Azaz Bin Sharif

Dr. Azaz Bin Sharif

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 May 2023 in Frontiers in Psychiatry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
IJIshrat Jahan
Ishrat Jahan
ASAzaz Bin Sharif
Azaz Bin Sharif
AHA. B. M. Nahid Hasan
A. B. M. Nahid Hasan
Introduction: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Owing to poor suicide literacy, people are not aware of the consequences of the suicide stigma, which may affect individuals. This study aimed to examine the status of suicide stigma and literacy among young adults in Bangladesh.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 616 male subjects and female subjects residing in Bangladesh aged between 18 and 35 years who were invited to complete an online survey. Suicide literacy and suicide stigma among the respondents were assessed by using the validated Literacy of Suicide Scale and Stigma of Suicide Scale, respectively. Other independent variables that have been found to affect suicide stigma or literacy were included in this study based on prior research. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between the study's main quantitative variables. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess factors affecting suicide stigma and suicide literacy, respectively, after controlling for covariates.Results: The mean literacy score was 3.86. The participants' mean scores in the stigma, isolation, and glorification subscale were 25.15, 14.48, and 9.04, respectively. Suicide literacy was negatively associated with stigmatizing attitudes (p = 0.005). Male subjects, unmarried/divorced/widowed, less educated (below HSC), smokers, less exposure to suicide, and respondents with chronic mental illness had lower suicide literacy and more stigmatizing attitudes.Conclusion: The findings suggest that addressing suicide literacy and stigma by developing and executing awareness programs on suicide and mental health among young adults may increase knowledge, decrease stigma, and hence prevent suicide among this population.

11 December 2023 in PLOS Global Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHA. B. M. Nahid Hasan
A. B. M. Nahid Hasan
ASAzaz Bin Sharif
Azaz Bin Sharif
IJIshrat Jahan
Ishrat Jahan
MBMosammat Rashida Begum
Mosammat Rashida Begum
Infertility poses significant physical and psychological challenges for women of reproductive age. In low- and middle-income countries, the prevalence of depression among infertile women is alarmingly high, reaching 44.32%. Additionally, over 50% of infertile women worldwide experience varying degrees of decline in their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of infertility on the mental health status and quality of life of infertile women in Bangladesh. Between December 2022 and March 2023, 375 infertile women in Dhaka, Bangladesh were selected using simple random sampling for this cross-sectional study. The participants’ mental health status was assessed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), while their quality of life was evaluated by the Short Form-12 (SF-12) scale. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 59.7%, 55.0%, and 48.7%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression showed that infertile homemakers had 2.98 (95% CI: 1.30 to 6.80) times the odds of depression than government service holders. Aborted infertile women had 1.8 (95% CI: 1.10 to 3.26) times the odds of depression. Infertile women who married between 20 and 24 years old were 49% (95% CI: 0.27 to 0.98) less anxious than those who married earlier. Low-income infertile women (60,000 BDT). Multiple linear regression analysis suggests that education and infertility diagnosis status significantly affect the Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) scores of the Short Form-12 (SF-12). In contrast, age, occupation, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were the significant predictors for the Physical Component Summary (PCS-12). Policymakers may use lessons learned from this study to incorporate appropriate counseling techniques, social awareness campaigns, and media involvement to control the added burden of infertility on women’s psychological health and quality of life.

2 June 2023 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHA. B. M. Nahid Hasan
A. B. M. Nahid Hasan
ASAzaz Bin Sharif
Azaz Bin Sharif
IJIshrat Jahan
Ishrat Jahan
Insufficient physical activity and unhealthy lifestyle preferences have been significant concerns for decades. This study aimed to determine the perceived barriers to maintaining physical activity among adults in three major cities of Bangladesh and their association with mental health status. This is a cross-sectional study where 400 participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Twenty municipal wards were randomly selected from three cities, followed by a convenient selection of the study participants from each ward. Questionnaires about perceived physical activity barriers were developed based on previously published literature. The DASS-21 scale assessed the mental health status of the study participants. Descriptive statistics were applied to narrate the baseline characteristics of the respondents. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check the normality of the perceived physical activity scores. Quantile regression analysis was applied to model the physical activity barrier scores depending on several covariates. Five quantiles were used: the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant for hypothesis testing. Among the respondents, 68.50% were male, half of them were married, 68.0% belonged to nuclear families, 48.0% completed graduate level education, 34.25% were service holders, one-third of the respondent's working hours were 6–8 h, and 19.50% belongs to the overweight and obese groups. Poor traffic and construction work near the road (60.30%) was seen as the most significant barrier to physical activity. Over half of the respondents stated that lack of time, facilities, and expenses hinder physical activity. Mental health status reported mild to extremely severe levels of depression (32%), anxiety (47%), and stress (42.50%), respectively. Significant associations between the perceived physical activity scores and gender, family type, occupation, income, BMI, anxiety, and depression were obtained. Ensuring a safe environment, facilitating accessibility and availability of low-cost exercise facilities, improving road and traffic conditions, and providing appropriate mental health counseling may help to mitigate physical activity barriers.

