https://imcjms.com/public Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/public/registration/journal_full_text/111 Sun, 09 Oct 2016 12:43:11 +0000 Methods and materials – A rural community was purposively selected in Sreepur thana of which four villages were selected randomly. The total population of all age groups was 14,165 and the eligible reproductive aged females were 3,820 based on age between 15 and 45 years. Sample size was estimated at 573 (15%) of the eligible participants depending on the availability of time and logistic support. The study design was to use a questionnaire related to age, education, family income, housing and sanitation. Height (ht), weight (wt) and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Urine protein was estimated. Clinical examinations noted the presence of anemia, jaundice, edema, ring-worm, scabies, goiter, xerophthalmia and gum bleeding. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to determine their obesity or wasting. Conclusions – Despite time and logistic constraint, the study revealed that most of the rural women had a poor nutritional status (80% had BMI<23.0). The prevalence of hypertension and glycosuria were also not negligible. Vitamin deficiency disorders (xerophthalmia), gum-bleeding, angular stomatitis were also very high among them. The study also revealed that the poor social class had a significantly lower BMI, higher proteinuria and higher skin problems than their rich counterparts.    Introduction There are several published reports on the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the adult (³20y) population of India and Bangladesh1-3. It was also reported that there has been an increasing trend of these non-communicable diseases in the developing countries4. Additionally, some investigators opined that the more disadvantaged section of the population were more prone to develop hypertension and diabetes. It is also known that the rural women of Bangladesh are the disadvantaged class with regard to their social position, employment, wage, nutrition and health care5. Usually the rural women are not aware about hypertension, diabetes and kidney diseases. In this study a few specific health problems were selected like hypertension, proteinuria, glycosuria and nutritional status that may affect not only women as mothers but also their fetuses and lactating infants. Thus, the study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status and to determine the prevalence of hypertension, proteinuria and glycosuria among the women of reproductive age in the rural community. Materials and Methods     From a total of 3,820 eligible participants 501 took part in the investigation in four randomly selected villages [table 1]. The response rate was 87.4%. Table-1: Total population and the participants in the randomly selected 4 villages (n = 501)        Table-4: Prevalence of diseases/disorders due to deficiency Regarding nutritional deficiency, about half of the rural women (52%) had some form of signs related to Vit-A deficiency and 65% had signs of Vit-B complex deficiency either in the form of glossitis or of angular stomatitis or both. Of those with Vit-A deficiency, 52% complained of night blindness, 37% had Bitot’s spot plus night blindness, 3% had toad skin, 2% had Bitot’s spot and corneal / conjunctival xerosis. Of the vitamin B deficiency disorders, 65% presented with glossitis, 19% with angular stomatitis and 16% with both angular stomatitis and glossitis. Discussion This study attempted to explore the general health status of rural women who are almost always neglected from their early childhood. This is possibly the first study in a RFST programme that addressed the nutritional status of rural women of reproductive age and an attempt was made to determine the prevalence of hypertension, proteinuria and glycosuria among them. About one-third of these women were found to be illiterate, which is consistent to the national report5. Regarding nutritional status the BMI observed in this study does not differ from the previous reports1,6. Similarly, the prevalence of hypertension is almost comparable to other reported studies1,3,6. The prevalence of proteinuria could not be compared because of non-availability of data in this regard. It is also true, as mentioned that the cause(s) of proteinuria could not be detected. Same is the case with glycosuria prevalence – the cause and type of glycosuria remained undetected.   The study revealed that most of the rural women had a poor nutritional status (80% had BMI<23.0). Hypertension and glycosuria were frequently found but it goes undetected. Vitamin deficiency disorders (xerophthalmia, gum-bleeding, angular stomatitis) were also very high among them. It was also observed that the poor social class had a significantly lower BMI, higher proteinuria and higher skin lesions than their richer counterparts. Further study with a larger sample using adequate diagnostic tools may be undertaken to confirm these exploratory findings. Acknowledgement   1.Sayeed MA, Hussain MZ, Banu A, Ali L, Rumi MAK, Azad Khan AK. Effect of socioeconomic risk factor on difference between rural and urban in the prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh. Diabetes Care 1997; 20: 551-555. 3.Gupta A, Gupta R, Sarna M, Rastogi S, Gupta VP, Kothari K. Prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and insulin resistance syndrome in an urban Indian population. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2003; 61: 69-76. 5.Hussain ST, Sikder AR. Population Census 2001, Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Parishankhan Bhaban, Agargaon, Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka 2001.         Editor’s Note: Residential Field Site Training (RFST) is an academic and university requirement for the 4th year MBBS students. Students’ exposure to the rural community under this programme can be utilized in an effective and proper teaching environment. This paper shows that proper utilization of the allotted time can yield the desired goals. It is a culmination of the integration of teaching and practical application of research methods, community health problems, report writings, presentations, and group efforts. One such report was published in the last issue and we will publish further articles on RFST programs. 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.