Ashim Kumar Nandi

Despite the adverse health effects associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding (DIB) (i.e., breastfeeding initiation after one hour of birth), the prevalence of DIB remains high in many developing countries, including Bangladesh. This study aims at investigating the prevalence and contributing factors of DIB in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional research analyzed a weighted sample of 3,532 women derived from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022 data. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing DIB. The results depict that 63% of the children who had ever been breastfed experienced DIB. Results from the multivariable analysis indicated that mothers who delivered by cesarean section (AOR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.76, 2.66) and those who delivered in other health facilities (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.21, 1.88) were more likely to experience DIB than mothers who delivered at home. Additionally, mothers living in the Sylhet division (AOR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.45, 0.93) exhibited lower odds of DIB in comparison to mothers residing in the Dhaka division. These findings have important policy implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goal3 and the Bangladesh National Health Policy 2011, with a focus on reducing neonatal and under-five mortality rates. The study suggests fostering closer interactions between mothers and their newborns; enhancing the interpersonal skills of healthcare providers; and initiating awareness campaigns for traditional birth attendants, family members, and mothers regarding the importance of early breastfeeding initiation to reduce the increasing trend of DIB in Bangladesh.

Background: Cesarean section (CS) rates in Bangladesh have increased dramatically from 3% in 2000 to 33% in 2017–18, substantially exceeding the recommended 10–15% range in global maternal health literature. While CS can be lifesaving when medically indicated, concerns exist regarding both overutilization and the qualifications of providers performing these surgical procedures. As CS is a major surgical procedure legally restricted to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)-qualified physicians under Bangladeshi law, examining physician attendance distinct from the broader category of medically trained providers is critical for evaluating obstetric care quality and regulatory compliance. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of CS delivery and physician-attended CS for women and its associated factors in Bangladesh. Methods: Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–18 were analyzed for 3,650 women aged 15–49 years who delivered at health facilities within three years preceding the survey. ‘Physician attendance’ was identified using the BDHS question on delivery attendants. Respondents who reported ‘doctor’ (MBBS or higher qualification) as a delivery attendant were classified as having physician attendance. This is distinct from the broader BDHS category of ‘medically trained providers,’ which includes doctors, nurses, midwives, and other trained personnel. Binary logistic regression, guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model, examined factors associated with (a) CS delivery and (b) Physician-attended CS. All analyses incorporated sampling weights to account for the complex survey design. Results: The prevalence of CS delivery was 33% ( n = 1,741). Among CS deliveries, 24.3% ( n = 423) had physician attendance. Factors significantly associated with CS delivery included geographic division, maternal age, antenatal care by physicians, birth order, education level (women and husbands), and wealth index. Similarly, regional location, maternal age, education, and wealth were significantly associated with physician-attended CS. Media exposure was associated with lower odds of CS delivery, but showed no significant association with physician-attended CS. Conclusions: This cross-sectional analysis identified significant sociodemographic gradients in both CS utilization and physician-attended CS. The findings suggest the need for improved facility reporting systems to distinguish medically indicated CS, strengthened regulatory oversight of private facilities, equitable deployment of qualified obstetric physicians in underserved regions, and evidence-based antenatal counseling on delivery options. Longitudinal research with clinical data is needed to establish causal pathways and inform targeted interventions.

Over the past two decades, underweight, overweight, and obesity have increased in Bangladesh, becoming a major public health concern. This study investigated the current prevalence and examined the determinants of underweight, overweight, and obesity among reproductive-aged Bangladeshi women. Using data from a weighted sample of 9,213 women in the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, we applied multinomial logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with being underweight, overweight, and obese. Among 9,213 reproductive-aged women, the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity was 10.0%, 18.9%, and 36.5%, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified older age as the strongest predictor of overweight and obesity: women aged 35–49 years had nearly double the risk of overweight (ARRR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.62–2.50) and more than triple the risk of obesity (ARRR = 3.56; 95% CI: 2.90–4.38) compared to those aged 15–24 years. Other significant factors included higher wealth status (ARRR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.66–2.26 for obesity among wealthy households), media exposure (reading magazines: ARRR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.14–1.87, watching television: ARRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.13–1.46), and parity (ARRR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.23–2.02 for obesity among women with 1–4 children). Breastfeeding and agricultural/manual work protected against obesity. We also found that currently breastfeeding women (ARRR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.13–1.72) and women who lived in Sylhet division (ARRR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.13–2.12) were more likely to be underweight, while women with secondary or higher education, wealthier women, women aged 25 or higher, and women with 1–4 children were less likely to be underweight. Overall, a higher burden of underweight, overweight, and obesity exists in the sample. These findings emphasise the need for age- and context-specific interventions, such as promoting active lifestyles, regulating food environments, and incorporating nutrition education into maternal health programs, to combat rising obesity while addressing persistent underweight.

This study aims to explore the effect of foreign direct investment on the educational attainment. This paper employed the POLS and 2SLS models. In Pooled Ordinary Least Square Model, educational attainment in primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and masters’ level have the significant positive relationship with foreign direct investment. In Two stage Least Square Model, educational attainment in primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, tertiary and masters’ level have the significant positive relationship with foreign direct investment. This study contributes to look at the impact foreign direct investment on educational attainment. Panel data from 38 Asian countries was gathered for this study, which spanned the years 2011 to 2022. The study results have important policy implications as they are directly linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 4.1, which aims to guarantee that all girls and boys get free, equitable, and high-quality primary and secondary education by 2030, resulting in relevant and effective learning outcomes.

Despite steady economic and social development in Bangladesh, women are in an underprivileged situation in many ways. This study explores the association between the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. This study employs ordinary least squares regression, the ordered logit model, and the multinomial logit model, using Financial Inclusion Insights (2017) Survey data, to investigate the relationship between mobile phone use and women’s empowerment. The study’s main result indicates that mobile phone use facilitates women’s empowerment in general, but the impact needs to be considered for different groups of women. Housewives who are restricted within the household are impacted less than non-housewives by mobile phone use, contrary to our expectations. Also heads of households and spouses of heads of households, who are in very different positions in a patriarchal family structure, are similarly impacted by mobile phone use. This result implies that ICT only affects the empowerment of women who are not restricted to the household, and we conclude that ICT access alone is not enough to ensure women’s awareness about their rights.

Many women justify intimate partner violence (IPV), resulting in adverse health outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between household ownership of information and communication technologies (ICTs), along with the frequency of listening to the radio and watching television with women’s attitudes towards IPV in Bangladesh. The cross-sectional study analyzed a weighted sample of 20,032 women and used a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the association between predictor variables and outcome variables. The results showed that 19.47% of women justified wife beating for at least one reason. We found that household ownership of computers (AOR = 0.73 [95% CI = 0.57, 0.95]), women in households with three ICTs (AOR = 0.67 [95% CI = 0.47, 0.96]), and women who watched television at least once a week (AOR = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.74, 0.97]) were associated with decreased odds of justifying wife beating for at least one reason after adjustment for the frequency of reading newspaper or magazine, age, wealth, education, religion, and type of place of residence. The study suggests that not all ICTs affect women’s attitudes toward IPV equally. Computers and television were more influential than other ICTs. This finding suggests that awareness-building and educational programs targeted towards women via computer and television may deliver better outcomes about gender norms.