Altered Pulmonary Function among the Transport Workers in Dhaka City

Motor vehicular exhaust is threatening to human health in Dhaka city. To find out the extent of respiratory problem among a particular cadre of transport workers, the human hauler helpers (HHH) of Dhaka city, we conducted a cross sectional study from March 2006 to June 2006. We enrolled 108 HHH from Mirpur to Mohakhali and Gabtoli to Mohakhali routes and collected data using a pre tested questionnaire including interview and physical examination. The pulmonary functions of the participants were measured with electronic spirometer. Among the participants with current respiratory problems 69% complained of gradual increase in respiratory problems and 38% gave history of feeling better on weekly holidays. Occurrence of hoarseness of voice (90%) and wheeze (71%) was extremely high among the helpers followed by cough (50%) and nasal irritation (50%). Spirometry showed 41.7% had obstructive and 4.6% had combined features of pulmonary impairment. Logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who worked 24 months or more were 6.9 times more likely to develop respiratory problem than the less exposed group (OR 6.9;95% CI 3.42, 8.41). This study provides new information on respiratory health of a specific group of transport workers in Dhaka city which warrants further evaluation with a representing sample covering other areas of Dhaka city among all transport workers.

Weight Gain in Malnourished Children after 5 Months Food Supplementation in a Slum Setting in Bangladesh

We examined the rate of weight gain and absolute weight gain of underweight children (weight- for-age Z score < -2) aged between 6 - 24 months living in a slum of Dhaka city, in response to two different regimens of supplementary feeding. Comparison was also made with the weight gain of a healthy group of children from the same locality. In total 161 children, including 68 healthy children representing the control group, were enrolled for the 5 months supplementation. The two regimens of feeding were either ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF, Plumpy’Nut) or locally made cereal-based supplementary food Pushti packet which was recommended in the National Nutritional Program. No food supplementation was provided to control children. All children received vitamin A as part of the six-monthly national program, albendazole for deworming, immunization, and health and nutrition education. Multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) was provided only to Pushti packet and control children. The rate of weight gain on RUTF was 1.69 g/kg/day during the first month and gradually declined to 0.9 g/kg/day at the final month of the trial, whereas, the rate of weight gain on Pushti packet was 0.77 g/kg/day during the first month declining to 0.70 g/kg/day at the end of the trial. Rate of weight gain in the control group was steady between 0.47 - 0.50 g/kg/day. Absolute weight gains of 1085 g, 790 g and 730 g were observed in the RUTF, Pushti packet and the control groups, respectively which were significantly higher in the RUTF group. There was no statistically significant difference between the RUTF and Pushti packet groups in terms of rate of weight gain. Overall, weight gain was unsatisfactory for both supplementation groups. Better absolute weight gain was observed with RUTF supplementation compared to Pushti packet which prevented further deterioration in weight among the malnourished children.