I also authorize Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) to lend this thesis to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scientific research. Lutful Ahasan, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Histology, for his valuable and critical suggestions, scientific insight, astute comments, scientific guidance, blessings and inspiration during the course of this study, research work and preparation of this manuscript. Sharmin Chowdhury, Director, One Health Institute, for her constructive advice and encouragement at various stages of this study.
Adequate knowledge and awareness among health workers is essential to control and eradicate NTDs. The purpose of the study was to measure the current level of knowledge and awareness of medical students in Bangladesh to facilitate surveillance strategies. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of participants in both groups said they had no idea about the visual and physical impairments caused by NTDs.
Most of the 3rd year students correctly identified leishmaniasis (25.11%) and lymphatic filariasis (23.18%) which are NTDs of Bangladesh. The findings of the study recommend focusing on NTDs in medical education curriculum and professional training, especially on common NTDs in Bangladesh, to confirm the active participation of these primary stakeholders for the prevention and control of NTDs in Bangladesh.
Introduction
The parasitic worm penetrates the adult intestine and replicates there causing the disease and the incidence is even higher in the north-eastern part of the country (Dhakal et al., 2020). A cross-sectional study in Egypt showed that approximately one fourth of the medical students had knowledge about NTDs, but only 5% knew specific prevention and control activities (E et al., 2020). The overall objectives of the study were to understand the knowledge and perception about NTDs of current medical students studying in different medical colleges in Chattogram.
As a result, resistant strains of the pathogens are allowed to develop (Izumi et al., 2008). The main focus of this thesis will be on the diseases of the Protozoa group. Most cases (95%) are found in the Americas, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Regardless of the manifested form of the disease, the transmission cycle is the same (Fig. 1). The success of treatment is also complicated by differences in the sensitivity of the parasites to the recommended drugs, which are highly geographical and species specific (Dorlo et al., 2012). The biological evaluations conducted for this project with both parasite species used the same trypomastigote forms found in the bloodstream of the hosts.
One of the characteristic features may be a skin lesion or a scarlet swelling of the eyelids of one eye. An extensive literature review was conducted to determine which factors are necessary to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of medical students. Participation in this study was completely voluntary and continued with the main parts of the questionnaire after informed consent.
A third of the participants (68.3%) were third-year students, while 31.7% were in their final year of study. Most participants (73.3%) believed that a training or workshop would be the best way to raise awareness. Half of the junior and senior students had no idea of the actual number of NTDs updated by WHO.
A previous study revealed a contrasting picture, where two-thirds of participants were unwilling or reluctant to participate in supervision activities (Elfar et al., 2020). A large number of participants focused on the importance of research on various aspects of NTDs. Most participants were motivated to engage in NTD control programs, which could be critical to the successful implementation of NTD elimination strategies.
Ø The study was conducted only in medical colleges in Chattogram, Bangladesh, which is a major limitation of the study.
Review of Literatures
Materials and methods
Results
Although all the participants studied in Chattogram, but they came from eight divisions of Bangladesh, the majority were from Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet division. However, 36% of 3rd year students and 28.9% of final year students did not know the definition of NTD. The question about the full form of the NTD was answered correctly by 94 percent of third-year students and 97.5% of final-year students.
When asked about the long-term effects of NTDs, 38% of participants in both groups said they had no idea about the visual and physical damage caused by NTDs. 70.5% of third-year students and 64.5% of final-year students said they had heard about NTDs in Bangladesh, but most of them did not have enough ideas about NTD control. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of medical students regarding NTD control strategies.
Several suggestions were made, including more public awareness, a simple diagnostic device, more research, appropriate policy and strategy, and more funding. In addition, participants were asked whether they would be willing to participate in NTD surveillance activities. Training/workshop/seminar, educational curriculum, awareness campaign in schools and colleges, use of social media especially television and celebration of special days and weeks were some of the possible suggestions of the participants for awareness (Figure 7).
44.8% of the participants also said that it is important to celebrate special days and weeks to create mass awareness. Yes No Training/workshop/seminar Education curriculum Awareness campaign in school and college Use social media TV Celebrate special day and week.
Discussion
Three-fourths of the participants were motivated to work for the control of NTDs in Bangladesh, which indicated the positive attitude of medical students towards the implementation of strategies to control and prevent NTDs in Bangladesh. In another study, 92.2 percent of the respondents expressed their willingness to participate in NTD-related activities in their workplace and community (Olamiju et al., 2014). However, it was worrying that more than half of the participants were less focused on raising funds, despite the fact that funding is crucial for the management and prevention of NTDs.
Previous studies have also suggested that medical students should be actively involved in clinical and community-based field research studies (Kishore and Dhadialla, 2007). The participants believed that the awareness of NTDs in Bangladesh is low, as well as medical students in Egypt also acknowledged the low level of awareness (E et al., 2020). A study in Nigeria also emphasized on public awareness indicating that public awareness and perception to combat NTDs (Olamiju et al., 2014).
Because the fight against NTD creates thinking and understanding of a multidisciplinary approach, clinical and social-epidemiological knowledge must be intertwined from the beginning of a healthcare provider's career. The literature shows that current and evidence-based knowledge about NTDs should be provided to medical students through a structured curriculum, training, research, and publication (Ca and Barraviera, 2011; Nelson et al., 2012). The results will serve as a foundation document for future in-depth research across the country, involving different stakeholders, and will facilitate policy making for understanding the knowledge gap in the action plan.
Conclusion
Limitations
Recommendations
A community-based case-control study to determine the risk factors of dengue fever in Bangladesh. Do you know that many NTDs have long-term consequences such as visual and physical impairment.
