We are an international health research institute based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Our research is addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
We aim to ensure that our evidence and experience is widely shared.
Stay up to date with our research and activities.
We have documented the growing burden of non-communicable disease in Bangladesh and begun to identify effective interventions.
Examples of our achievements include:
Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation – Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (COBRA-BPS)
The multi-country Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation – Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (COBRA-BPS) study is a cluster randomised trial that evaluated the effectiveness of the multi-component intervention among 2,550 individuals with hypertension living in 30 rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka between 2016 and 2019. The COBRA-BPS trial reveals that regular home visits by community healthcare workers to monitor patients’ blood pressure (BP) along with lifestyle coaching to them could effectively control high blood pressure. The study has found promising results in controlling high blood pressure among hypertensive patients through a low-cost health intervention carried out by community health workers in rural settings in South Asia. The COBRA-BPS multi-component strategy was found cost effective and this can be scaled up the low-income and middle-income countries where community health workers are present.
The study also revealed that, among hypertensive individuals, 58.0% had uncontrolled BP, off them highest found in Pakistan, and then Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It suggested improving access and adherence to antihypertensive medications in disadvantaged populations in rural South Asia. The study also explored high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among the rural South Asian hypertensive individuals. The study also revealed three major care pathways of hypertension treatment, management and control in rural Bangladesh. Seek specialized hospitals for acute care, private hospitals/local pharmacy for nonacute symptoms, and incidental hypertension identification while being treated for another condition.
Publications:
LIVING trial Lifestyle InterVentIon iN Gestational diabetes trial
MENTHOL Trial (Feasibility of Implementing a Mental Health Care Program and Home-Based Training for Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in an Urban Population in Bangladesh)
This is a pilot study for assessing the feasibility of integrating mental health services for the mothers of children with ASD in the special schools and improving the skills of mothers for child care through a home-based training program.
The study introduced an intervention package in two purposively selected special schools in Dhaka city comprising a psychosocial support centre and training the mothers to take better care of their children. A trained female psychologist was deployed at the counselling centre. One educational psychologist with advanced training in ASD care (special educator) provided training to the intervention mothers to enhance their skills for child care at home and followed up at home every month. The packaged intervention was implemented over a 4-6 months period. The feasibility of the intervention was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively through a pre-post intervention evaluation by obtaining the perspectives of various stakeholders involved in the implementation of the mental health services and maternal training. The study shows a promising result, and the main paper has been submitted in the Global Mental Health Journal.
Publication: