http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr <p>Bangladesh Journal of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation is the official publication of the Bangladesh Occupational Therapy Association. The aim is to promote evidence-based practice in occupational therapy and disability rehabilitation in Bangladesh and globally. Bangladesh Journal of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation publishes research articles, reviews, case studies, letters to the editor, and professional news.</p> <p>Submissions covering a wide range of topics on occupational therapy, disability, and rehabilitation from researchers and practitioners across all disciplines working in the field are encouraged. The journal is now published in the months of October. However, articles are accepted around the year.</p> <p><strong>Submission of manuscripts: </strong>Authors are requested to submit their manuscripts electronically to the Executive Editor, Md. Shamim Miah at <a href="mailto:shamimot@yahoo.com">shamimot@yahoo.com&nbsp;</a></p> Bangladesh Occupational Therapy Association (BOTA) en-US Bangladesh Journal of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation 2519-092X http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/12 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a devastating paediatric condition that causes severe motor-sensory impairment,activity limitation, and participation restriction. Children with CP need therapeutic interventions including parentalor caregiver education from a multidisciplinary team to optimize their child’s motor skills, independence, andparticipation in daily life and the community. The Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed offers children withCP and their caregivers a comprehensive two-week residential multi-disciplinary therapy program. The purpose ofthis study is to explore the outcome of this program on Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) and onthe abilities of the child (sitting, standing, walking, hand use and communication).<strong>Methods:</strong> Parental KAP and improvement in the child’s functioning were assessed through pre and post-programevaluation using questionnaires and observation instruments (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory,Caregivers’ Assistant Scale) and five-point Likert scale. Data were obtained from 110 caregivers and 110 childrenwith cerebral palsy.<strong>Results:</strong> Most children (90%) in this program appeared to be older than 2 years, and 6 children were older than9 years. None of the children have had rehab before. Knowledge of caregivers regarding e.g., access to school,environmental modifications, food and daily stimulation needed for children with CP enhanced from pre-program10-20% ‘correct’ answers to post-program 80-100% ‘correct’ answers. Attitude: ‘regularly’ playing with a child,singing and telling stories, taking a child out, giving the child different kinds of food and toys: at pre-program allbelow 20%changed to 70-80% post-program ‘regularly’ done. Practice: pre-program &lt;30% ‘correctly showed’ howto carry the child, feed, dress and undress, wash/bath the child and give objects in its hands; post-program 80% andmore ‘correct’ handling.<strong>Conclusion:</strong> All children showed significant improvements in functioning within these two weeks of the program.Therefore, it was found that the two-week in-patient program is highly effective for parental KAP and for improvingthe functional and motor abilities of children with cerebral palsy.</p> Sk. Moniruzzaman Dorine van Ravensberg Md. Shamim Miah Md. Shahjahan Copyright (c) 2017 2017-01-01 2017-01-01 1 2 50 61 http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/13 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the conditions which are used to describe painful ordisabling injuries to the muscles, tendons or nerves caused or aggravated by work. Workers with low back painexperience different types of symptoms like pain, stiffness, burning, numbness or tingling which persevere for morethan 1 week or may influence their work performance.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted among102 cutting section workers by usingpurposive samplingfrom the Talisman limited and Dhaka Export Processing Zone,.The data were collected by faceto face interview though Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine the prevalence and associationbetween musculoskeletal symptoms and socio-demographic factors and also to identify associated risk factors ofmusculoskeletal symptoms among the respective garment’s workers. The collected data was entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version, 17.0.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The study showed 96.07% of respondents reported regarding musculoskeletal symptoms troubled them inone or more body regions during the past 12 months. Among the symptom, wrist was the area with the highestprevalence of musculoskeletal symptom (95.2%), followed by shoulder (37.5%), lower back (67.3%), ankle/feet(91.6%), knee (84.6%), thigh (55.5%), upper back (60.6%) and elbow (38.4%). Most of the (96.07%) of participantshad an associated risk factor. Musculoskeletal disorders are a common problem among garments workers. Workers have a risk of developing WMSDs due to theirpoor working setting, repetition and awkward.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Appropriate workplace modification and ergonomic intervention should be applied in these sectors toprevent musculoskeletal symptoms.</p> Moutushi Kabir Sk. Moniruzzaman Shamima Akter Copyright (c) 2017 1 2 93 98 http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/14 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Lack of training of caregivers has a great negative impact on manual handling for the person withdisabilities, and it has raised a burning question at present. In Bangladesh, family members can play a vital rolein caring, whereas recover performance is demanding. It is a big challenge for caregivers to consider physical andmental effort for a person with disabilities.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Total 118 caregivers were recruited. The study was carried out in the outdoor neurology unit, Departmentof Occupational Therapy of CRP, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A purposive sampling technique and pre-tested structuredquestionnaire were used for data collection. Face-to-face interviews were taken with obtaining informed consent.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> About 44.1% caregivers always faced awkward posture, whereas 41.5% faced persistent repetitive handmovement during manual handling. Around one third (33.05%) felt back pain who cared for less than 2 years, while17.79% had hand pain for more than 2 years. Within this period, 41.52% always felt mental overtiredness, whereas31.36 % often felt physical exhaustion, which was statistically significant at P&lt; 0.05level.