http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/15 2026-09-08T11:39:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1372 Barriers to School Inclusion for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Selected Mainstream Schools in Selected Areas of Dhaka District Akter, Sumaiya Background: Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often experience barriers to full participation in mainstream schools due to physical, social, and attitudinal environmental factors. Aim: The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the barriers to school inclusion for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in mainstream schools in selected areas of Dhaka District. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, quantitative research design. teachers who worked in mainstream schools in Savar, Dhamrai, and Keraniganj provided the data. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to choose the participants. Data were collected through a structured face-to-face survey using a sociodemographic and an adapted Index for Inclusion questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical (Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, and linear regression) were used to identify policy, cultural, and physical barriers. Results: It shows that 51.6% of teachers reported good levels of inclusion. But some, barriers such as lack of ADHD specific training and insufficient school resources were identified. Higher inclusion levels were significantly associated with adequate school resources (p = .001), teacher confidence, and ADHD specific training (p =.010). School location and type also showed significant differences, with government schools and schools in Dhamrai and Keraniganj reporting higher inclusion than private schools in Savar (p < .001). Conclusion: The study emphasizes the significance of focused strategies to improve inclusion for children with ADHD, including enhanced teacher training, improved resources, and reduction of environmental barriers. Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), school inclusion, barriers, mainstream school 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. 2025-02-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1371 Exploring Current Practices of Multidisciplinary Teams in Enhancing Sexual Function among People with Spinal Cord Injury at Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed Akther, Sumaiya Background: Sexual function is an essential part of overall health and quality of life. Every year around 800 to 1000 new SCI patients are seen in Bangladesh. After spinal cord injury (SCI), many individuals experience sexual dysfunction, which affects their physical, emotional, and marital well-being. In Bangladesh, sexual health is considered a sensitive and taboo topic, and as a result, sexual rehabilitation for SCI patients often receives little attention. Although multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) play an important role in SCI rehabilitation, there is limited evidence regarding their current practices in addressing sexual function at rehabilitation centers such as the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). Aim: The aim of this study was to explore current practices of multidisciplinary teams in enhancing sexual function among people with spinal cord injury at CRP. Methods: A qualitative research design was used for this study. Purposive sampling was used to choose eleven healthcare experts from various specialties, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors, nurses, and a psychologist. Face-to face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews under the direction of a self-developed interview guide were used to gather data. Braun and Clarke's six-step method for thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Eight themes were identified. These were: 1) Profession-specific and clinically diverse sexual rehabilitation practices within the multidisciplinary team; 2) Limited interdisciplinary integration and fragmented communication; 3) Systemic and organizational constraints in service delivery; 4) Gender-related communication barriers; 5) Sociocultural influences on sexual rehabilitation engagement; 6) Psychosocial, relational, and marital impacts of sexual dysfunction; 7) Gender disparities in sexual rehabilitation service utilization; and 8) Recommendations for strengthening sexual rehabilitation services. Discipline-specific interventions are used at CRP to provide sexual rehabilitation, but services are still dispersed because of poor MDT coordination and an excessive dependence on the psychologist. Important obstacles include inadequate organizational integration, a lack of a dedicated unit, inadequate equipment and medication and a lack of professional training. Male patients receive more care than female patients due to erectile dysfunction. Psychosocial and marital issues, such as fear of divorce and fertility issues are also brought on by sexual dysfunction. To improve services, participants suggested a specialized unit, better coordination, organized MDT training and stronger policy support. Conclusion: Sexual rehabilitation remains underdeveloped in SCI care in Bangladesh. Strengthening MDT collaboration, improving training, and establishing dedicated services, and supporting these efforts through appropriate health system and policy level initiatives are essential to enhance sexual health and overall quality of life for individuals with SCI. Key words: Spinal cord injury, Sexual function, Multidisciplinary team, Sexual rehabilitation, Qualitative study. 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. 