Knowledge and Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in People With Severe Mental Illness in Bangladesh and Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Mass media were the major source of information about COVID-19. Finances, employment, and physical health were the most frequently mentioned concerns. Overall, participants reported good knowledge and following advice. In Bangladesh, being female and higher levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) predicted poor and better knowledge, respectively, while in Pakistan being female predicted better
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Covid-19 & Cities Report – Bangladesh

This report presents an overview of the COVID-19 response in the country from February to the End of August 2020. It focuses on the response related to urban health in the country and tries to portray the interaction of different stakeholders and the deciding authorities in Covid-19 management in urban areas. PDF Version  | HTML Version 
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Public Private Partnership in Improving Access and Utilization of Health Care Services: Scopes, Opportunities and Challenges

Improved quality and access to healthcare services are essential for a country’s development. Private sectors like NGOs, for-profit and non-profit organizations have significantly contributed to health by financing and managing healthcare services in different ways. In developing countries, the private sector becomes more critical because, with limited resources, such countries struggle to ensure proper health
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Implementation status of non-communicable disease control program at primary health care level in Bangladesh: Findings from a qualitative research

Bangladesh has 67% of estimated deaths caused by non-communicable  diseases (NCDs). The country aimed to reduce NCD-related premature deaths by one-third by 2030. This study aimed to explore the overall implementation status of the NCD control program at the primary health care (PHC) level in Bangladesh, explore the challenges, and identify the way forward for
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The Role of the Private Sector in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences From Four Health Systems

As societies urbanize, their populations have become increasingly dependent on the private sector for essential services. The way the private sector responds to health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic can determine the health and economic wellbeing of urban populations, an effect amplified for poorer communities. PDF Version  | HTML Version 
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Effectiveness of interventions to address obesity and health risk behaviours among people with severe mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a systematic review and meta analysis

Effectiveness of interventions to address obesity and health risk behaviours among people with severe mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a systematic review and meta analysis PDF Version  | HTML Version 
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Cost-utility of cytisine for smoking cessation over and above behavioural support in people with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis: an economic evaluation of a multicentre randomised controlled trial

In 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) case notifications saw a big drop from 2019 while the number of people who died from TB increased due to reduced access to services at global, regional and country levels.1 Bangladesh (218 per 100 000 population) and Pakistan (259
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Vegetables and Fruits Retailers in Two Urban Areas of Bangladesh: Disruption due to COVID-19 and Implications for NCDs

This policy brief is based on a study titled “Vegetables and fruits retailers in two urban areas of Bangladesh: Disruption due to COVID-19 and implications for NCDs” conducted by ARK Foundation, Bangladesh funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. PDF Version 
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Informal Payments as a Barrier for Fruits and Vegetables Retailing in Bangladesh: Findings from a Mixed Method Study

This policy brief is based on a study titled “Vegetables and fruits retailers in two urban areas of Bangladesh: Disruption due to COVID-19 and implications for NCDs” conducted by ARK Foundation, Bangladesh funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada PDF Version 
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Prevalence of physical health conditions and health risk behaviours in people with severe mental illness in South Asia: multi-country cross-sectional survey

The study aims to estimate the prevalence of physical health conditions and health risk behaviours; assess access to physical healthcare and health risk modification advice in people with severe mental illness attending mental health services in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan; and compare the findings with those of the general population. PDF Version 
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