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Kaosar Afsana, PhD

Professor

Dr Kaosar Afsana is a Professor at James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University, Bangladesh. She had served BRAC in Bangladesh for over 26 years and completed her tenure as the Director, BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme. Dr Afsana has started to work for BRAC JPGSPH since its inception in 2004 and became Professor in 2011. She is an MD with an MPH from Harvard University, USA and PhD from Edith Cowan University, Australia. She has been honoured with many prestigious awards for her academic achievements and contribution to maternal and child health and women’s empowerment. Dr Afsana has authored books and widely published papers in journals and books. She represents BRAC JPGSPH and BRAC at national and global levels playing a critical role in policy-making and planning and providing technical guidance, particularly, in sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health and nutrition and health system strengthening.

James P Grant School of Public Health

Address

5th Floor, (Level-6) I icddr,b Building I 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani Mohakhali
Dhaka 1212 I Bangladesh

+880-2-9827501-4 Ext 6050
kaosar.afsana@gmail.com


Scopus Author Profile
ORCID
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  • Education

    +–

    • PhD in Public Health
    2003 Edith Cowan University, Western Australia (Thesis Title: Power, Knowledge and Childbirth Practices: An Ethnographic Exploration in Bangladesh)

    • MPH in International Health
    1997 Harvard School of Pubic Health, Massachusetts, USA

    • MBBS
    1983 Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

  • Publications

    +–

    Selected Publications

    Books

    Afsana, K. (2005). Disciplining birth: Power, knowledge and childbirth practices in Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited (UPL). Retrieved from http://www.uplbooks.com/book/disciplining-birth-power-knowledge-and-childbirth-practices-bangladesh

    Afsana, K., & Rashid, S. F. (2000). Discoursing birthing care: Experiences from Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited (UPL). Retrieved from http://www.uplbooks.com/book/discoursing-birthing-care-experiences-bangladesh

    Book Chapters

    Afsana, K. (2020). Heard and hard reality of maternal health: Are we oversimplifying the challenges in Bangladesh? In E. J. Flatt, V. S. Murali, & S. Tieri (Eds.), Voices on South Asia: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Women’s Status, Challenges and Futures (pp. 297–321). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811213267_0015

    Ahmed, S. M., Afsana, K., Islam, A., & Ahmed, F. (2016). Reaching healthcare to grassroots. In M. Hossain, S. N. Kairy, & A. Bayes (Eds.), Driving development: A story of BRAC’s evolution and effectiveness (1st ed.). Dhaka: The University Press Limited (UPL).

     Afsana, K. (2016). Maternal, neonatal and child health. In M. Hossain, S. N. Kairy, & A. Bayes (Eds.), Driving development: A story of BRAC’s evolution and effectiveness (pp. 1–356). Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited (UPL).

    Afsana, K. (2016). Tracking progress toward health and equity through the Millenium Development Goals – lessons for public health surveillance. In S. McNabb, J Mark Conde, L. Ferland, W. MacWright, Z. A. Memish, S. Okutani, … V. Singh (Eds.), Transforming public health surveillance in the 21st century: Proactive measures for prevention, detection and response (pp. 385–398). Elsevier.

    Afsana, K., Rashid, S. F., Islam, K. F., & Hashim, P. (2015). Health care in urban slums of Bangladesh: Taking services at the doorsteps of the poor. In S. M. Ahmed, K. F. Islam, & A. Bhuiya (Eds.), Bangladesh health watch report 2014: Urban health scenario: Looking beyond 2015 (pp. 21–30). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Health Watch.

    Murphy, J., Neufeld, V. R., Habte, D., Aseffa, A., Afsana, Kaosar, Kumar, A., … Hatfield, J. (2013). Ethical considerations of global health partnerships. In A. D. Pinto & R. E. G. Upshur (Eds.), An Introduction to Global Health Ethics. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203082225

    Afsana, K. (2012). Empowering the community: BRAC’s approach in Bangladesh. In J. Hussein, A. McCaw-Binns, J. König, D. Romagnolo, & R. Webber (Eds.), Maternal and Perinatal Health in Developing Countries. United Kingdom: CABI International. Retrieved from https://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781845937454/?v=87a47565be47

    Afsana, K. (2011). Scaling up BRAC’s maternal, neonatal and child health interventions in Bangladesh. In R. A. Cash, A. M. R. Chowdhury, G. B. Smith, & F. Ahmed (Eds.), From one to many: Scaling up health programs in low income countries. Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited (UPL). Retrieved from http://www.uplbooks.com/book/one-many-scaling-health-programs-low-income-countries

    Afsana, K., & Rashid, S. F. (2009). Constructions of birth in Bangladesh. In H. Selin (Ed.), Childbirth across cultures: Ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum (pp. 123–135). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2599-9

    Afsana, K., & Rashid, S. F. (2007). Voice and Accountability. In The state of health in Bangladesh 2006 : Challenges of achieving equity in health (pp. 68–82). Dhaka, Bangladesh: James P Grant School of Public Health, Brac University.

