A Comparative Analysis on Health Status of Residential Students of Madrasa in Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh 2.4 million students are studying in madrasa. Life style of residential madrasa students has an impact on their health and disease pattern. The main objective of this study was to find out the living parameters related to their development of health and disease pattern, their knowledge about sanitation and other health regards. They did not get nutritional diet (more than 70% do not get enough protein). High meal skipping tendency was found from the study. As a good number of students were unconscious of hygiene and sanitation practice and had a habit of junk food intake (highest in Dhaka 83%) most of them suffered from various kinds of diseases like GI disorder, fever, common cold, skin infection on a regular basis (77%). Majority of the students knew about their health service right (76%). They were deprived of regular physical exercise and sports due to not having playground facilities in most of the institution (highest facilities in Chittagong 71.50%). Accommodation facilities provided by the institution were not very satisfactory. Moreover most of the students faced sanitation problem due to less number of toilet and lack of clean toilet. Most of the institutions did not have healthcare professional (worst scenario was found in Rajshahi). Students were deprived of entertainment which may inhibit their mental development. But it was found that most of the students were happy to stay in the institution (more than 90%). Overall findings suggest that both the students and the madrasa authority were not conscious about the health of the students. Steps should be taken to provide the students better health guide and improved facilities to live a healthy life.