Researcher Profile

My current research interests encompass developing intervention for evaluating large-scale health intervention programs; undertaking implementation research for improving quality of obstetric and newborn care; conducting operations research for developing various financial and non-financial incentive packages for enhanced motivation of public sector health care providers. 

I have special interest in developing health intervention as well as strengthening of the health system with application of ICT and evaluating ICT-based interventions.

Recently, I have explored gaps in urban health service delivery system in Bangladesh and based-on these research findings planning to develop various models for an efficient urban health care service delivery system of the country.

I also have interest in policy research for developing health system strategies.  

Selected publications include:

• Darkwa EK, Newman MS, Kawkab M, Chowdhury ME. A qualitative study of factors influencing retention of doctors and nurses at rural healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:344. doi: 10.1186/s12913-015-1012-z.
• Alam B, Mridha MK, Biswas TK, Roy L, Rahman M, Chowdhury ME. Coverage of emergency obstetric care and availability of services in public and private health facilities in Bangladesh. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015.
• Chowdhury AM, Bhuiya A, Chowdhury ME, Rasheed S, Hussain Z, Chen LC. The Bangladesh paradox: exceptional health achievement despite economic poverty. Lancet. 2013;382:1734-45. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62148-0.
• Chowdhury ME,Alam N, Anwar I, Ahmed A, Saidel T, Mallick PS, Kelly R, Streatfield PK. Assessment of non-marital sexual behaviours of men in Bangladesh: a methodological experiment using a modified confidential ballot-box method. Int J STD AIDS. 2012;23:e13-7.
• Koblinsky M, Chowdhury ME, Moran A, Ronsmans C. Maternal Morbidity and Disability and Their Consequences: Neglected Agenda in Maternal Health. J Health Popul Nutr 2012;30:124-130
• Ronsmans C, Chowdhury ME, Dasgupta SK, Ahmed A, Koblinsky M. Effect of parent's death on child survival in rural Bangladesh: a cohort study. Lancet. 2010;375:2024-31.
• Ronsmans C, Chowdhury ME, Koblinsky M, Ahmed A. Care seeking at time of childbirth, and maternal and perinatal mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh. Bull World Health Organ. 2010;88:289-96.
• Chowdhury ME, Ahmed A, Kalim N, Koblinsky M. Causes of maternal mortality decline in Matlab, Bangladesh. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition. 2009;27:108-23.
• Chowdhury ME, Botlero R, Koblinsky M, Saha SK, Dieltiens G, Ronsmans C. Determinants of reduction in maternal mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh: a 30-year cohort study. Lancet. 2007;370:1320-8.
• Chowdhury ME, Ronsmans C, Killewo J, Anwar I, Gausia K, Das-Gupta S, Blum LS, Dieltiens G, Marshall T, Saha S, Borghi J.  Equity in use of home-based or facility-based skilled obstetric care in rural Bangladesh: an observational study. Lancet 2006; 367:327-32.