Search

Background: Despite a growing elderly South Asian population, little is known about the experience of diagnosis and care for those living with dementia. There have been a number of individual qualitative studies exploring the experiences of South Asian people living with dementia and their carers across different contexts. There has also been a growing interest in synthesizing qualitative research to systematically integrate qualitative evidence from multiple studies to tell us more about a topic at a more abstract level than single studies alone. The aim of this qualitative synthesis was to clearly identify the gaps in the literature and produce new insights regarding the knowledge and understanding of the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of the South Asian community about dementia. Methods: Following a systematic search of the literature, included qualitative studies were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality. Data were extracted and pooled using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (QARI). Findings were synthesized using the Joanna Briggs Institute approach to qualitative synthesis by meta-aggregation. Results: Seventeen papers were critically appraised, with 13 meeting the inclusion criteria. Participants were mostly of South Asians of Indian background; followed by Pakistani with a few Sri Lankans. Missing South Asian countries from the current evidence base included those from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal. Three meta-synthesis themes emerged from the analysis: (1) a poor awareness and understanding of dementia, (2) the experience of caregiving, and (3) the attitudes toward dementia care provision. Conclusions: A consistent message from this qualitative synthesis was the limited knowledge and understanding of dementia amongst the South Asians. Whilst symptoms of dementia such as 'memory loss' were believed to be a part of a normal ageing process, some South Asian carers viewed dementia as demons or God's punishments. Most studies reported that many South Asians were explicit in associating stigmas with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing is going to be a major problem in Bangladesh given its population size, scarce resources, existing poverty, insufficient health facilities and lack of a social security system. This paper examines how many years older people expect to be in good health, and what are the correlates of self-rated health (SRH). The data used in this study come from 896 older people aged 60 years and above from Rajshahi district in Bangladesh and from United Nations’ projected population figures. Results show that individuals at age 60 expected about 41 per cent of their remaining life to be in good health, while individuals at age 80 expected only 21 per cent of their remaining life to be in good health. Having exercised during the six months prior to the survey was the single most important correlate of SRH (odds ratio=5.49; confidence interval 4.03–7.47; without any adjustment). While rural–urban differentials and some health decline in old age are inevitable, four factors (exercise behaviour, sufficiency of income, physical limitations and facing abusive behaviour) are to a certain extent modifiable and therefore provide the potential for improving SRH and healthy life expectancy in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bangladesh is not an exception from the global phenomenon of demographic aging. It is a relatively new issue in the country as its demographic transition started recently. An important issue on aging study is the support facility to the elderly. The support system to the elderly is gradually decreasing in this country though the burden does not reach the alarming situation. This paper tries to show the future path of demographic support capacity for the elderly based on secondary (1981-2001) and projected (2011-2071) data. The study shows a future gloomy picture of the elderly support facility in terms of both economic and caring aspects. This dimension of future inevitable aging problem needs proper attention to the policy makers for taking sustainable aging policies. Introduction of this agenda to the nation's five-year planning will be effective to face the problem phase by phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical data from in-depth interviews with Bangladeshis in London and Sylhet reveal different experiences, imaginaries and mobilities connected to ageing. In contrast to the now-standard 'Western' model of active and successful ageing, in Sylhet and amongst Bangladeshi-origin migrants in London, successful ageing is less about physical activity and independence and more about being socially active and respected, and being taken care of by family members. However, British-Bangladeshis' experiences of ageing and mobility are gendered, with older men going to the mosque for social interaction, and some making solo trips to the desh or homeland, whilst most older women are spatially less mobile. Men view the experience of ageing in Bangladesh as more convivial, for climatic, economic and social reasons, but healthcare there is very poor. For older British-Bangladeshi women, there is less desire to visit the homeland; even less to return there to settle. Most older first-generation British-Bangladeshis are content to age-in-place in London, although a minority of men go for extended stays in Sylhet. For the younger first-generation migrants in London whose parents are still alive in Bangladesh, managing transnational familyhood and care are a major challenge, given the costs and other barriers to travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global population is ageing rapidly, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing a fast demographic transition. As the number of older adults in LMICs increases, services able to effectively address their physical and mental health needs will be increasingly important. We review the health and socioeconomic resources currently available for older people in South Asian countries, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to identify gaps in available resources and assess areas for improvement. We conducted a search of grey and published literature via Google Search, Compendex, EBSCO, JSTOR, Medline, Ovid, ProQuest databases, Scopus and Web of Science. Data on population demographics, human resources, health funding and social protection for older people were extracted. Local informants were consulted to supplement and verify the data. In the study countries, the number of health professionals with expertise in elderly care was largely unknown, with minimal postgraduate training programmes available in elderly medicine or psychiatry. Older adults are therefore cared for by general physicians, nurses and community health workers, all of whom are present in insufficient numbers per capita. Total average healthcare expenditure was 2.5–5.5% of GDP, with 48.1–72.0% of healthcare costs covered by out-of-pocket payments. Pakistan did not have a social pension; only India and Nepal offered financial assistance to people with dementia; and all countries had disproportionately low numbers of care elderly homes. Inadequate healthcare funding, a shortage of healthcare professionals and insufficient government pension and social security schemes are significant barriers to achieving universal health coverage in LMICs. Governing bodies must expand training programmes for healthcare providers for older adults, alongside increasing social protection to improve access to those in need and to prevent catastrophic health expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to examine the myths and realities concerning ageing and ageism by contrasting the situation in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh. Stereotypes about the elderly in Bangladesh are not always consistent with reality and the scenario of ageism can differ by demographic setting. In this study, a mixed-method approach was followed, with qualitative and quantitative methods, with an emphasis on the latter. This study included adults aged above 60 years from two different areas. Dhaka city was the urban setting for the study and Barguna district was the rural setting. The sample included 340 observations, equally divided between the urban and the rural settings. The findings suggest that myths and realities concerning ageing and ageism operate differently in rural and urban areas, although they reveal some similarities. The study explores how elderly people who comprise a large portion of the country's population are treated. It highlights disparities between traditional attitudes towards the elderly and the modern realities faced by contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational diseases responsible for work restriction and absenteeism. The purpose of the study was to compare the prevalence of MSDs between ready-made garment (RMG) factories that are compliant versus non-compliant with International Labor Organization (ILO) based Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, and to identify other factors associated with a higher prevalence of MSDs. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 randomly selected female workers (age: > 18 years; ≥ 1 year of work experience) from 12 randomly selected RMG factories in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh from February to December 2019. Factories were stratified as OSH compliant or non-compliant. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consist of socio-demographic, work-related factors, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for MSD assessment. Robust Poisson regression was used to investigate the association of MSDs with OSH compliance, socio-demographic and other work-related factors. Results: Respondents' mean age was 26.9 ± 5.9 years. A total of 235 (57%) of the workers reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one body part during the last month. Among the nine reported MSDs, the prevalence of lower back pain was highest (41%) followed by pain in the knees (33%). Multivariable analysis showed lower prevalence of any MSD among workers in OSH compliant factories [aPR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31– 0.58], and workers with regular working hours (8 hrs/day) [aPR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62– 1.00]. The risk of developing any MSD was significantly higher for age group 25– 30 years [aPR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01– 1.33] and age group ≥ 31 years [aPR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04– 1.1.39]. Conclusion: The study found a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders among female RMG workers, especially those in non-OSH compliant factories that work long hours. Enforcement of minimum ILO-based OSH standards and introduction of low-cost interventions to improve working conditions in non-compliant factories would help sustain the pace of development in this sector in Bangladesh, and ensure the health of the women who work there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we explore the strategies used by older women to cope with their ill health, in order to provide insight into how they might be drawn to use modern health services. We used qualitative methods to collect data from 17 older women living in Bibirchar Union, Sherpur District, Bangladesh. Participants reported that they utilized both emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies, and that many of these were faith-based. Health policymakers need to acknowledge these strategies in the delivery of health care if older women are to take up health promotion activities and engage with the modern health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]