius J Massaga ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Firdawek Getahun ◽  
Adamu Addissie ◽  
Shiferaw Negash ◽  
Gebrekiros Gebremichael

Abstract Objective To assess cervical cancer services and knowledge of health service providers in public health facilities. Result Two of the three hospitals had cervical cancer screening services. One-third of the hospital had cervical cancer diagnosis service punch biopsy and cervical cancer treatment. Majority, 289 (93.5%) of study participants said cervical cancer was a preventable disease. Having multiple sexual partners 257 (83.2%) and post coital bleeding 251 (81.2%), were the most mentioned risk factor and clinical manifestation of cervical cancer respectively. Majority of the participants were aware of the correct time to start screening 291 (70.5%), and only 95 (25.9%) knew the screening intervals. Overall, 165 (53.4%) of health providers scored below the mean knowledge level score. Females had better knowledge about cervical cancer than males (X2 = 8.4, P = 0.003).


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e018424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita Singh ◽  
Dimple Kondal ◽  
Roopa Shivashankar ◽  
Mohammed K Ali ◽  
Rajendra Pradeepa ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHealth-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a key indicator of health. However, HRQOL data from representative populations in South Asia are lacking. This study aims to describe HRQOL overall, by age, gender and socioeconomic status, and examine the associations between selected chronic conditions and HRQOL in adults from three urban cities in South Asia.MethodsWe used data from 16 287 adults aged ≥20 years from the baseline survey of the Centre for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia cohort (2010–2011). HRQOL was measured using the European Quality of Life Five Dimension—Visual Analogue Scale (EQ5D-VAS), which measures health status on a scale of 0 (worst health status) to 100 (best possible health status).Results16 284 participants completed the EQ5D-VAS. Mean age was 42.4 (±13.3) years and 52.4% were women. 14% of the respondents reported problems in mobility and pain/discomfort domains. Mean VAS score was 74 (95% CI 73.7 to 74.2). Significantly lower health status was found in elderly (64.1), women (71.6), unemployed (68.4), less educated (71.2) and low-income group (73.4). Individuals with chronic conditions reported worse health status than those without (67.4 vs 76.2): prevalence ratio, 1.8 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.04).ConclusionsOur data demonstrate significantly lower HRQOL in key demographic groups and those with chronic conditions, which is consistent with previous studies. These data provide insights on inequalities in population health status, and potentially reveal unmet needs in the community to guide health policies.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherphard Chidarikire ◽  
Merylin Cross ◽  
Isabelle Skinner ◽  
Michelle Cleary

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental disorder affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. Although understanding peoples’ experiences of living with an illness is core to assessment, planning and delivering culture specific health care, little is known about the experiences of people living with schizophrenia in resource-poor countries. This article reports on a study that explored the everyday lives of eighteen people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe and its impact on their quality of life. Methods This focused ethnography was conducted over a three-month period in 2015. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, non-participant observational fieldwork, and the short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Interview data were digitally recorded, transcribed and translated from Shona (local language) to English. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to analyse questionnaire data. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using an established framework. Results Survey data indicate internal consistency in the psychological and social relationships domains and poor quality of life for people aged 20-40. The major factors related to quality of life were: age, gender, family dislocation: living with stigma and discrimination; and limited and variable access to treatment and support. Obtaining and paying for antipsychotic medications were challenging and female participants recounted experiencing gender-based stigma. Conclusions Findings from our study suggest that age, gender, family dislocation, stigma, discrimination, and variable limited access to affordable medications and support undermine quality of life by disrupting participants’ ability to function in socially acceptable ways, their sense of belonging and self-worth, and family, work and social relations. Strengthening access to mental health services, addressing the affordability and availability of medications and initiatives to alleviate stigma and promote a sense of belonging, especially for younger adults and women should be a priority for government and health service providers. Further research on managing mental health issues such as schizophrenia in Zimbabwe, should focus on initiatives to strengthen quality of life.


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