2025-02-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1370 Lived Experience of Psychosocial Wellbeing among Caregivers of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Mim, Taslima Akter Background: Caregivers of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently experience substantial emotional distress, social challenges, physical exhaustion and disruptions in daily functioning due to the continuous demands of caregiving. While caregiver burden and psychological distress have been widely documented in existing literature, psychosocial well-being conceptualized as a holistic lived experience encompassing emotional, social, physical and occupational dimensions remains comparatively underexplored. This gap is particularly evident within the sociocultural context of Bangladesh, where caregiving experiences may be shaped by unique familial, cultural and systemic factors. Aim: The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of caregivers of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, focusing on their psychosocial wellbeing, daily challenges and coping strategies to help inform supportive interventions. Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to explore caregivers’ lived experiences. The study sample comprised 11 purposively selected primary caregivers of children aged 6–12 years who were enrolled in six special schools and therapy centers in Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi structured interviews conducted between August and September 2025. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and subsequently translated into English. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework to systematically identify, analyze and interpret patterns within the data. Results: The analysis has found six themes: (1) Daily life interruption and caregiver health; (2) Psychological and emotional burden of caregiving; (3) Social experiences of caregiving; (4) Economic strain and occupational disruption; (5) Child independence as a source of hope and fear; and (6) Support needs, coping mechanisms, spirituality and psychosocial well-being. The results reveal that raising an ADHD child has a significant psychosocial effect on the caregiver, which affects the physical, emotional, and social functioning and occupations. Caregivers explained the constant disturbances of their everyday life, increased mental suffering and social difficulties, as well as financial and work stress. The issues related to the future independence of the child influenced the emotional experience of caregivers, whereas faith, peer support and personal adaptation proved to be influential coping resources. Nevertheless, restricted access to coordinated and caregiver-oriented formal services continued to be a huge impediment to the long-term wellbeing of caregivers. Conclusion: Raising a child with ADHD has significant psychosocial impacts on the wellbeing of caregivers, as it influences the wellbeing in emotional, social, physical and occupational levels. ADHD services based on the family-centered cultural responsiveness, incorporating caregiver mental health screening, psychoeducation, peer support, service coordination and community-level reduction of stigma are necessary to promote the wellbeing of the caregiver and maintain long-term ability to provide care. Key Words: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Caregivers, Lived Experiences, Psychosocial Wellbeing, Coping Strategies. 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. 2025-02-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1369 Exploring the Physical, Psychological and Social Well-being of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury through Participation in Wheelchair Basketball: A Qualitative Study Akter, Sumaia Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to long-term physical limitations, reduced independence in daily activities, psychological distress, and social exclusion. Adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball may support holistic well-being; however, context-specific evidence from Bangladesh especially from rehabilitation based settings remains limited. Aim: To explore how participation in wheelchair basketball contributes to the physical, psychological and social well-being of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and how environmental contexts shape their participation Methods: A phenomenological qualitative research design was used to understand lived experiences of WB participation among individuals with SCI. Twelve wheelchair basketball players with SCI were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted at CRP (and other mutually convenient locations) and analysed using inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six steps. Results: Four overarching themes emerged: (i) Embodied physical transformation through wheelchair basketball, (ii) Developing functional independence in daily activities, (iii) Psychological renewal and reconstruction of self, and (iv) Strengthened social connections, inclusion and environmental empowerment. Participants described improvements in endurance, strength, balance, wheelchair handling, transfer ability, confidence, identity reconstruction, coping and resilience, and stronger peer and family recognition. At the same time, they reported ongoing environmental and transportation barriers, particularly outside supportive institutional settings. Conclusion: Participation in wheelchair basketball was perceived to support holistic well-being among individuals with SCI across physical, functional, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Nevertheless, persistent accessibility and transportation challenges may limit equitable participation beyond institutional environments. These findings support integrating wheelchair basketball within rehabilitation and strengthening environmental supports to sustain participation and community inclusion. Key words: Spinal cord injury (SCI), Wheelchair basketball, Adaptive sports, Physical fitness, Functional independence, Psychological well-being, Social inclusion 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. 2025-02-17T00:00:00Z