Mst. Ayesha Siddika¹, Most. Alataf-Un-Nahar², Md. Rezaul Karim¹

¹Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
²Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN), Regional Station, Netrokona

The present study was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the effect of plant spacing and sowing date on the growth and yield of French bean during the period from October 2021 to January 2022. The experiment consisted of two factors namely plant spacing (30 cm x 25 cm, 30 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm x 15 cm) and sowing date (24 October 2021, 03 November 2021 and 13 November 2021). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that both plant spacing and sowing date significantly influenced the growth and yield of French bean. The maximum yield (13.19 t/ha) was obtained from 30 cm x 15 cm plant spacing and the lowest (8.12 t/ha) was obtained with the spacing of 30 cm x 25 cm. The yield increased due to early sowing. The highest fresh pod yield (11.05 t/ha) was obtained from 24 October sowing. The lowest (9.81 t/ha) was obtained from 13 November sowing. The combined and interaction effects of plant spacing and time of sowing were statistically significant on these above characters. The combination of 30 cm x 15 cm plant spacing with 24 October sowing gave the highest yield (13.80 t/ha) and lowest yield (7.69 t/ha) was obtained from the treatment combination of 30 cm x 25 cm plant spacing with 13 November sowing treatment combination. Considering the above finding 30 cm x 15 cm plant spacing with early sowing was recommendable for French bean cultivation.

Keywords: French Bean, Phaseolus vulgaris l., Growth and Productivity.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mrkarim1996@yahoo.com (Md. Rezaul Karim)

How to cite this article: Siddika MA, Alataf-Un-Nahar M and Karim MR (2024). Growth and productivity of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris l.) as influenced by plant spacing and sowing date. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(2): 01-11. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11318330.

Sharnolata Roy¹, MST Arzina Khatun¹, Lakshmi Basak², Mohammad Rashidul Alam³

¹Department of Health Education, ²Department of Public Health and Hospital Administration, ³Department of Health Education, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212

The low and middle-income countries are losing almost 1500 women each day due to pregnancy-related complications. Proper antenatal care (ANC) can reduce the number of mortalities. The present study was carried out to assess the accessibility of the pregnant women to antenatal care at selected Community Clinics. The present cross-sectional study was carried out at 9 selected Community Clinics at Madhupur, Tangail from 1st January to 31st December, 2020. A total of 196 pregnant women were selected purposively as study participants. Study participants were interviewed face to face with a semi-structured questionnaire. The mean age of the pregnant mothers was 22.5 (±4.9) years where 41.3% were from 20-24 age groups. The mean age of marriage was 16.7 (±2.9) years while the mean age at first pregnancy was 18.8 (±3.2) years. Among them, 181 (92.3%) took first ANC at 16-20 weeks. Majority of the pregnant mother’s (71.4%) home was less than 1 kilometer away from health facility. Mode of transport of 68.3% pregnant mothers was on foot while 28.6% used public transport. One third of the pregnant mothers (31.1%) told that the waiting time was 10-20 minutes. All ANC services were provided by Community Health Care Providers (CHCP). While assessing the accessibility of services, 91.3% told that health care provider measured their height, weight and blood pressure during this visit. Abdominal examination was not done to any of the pregnant mother.  Among them, 86.7% told that counseling was provided by service provider where 86.2% were advised about medicine and 59.7% were advised about danger sign. No one was advised about personal hygiene during this visit. Significant statistical difference was found between total number of ANC visit and age groups of the respondents (p=0.014) and monthly family income of the respondents (p=0.020). Physical accessibility of the pregnant women to antenatal care at selected Community Clinics was satisfactory while there were gaps in service accessibility. Implementation of policies to provide ANC visits by skilled healthcare providers may serve as an effective strategy to improve the service quality which could contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality.

Keywords: Antenatal care, Pregnant women, Accessibility, Community Clinics.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: raylota4@gmail.com (Sharnolata Roy)

How to cite this article: Roy S, Khatun MSTA Bashak L and Alam MR (2024). Accessibility of pregnant women to antenatal care at selected community clinics. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(2): 12-20. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11582044

Md. Mustafa Kamal Sarker¹, Apawan Nookong¹, Mohammed Belal Uddin², Rehana Akter³

¹Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Thailand
²Chittagong Nursing College, Chattogram
³OCC Ward, Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Chattogram

Diarrhea is a leading cause of death of children under-five years ‘age in low to middle income countries such as Bangladesh. The purpose of this study is to analyze and synthesis current evidence related to health education intervention for caregivers regarding the prevention of diarrheal disease in children under five years old and established pliable recommendations from the evidence. The related pieces of evidence published in English were acquired from materials published between 2000 and 2014, available via electronic databases. Evidence collection was conducted using PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison) framework. One randomized control trial, two quasi–experimental and two systematic reviews were included in this study. The research instruments included structured questionnaire, site observation and weekly home visits to count the number of diarrhea incidences that occurred amongst children. The health education intervention regarding diarrheal prevention frequently delivered throughout the community. The teaching activities of the education programs were lectures, group discussions, demonstrations and home visits. The types of media utilized for the education intervention included video tapes, PowerPoint presentation, flipcharts and leaflets in order to increasing mothers’ knowledge and practice. The factors influencing diarrhea prevention intervention consist of environmental sanitation, uncontaminated food, purified water and personal hygiene. The findings from the evidence support the idea of diarrhea prevention education intervention as an effective practice for caregivers of under-five year’s children in order to reduce the incidences of diarrhea in the community. It is suggested that diarrhea prevention education program should be developed and implemented to suit the community setting in the context of Bangladesh. Further research to evaluate the effectiveness of education intervention is recommended.