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Awkward posture and persistent repetitive hand movements were the key problems of caregivers.Mental exhaustion was higher than physical exhaustion during the manual handling of a person with disabilities.</p> Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Md. Shamim Miah Sarmin Sultana Salim Rahman Copyright (c) 1 2 62 68 http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/15 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> People with spinal cord injury may come to rely on family and face many difficulties due to theirdependence on assistive devices and daily living activities. They may face many problems, such as financialstruggles, inaccessible work environments, physical limitations and negative attitudes of others. Centre for theRehabilitation of the Paralysed is a non-government organization which specially treats and rehabilitates peoplewith Spinal Cord Injuries to ensure equal opportunities and improve the quality of life in Bangladesh.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Based on the above-mentioned circumstances, this study was designed to identify the specific challengingfactors for people with paraplegia in their engagement with work after receiving vocational training from CRP. Todetermine the physical, environmental and financial challenges and make recommendations on how to managethe challenges, this study was carried out using the Qualitative method of grounded theory and using purposiveconvenience sampling at the community setting.</p> <p>Results: The results suggest that people with paraplegia face many challenges in performing their job in thecommunity. These include: i) pain and weakness on different affected sides of the body ii) roads when travelling toand from home to work iii) seasonal poor road conditions to reach the main road from house iv) Financial problemsand v) negative comments from both people in the general community and people with Spinal Cord Injuries.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> People with paraplegia will be able to implement their vocational training in the community, effectivelyand successfully, if challenging factors are identified and their corresponding recommendations are considered.</p> Sarmin Sultana Md. Julker Nayan Copyright (c) 1 2 77 85 http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/16 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition around the world. AfterSCI a person’s body and life normally change, people then begin to understand the impact of disability in their dailyfunctioning. Occupational therapists commonly implement the activity training in the early phase of rehabilitationin order to promote independence.</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> This study focused on exploring the experiences of complete paraplegic wheelchair users about theiractivities of daily living at home environment. Face-to-face, semi-structured interview with open-ended questionnaireswere used as the method of qualitative data collection among the complete paraplegic wheelchair users who hadsuccessfully completed rehabilitation program from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed.</p> <p><strong>Result:</strong> From the content analysis, the emerged results are seen that different physical, environmental and personalfactors influence participants’ activities of daily living in their own community. Some factors influence dressingactivity such as difficulty in moving due to lower limb paralysis, not being able to obtain clothes due to narrowroom space. It was also found that they reported lack of accessibility in bathroom for bathing activity, requiringhelp from others to bring the water and clothes. In addition, factors for toileting activity such as poor water supplysystem, sometimes dehydration problem. Maximum participant of the study completed their activities of dailyliving independently by following different strategies. For example, some participants changed the structure of thebedroom to dress easily, others made a slope to enter the room or toilet, and someone uses tube pot in the wheelchairfor defecation.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Occupational Therapists have an important role for people with paraplegia in managing their activitiesof daily living at their home. This study conclusion will primarily be helpful for the occupational therapists andpeople with paraplegia wheelchair users.</p> Luthfun Nahar Md. Julker Nayan Rakib Husain Yeasmin Sultana Nipa4 Copyright (c) 1 2 86 92 http://bjotr.com/index.php/bjotr/article/view/17 <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>B</strong><strong>ackground:</strong> Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling mental disorder that causes serious consequences forthose with illness, as well as those who care for them. It has significant physical, emotional and socio-economicconsequence for those with the condition as well as their families. It poses several challenges in its management andhave significant burden to the patient as well as on the caregiver. Caregivers’ burden is a complex issue. Shiftingburden of care from hospital to caregiver, families, and on society is direct and indirect. Burden on caregiver ismore defined by its impacts and consequences. The aim of the study was to investigate the level of burden on thecaregivers of persons with Schizophrenia (PWS).</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> A cross-sectional survey of 121 caregivers of schizophrenia patients was carried out. Participants wereselected from the National Institute of Mental Health. Zarit Burden Interview was used to collect information oncaregivers’ burden.</p> <p><strong>Result:</strong> The study found that majority of the caregivers (63.6%) of person with schizophrenia experienced moderateto severe level of burden. Most of the caregivers (63.6%) faced moderate to severe burden in the relationship(65.3%), emotional wellbeing (57.9%), social and family life (42.1%), finances (38.8%) and loss of control overone’s life (63.6%). Caregivers’ burden level was significantly associated with some demographic characteristics:Sex (P &lt;0.001), relationship with patient (P &lt;0.001), care giving duration (P &lt;0.03). Female caregivers who werehousewives or mother of the PWS and were taking care of the patients for a long duration exhibit severe burden.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Occupational therapists have an important role to promote a better social and psychological support forensuring improved quality of life of caregiver and as well as PWS.Therefore, it is recommended that occupationaltherapy program for PWS also target their caregivers.</p> Md. Safayeter Rahman Nazmun Nahar Copyright (c) 1 2 69 76