Background
The Hajj is a massive pilgrimage that occurs once a year, involving two to three million individuals from more than 180 countries. Every year, around 120,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh perform the Hajj. One of the top causes of hospitalisation during the Hajj is acute asthma and its complications. One in five pilgrims with previously diagnosed asthma will present with an unscheduled attendance or hospitalisation during the Hajj.
All Hajj pilgrims attend a medical examination about three to four months before the pilgrimage at various centres located nationwide. This offers an opportunity to intervene, with proper assessment and management.
Aim and impact
Building on an initial study in Malaysia, this project is being undertaken in collaboration with the ARK Foundation in Bangladesh. This study will focus on the current pre-Hajj medical check-up services and their management process in Bangladesh, and whether they provide an opportunity to manage the risk of asthma issues among Hajj pilgrims. Limited research has been done on this issue in Bangladesh, and context-specific research is required to understand the public health challenges associated with Hajj and the existing barriers and opportunities in integrating any intervention.
This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE) using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK Department of Health and Social Care.