Keywords: Caregivers, Parents, Health Education Intervention, Diarrhea, Prevention.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sarkerkamal@yahoo.com (Md. Mustafa Kamal Sarker)

How to cite this article: Sarker MMK, Nookong A, Uddin MB and Akter R (2024). Health educational intervention to prevent diarrheal disease in caregivers of children under five years old: evidence-based nursing. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(2): 21-33. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11559272.

Md. Abdul Mazid, Md. Golam Azam

Institute of Social Welfare and Research (ISWR), University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1205

The welfare services provided by Muslim and Christian religious institutions are undocumented and underestimated in the social welfare studies literature. Almost all aspects of society including the social, economic, political, and spiritual aspects are guided and controlled by the religions that articulate human conduct, behavior, social sense, and morality. The study intends to explore the nature of services provided by religious institutions and identify the present trend of welfare services from the institutions at the community level in Bangladesh. The researchers primarily employed qualitative surveys and narrative discussions under the qualitative research approach. To collect data, semi-structured interviews, observation, and in-depth case interviews were used. Data were collected from 38 respondents from 12 Mosques, four Churches, and 12 faith-based religious institutions that were selected purposively. The data was processed through thematic and verbatim analysis. The study findings reveal that Mosques, Churches, and faith-based religious institutions provide various services such as prayer and spirituality, education facilities, health facilities, social activities, counseling and advocacy, relief and rehabilitation, employment, and so on. The findings of the study contribute to providing religious knowledge and practice to promote the quality of the welfare services rendered by religious institutions. The study also suggests further research studies in the fields of services of religious institutions toward the well-being of community people.

Keywords: Christian, Counseling, Faith-based Organizations, Muslim, Religious Institutions, Social Welfare Services, Spirituality.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: golamazam@du.ac.bd (Md. Golam Azam)

How to cite this article: Mazid MA and Azam MG (2024). Welfare service provisions in Muslim and Christian religious institutions in Bangladesh: A qualitative study. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(2): 34-49. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11559697.

Zawad Ibn Farid¹, Faria Akther², Md. Tanvir Hasan Sojib^1,2, Summya Sharmin²

¹Institute of Disaster Management & Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka
²BUET – Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention & Urban Safety, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

This study provides a thorough examination of the past trajectories of tropical cyclones (TCs) that reached the coast of Bangladesh between 1991 and 2023. The study analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of TC occurrences and their impacts on coastal regions by using data on cyclone tracks, maximum wind velocity, central atmospheric pressure, and precipitation. The methodology entailed the utilization of Arc GIS to map cyclone tracks, enabling the visualization of cyclone paths, wind speeds, and central pressures. This spatial analysis was enhanced by studying the seasonal and zonal distributions of TCs, specifically focusing on the characteristics before and after the monsoon season, as well as the varying impacts on the eastern, central, and western coasts. The results of our study show a notable clustering of TC landfalls along the eastern coast, specifically in the Chittagong region. This area accounted for approximately 65% of all the landfalls observed. This pattern emphasizes the increased susceptibility of this region to the effects of cyclones. In addition, the analysis showed that the month of May had the highest occurrence rate of cyclones, with November coming in second. This emphasizes the importance of the periods before and after the monsoon season for cyclone formation. The study also examined the wind and pressure attributes of TCs, revealing that cyclones with lower central pressures are generally more intense, as demonstrated by significant cyclones like Sidr, Amphan, and the 1991 super cyclone. The analysis of precipitation data further demonstrated the magnitude of rainfall linked to significant cyclones, offering valuable understanding of the hydrological effects on coastal areas. This research enhances the current knowledge by providing in-depth understanding of the behavior and effects of TCs in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). As a result, it informs strategies for managing and reducing the impact of disasters. The meticulous examination of space and time carried out in this study is essential for improving our comprehension of the movements and patterns of TCs in the area. The results underscore the necessity of implementing focused measures to mitigate and adapt to enhance the ability of susceptible coastal communities to withstand and recover from adverse impacts. This research provides a historical perspective TC landfalls, offering valuable insights for policymakers, disaster management authorities, and stakeholders involved in efforts to prepare for and respond to cyclones.

Keywords: Tropical cyclone, Tracks, Seasonal & zonal variation, Bangladesh coast,  Wind, Pressure, Precipitation.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: zawad@du.ac.bd (Zawad Ibn Farid)

How to cite this article: Farid ZI, Akther F, Sojib MTH and Sharmin S (2024). A track analysis of historical tropical cyclones making landfall on the coast of Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(2): 50-64. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11559829.