Dissertations Paper

Experiences regarding the Reintegration of Adolescents with Mental Illness after Completing Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment: a qualitative study

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Experiences regarding the Reintegration of Adolescents with Mental Illness after Completing Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment: a qualitative study Sarker, Anushree; Biswas, Aritri Background: Reintegration into family, school, and community life following mental health treatment is a critical yet insufficiently studied phase for adolescents. In low resource contexts such as Bangladesh, stigma, limited mental health literacy, and inadequate follow-up services may hinder sustained recovery and functional participation. Evidence regarding adolescents’ lived reintegration experiences remains scarce. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore adolescent experiences regarding the reintegration of adolescents with mental illness after completing comprehensive mental health treatment. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted. Eight adolescents aged 13–18 years who had recently completed treatment at a specialized mental health service were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to face, semi-structured in-depth interviews using a researcher-developed guide informed by literature and expert review. Results: The findings indicated that adolescents initially experienced emotional relief and stabilization after treatment; academic and cognitive strain during school re-entry; social stigma, fear of judgment, and withdrawal, and ambivalent family support functioning as both facilitator and barrier. Although participants valued structured therapeutic environments, many struggled to sustain progress when returning to everyday contexts. Conclusion: This study shows that reintegration is a dynamic and complex process requiring continued psychosocial and environmental support beyond discharge. Family-inclusive planning, school-based mental health services, and structured follow up programs are essential to promote sustained recovery and meaningful participation among adolescents in Bangladesh. Keywords: Reintegration, Adolescents, Mental illness, Occupational therapy, Mental health services, Bangladesh This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Navigating cultural context barrier faced by children with cerebral palsy: parent’s perspective

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Navigating cultural context barrier faced by children with cerebral palsy: parent’s perspective Fima, Anika Tahsin Background: Although cerebral palsy (CP) is medically well defined, the lived experiences of affected children and their families in low and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh are strongly influenced by cultural beliefs, stigma, and limited resources. CP is frequently attributed to fate, divine punishment, or past sins, contributing to blame, shame, and social exclusion. These misconceptions often delay professional care and restrict access to rehabilitation services, while financial hardship and low awareness further limit long-term support. Aim: To explore cultural beliefs and contextual barriers faced by families of children with CP in Bangladesh and to examine how these factors influence caregiving practices and access to treatment and rehabilitation. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted. Nineteen primary caregivers of children diagnosed with CP were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected via three focus group discussions conducted at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Bangladesh. Discussions lasted 30–35 minutes and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) misconceptions and knowledge gaps regarding CP; (2) cultural and religious influences on healthcare decision-making; (3) family and social dynamics shaping caregiving practices; and (4) structural and functional barriers to care and participation. Key subthemes included misunderstandings about CP causes and prognosis, reliance on spiritual or traditional treatments, influence of elders in decision-making, gendered caregiving responsibilities, social stigma, financial constraints, environmental inaccessibility, and limitations in daily participation. Conclusion: Cultural beliefs, stigma, family pressure, and socioeconomic barriers significantly affect access to care and participation for children with CP in Bangladesh, increasing caregiver burden particularly for mothers. Culturally responsive rehabilitation strategies, caregiver education, and community awareness initiatives are essential to reduce misconceptions, promote early intervention, and strengthen family centered care. Further research across diverse regions is recommended to inform inclusive service development. Keywords: Cerebral palsy; cultural beliefs; healthcare barriers; stigma; caregivers; Bangladesh; rehabilitation; social inclusion. This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Level of Self-Esteem and Its Relationship to Academic Performance among Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students in Bangladesh.

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Level of Self-Esteem and Its Relationship to Academic Performance among Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students in Bangladesh. Mithila, Afrina Jaman Background: Self-esteem is how much a person values and believes in themselves has a strong impact on academic success, mental health, and future career growth, especially for students in healthcare-related fields and academic performance is the outcome of education is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goal. Limited research has explored self-esteem level and relationship between self –esteem level and academic performance particularly in settings like Bangladesh. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess self-esteem level and its relationship to academic performance students in Bangladesh. among undergraduate Occupational Therapy Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study design was employed with data collected from 253 occupational therapy Students using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale .Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, chi-square and fisher’s exact test to identify associations and relationship between self-esteem level and academic performance .Used SPSS version 27 to identify associations. Results: The result show self-esteem level among Occupational Therapy Students in Bangladesh.Among the 253 participants 75.9% students was normal level , 18.6% students was low level and 5.5% students was high level of self -esteem. Significant show with family member but other sociodemographic variable are not significant with self-esteem level. Statistically significant association (p<0.002) were found between Self-esteem level and institute. There is no statistically significant relationship between the self-esteem level and academic performance. Conclusion: This study found the self-esteem level and its relationship with academic performance among undergraduate Occupational Therapy students in Bangladesh. Most students reported normal self-esteem, while a smaller proportion showed low or high levels .Statistically significant association was found between self-esteem levels and family member and Institute. For low self-esteem students , institutional counseling services, confidence-building workshops, and peer support programs are recommended to improve their psychological well-being and professional development. The study provides valuable insights into the mental and academic profiles of OT students in Bangladesh and opens pathways for future research. Key Words: Self-esteem ,academic performance, undergraduate, Occupational Therapy. This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Level of Spiritual Attitude and Involvement among Stroke Survivors: A Quantitative Study

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Level of Spiritual Attitude and Involvement among Stroke Survivors: A Quantitative Study Siddique, Abubakar Background: Spirituality has been widely acknowledged as an important factor in helping individuals cope with long-term illness. For stroke survivors, spiritual beliefs, meaningful activities, and inner reflection often contribute to improved emotional balance, acceptance, and overall well-being. Earlier studies have shown that spirituality can enhance hope, strengthen coping abilities, and provide a sense of purpose during rehabilitation. Considering this, understanding how stroke survivors experience spiritual attitudes and spiritual involvement is essential for supporting holistic recovery. Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of spiritual attitude and involvement among stroke survivors and to examine how these aspects are associated with their sociodemographic characteristics. Method: The study used a cross-sectional quantitative design and convenience sampling technique applied to conduct face to face survey. Data were collected from 110 stroke survivors who received rehabilitation services. A structured sociodemographic and the standardised questionnaire Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List (SAIL) were used as measurement tools. The data was analyzed using the SPSS 20 version for analysis. Results: The findings shows that the majority of participants were male (74.5%), with a median age of 50 years. Among all spiritual domains, connectedness with nature showed the highest mean score (M = 5.48, SD = ±0.53), followed by acceptance (M = 4.87, SD = ±0.63) and caring for Others (M = 4.55, SD = ±0.57). Transcendent Experiences presented the lowest mean (M=3.03, SD=±0.71). Significant associations were observed between connectedness with nature and age (P = .012), dependency level (P = .001), religion (p = .003), and living area (P = .015). Acceptance and caring for others were also linked with dependency level and marital status, while spiritual activities were associated with treatment duration (P = .012). Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that stroke survivors primarily express spirituality through nature connection, emotional acceptance, caring for others, and regular spiritual activities, whereas deeper transcendental experiences appear less common. It may therefore be concluded that incorporating spiritual components into rehabilitation programs could play a valuable role in enhancing coping, emotional resilience, and overall quality of life among stroke survivors. Key Words: Spirituality, Occupational Therapy, Stroke survivor This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.