27 February 2024 in Journal of Migration and Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SRShakkor Rahman
Shakkor Rahman
AHA.B.M. Nahid Hasan
A.B.M. Nahid Hasan
IJIshrat Jahan
Ishrat Jahan
ASAzaz Bin Sharif
Azaz Bin Sharif
The Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) residing in refugee camps face various health challenges, including a rising prevalence of scabies, exacerbated by overcrowded conditions and limited healthcare access. This study aims to assess scabies prevalence, clinical features, and environmental factors among FDMNs, aiding interventions and recommendations for better health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 in six camps of Teknaf/Ukhia Cox's Bazar. Using a multistage sampling technique, 12 blocks were identified, and FDMNs seeking healthcare services from Primary Health Care posts were invited to participate in the study. Participants were adults, and children who volunteered to participate in this study. Scabies diagnosis was based on clinical examinations of exposed body areas by trained health professionals. Data on sociodemographic factors, environmental risk factors, and scabies symptoms were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression models to explore associations between scabies infection and other explanatory factors. A total of 679 FDMNs participated in the study, with a mean age of 29.13 years. Overall, 66.42 % of participants were diagnosed with scabies. Age, marital status, history of scabies infection, previous skin infection, family history of scabies and skin infection, floor type, pet animal, dust exposure, and seasonal exposure were significantly associated with the scabies infection. Binary logistic regression suggested that having history of scabies infection (OR 3.98, 95 % CI: 1.86 to 8.49, p < 0.001), skin infection (OR 2.46, 95 % CI: 1.32 to 4.58, p = 0.004), having family history of scabies infection (OR 3.06, 95 % CI: 1.29 to 7.23, p = 0.011), family history of skin infection (OR 27.41, 95% CI: 14.46 to 51.97, P < 0.001), having contact with street animal (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.27 to 3.66, P = 0.004), and winter season (OR 3.33, 95 % CI: 1.89 to 5.87, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with scabies infection. Tailored public health measures targeting hygiene, living conditions, and animal contact can mitigate the spread of scabies, particularly among vulnerable groups like Rohingya refugees, necessitating collaboration between stakeholders.

21 March 2024 in PLOS ONE
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHAhmed Hossain
Ahmed Hossain
SCSyed Sharaf Ahmed Chowdhury
Syed Sharaf Ahmed Chowdhury
MMMasum Mahbub
Masum Mahbub
MKMahmuda Khan
Mahmuda Khan
TRTaifur Rahman
Taifur Rahman
MAMohamad Alameddine
Mohamad Alameddine
Background: Bangladesh’s islands, because of their geographical location, frequently encounter crises like floods and river erosion, which pose significant threats to the residents’ well-being and livelihoods. To delve into the effects of these disasters on livelihood and healthcare challenges, a mixed-method study was undertaken in a riverine-island near a major river of Bangladesh. Methodology: Between February 15th and February 28th, 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted on an island in Bangladesh. The quantitative method involved conducting a survey of 442 households, with a total of 2921 participants. Additionally, 10 in-depth interviews and 10 key-informant interviews were conducted using semi-structured guidelines. Qualitative interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis. Triangulation was employed in this study through the integration of qualitative and quantitative analysis, resulting in the presentation of findings that offer an in-depth comprehension of the phenomenon being investigated. Results: River erosions and floods are common and recurring natural disasters that significantly impact the lives of the riverine island inhabitants. These disasters often disrupted their livelihoods, forced many residents to endure substandard living conditions or relocated during flood events. The island faced a low diagnostic prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., 5.1% of adults were hypertension and 2.5% are diabetes) because of the absence of diagnostic facilities and a shortage of certified doctors. A significant number of chronic illness people in the community turned to alternative medicine sources (39.3%) such as homeopathy, Kabiraj, and Ayurvedic medicine, especially it gets increased during periods of natural disasters. Moreover, reproductive aged women revealed that 79.4% of them gave birth at home, with 6.0% of these home deliveries resulting in miscarriage or infant death. The destruction of crops, unstable job opportunities, an inadequate educational system, and a deficient healthcare delivery system exacerbated the hardships faced by the population affected by these disasters. Conclusion: The failure to seek treatment for chronic diseases and undiagnosed diseases is a significant health issue among the aging adults on the island. Island residents face the challenge of establishing effective prevention strategies for the well-being of older adults especially at the period of natural disasters. It is crucial for the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to collaborate to prevent the negative effects of floods and river erosions. This should include efforts to enhance the quality of education, healthcare services, job opportunities, and financial assistance for rebuilding homes.

21 July 2023 in Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MIMohammad Azmain Mbbs Iktidar
Mohammad Azmain Mbbs Iktidar
RARifat Ara
Rifat Ara
SRSimanta Mbbs Roy
Simanta Mbbs Roy
MAMashrur Mbbs Ahmed
Mashrur Mbbs Ahmed
SCSreshtha Mbbs Chowdhury
Sreshtha Mbbs Chowdhury
ASAzaz Bin Sharif
Azaz Bin Sharif
Health professionals and medical students are at increased risk of the imposter phenomenon (IP) in other words, the imposter syndrome, due to the challenging nature of their professions. It is particularly concerning since it is linked to a higher incidence of burnout and suicidal ideation. We must first thoroughly grasp its prevalence and associated factors to address this issue. However, no published review of the data includes a meta-analysis to help understand the character and associated factors of IP among medical workers and medical students. This study aims to investigate IP prevalence and risk factors among healthcare personnel. Five online databases will be searched for papers published in English between January 2000 and December 2022, and 2 independent reviewers will filter, select studies, extract data, and evaluate the risk of bias in each piece. The retrieved articles will be included based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. A third reviewer will decide on any disagreements between the 2 reviewers. Where appropriate, a meta-analysis will be conducted using the random-effects model. The heterogeneity of the studies will be examined, and a sensitivity analysis will be done depending on the study quality. The purpose of this review is to determine the prevalence and risk factors for IP among healthcare personnel. The review’s findings will emphasize the severity and contributing factors of the problem, therefore guiding policy for future actions.