    Afsana, K., & Rashid, S. F. (2003). A women-centred analysis of birthing care in a rural health centre in Bangladesh. In Access to quality gender sensitive health services (pp. 171–180). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women. Retrieved from https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/7545739/cover-and-table-of-contents-the-asian-pacific-resource-

    Journals

    Yunus, F. M., Jalal, C., Zello, G. A., Afsana, K., Vandenberg, A., & Dellavalle, D. M. (2021). Determination of an acceptable portion size of daal for a bangladeshi community-based iron intervention in adolescent girls: A feasibility study. Nutrients, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041080

    Jolly, S. P., Chowdhury, T. R., Rahman, M., Alam, A., & Afsana, K. (2020). Prevention of social exclusion and role of antenatal care by BRAC community health workers in improving safe motherhood and neonatal care in urban slums of Bangladesh. PLoS ONE, 15(7 July 2020). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235340

    Rodriguez-Martinez, A., Zhou, B., Sophiea, M. K., Bentham, J., Paciorek, C. J., Iurilli, M. L., … Ezzati, M. (2020). Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants. The Lancet, 396(10261), 1511–1524. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31859-6

    Quayyum, N. K., Routh, M. R., Rahman, D. M., & Afsana, K. (2019). Prevalence of multimorbidity among Bangladeshi adult population: A nationwide cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030886

    Todd, C. S., Chowdhury, Z., Mahmud, Z., Islam, N., Shabnam, S., Parvin, M., … Sanghvi, T. (2019). Maternal nutrition intervention and maternal complications in 4 districts of Bangladesh: A nested cross-sectional study. PLoS medicine, 16(10), e1002927. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002927

    Khanam, F., Hossain, M. B., Mistry, S. K., Afsana, K., & Rahman, M. (2019). Prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among Bangladeshi adults: Findings from a cross-sectional study. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 9(3), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.190531.001

    Yunus, F., Das, A., Jalal, C., Afsana, K., Podder, R., Vandenberg, A., … DellaValle, D. (2019). A community trial examining the effectiveness of iron-fortified lentils to improve iron status among Bangladeshi adolescent girls: Results from a baseline survey (P10-099-19). Current Developments in Nutrition, 3(Supplement_1). https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz034.P10-099-19

    Yunus, F. M., Jalal, C., Afsana, K., Podder, R., Vandenberg, A., & DellaValle, D. M. (2019). Iron-fortified lentils to improve iron (Fe) status among adolescent girls in Bangladesh - study protocol for a double-blind community-based randomized controlled trial. Trials, 20(251). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3309-4

    Cross, S., Gon, G., Morrison, E., Afsana, K., Ali, S. M., Manjang, T., … Graham, W. J. (2019). An invisible workforce: the neglected role of cleaners in patient safety on maternity units. Global health action, 12(1), 1480085. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1480085

    Bixby, H., Bentham, J., Zhou, B., Di Cesare, M., Paciorek, C. J., Bennett, J. E., Collaboration(NCD-RisC), N. C. D. R. F. (2019). Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults. Nature, 569(7755), 260–264. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1171-x

    Ara, G., Sanin, K. I., Khanam, M., Sarker, S. A., Khan, S. S., Rifat, M., … Ahmed, T. (2019). Study protocol to assess the impact of an integrated nutrition intervention on the growth and development of children under two in rural Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7777-y

    Mistry, S. K., Hossain, M. B., Khanam, F., Akter, F., Parvez, M., Yunus, F. M., … Rahman, M. (2019). Individual, maternal- and household-level factors associated with stunting among children aged 0–23 months in Bangladesh. Public Health Nutrition, 22(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018002926

    Nguyen, P. H., Frongillo, E. A., Sanghvi, T., Wable, G., Mahmud, Z., Tran, L. M., … Menon, P. (2018). Engagement of husbands in a maternal nutrition program substantially contributed to greater intake of micronutrient supplements and dietary diversity during pregnancy: Results of a cluster-randomized program evaluation in Bangladesh. Journal of Nutrition, 148(8), 1352–1363. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy090

    Kim, S. S., Nguyen, P. H., Tran, L. M., Sanghvi, T., Mahmud, Z., Haque, M. R., … Menon, P. (2018). Large-Scale social and behavior change communication interventions have sustained impacts on infant and young child feeding knowledge and practices: Results of a 2-year follow-up study in Bangladesh. Journal of Nutrition, 148(10), 1605–1614. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy147

    Huda, T. M., Rahman, M. M., Raihana, S., Islam, S., Tahsina, T., Alam, A., … Dibley, M. J. (2018). A community-based cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Bangladesh to evaluate the impact of the use of iron-folic acid supplements early in pregnancy on the risk of neonatal mortality: The Shonjibon trial. BMC Public Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5713-1

    Bhutta, Z. A., Bang, A., Afsana, K., Gyawali, B., Mirzazada, S., & DellaValle, R. J. (2018). Rethinking community based strategies to tackle health inequities in South Asia. BMJ, 363. https://doi.org/org/10.1136/bmj.k4884

    Khanam, F., Hossain, B., Mistry, S. K., Mitra, D. K., Raza, W. A., Rifat, M., … Rahman, M. (2018). The association between daily 500 mg calcium supplementation and lower pregnancy-induced hypertension risk in Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(406). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2046-0

    Mitra, D. K., Mistry, S. K., Afsana, K., & Rahman, M. (2018). Demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle determinants of under- and over-nutrition among Bangladeshi adult population: Results from a large cross-sectional study. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 8(1-3), 134–142. https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.03.002

    Ezzati, M., Zhou, B., Bentham, J., Di Cesare, M., Bixby, H., Danaei, G., … (NCD-RisC), N. C. D. R. F. C. (2018). Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(3), 872-883i. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyy016

    Nguyen, P. H., Kim, S. S., Sanghvi, T., Mahmud, Z., Tran, L. M., Shabnam, S., … Menon, P. (2017). Integrating nutrition interventions into an existing maternal, neonatal, and child health program increased maternal dietary diversity, micronutrient intake, and exclusive breastfeeding practices in Bangladesh: Results of a cluster-randomized program evaluation. The Journal of Nutrition, 147(12), 2326–2337. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.117.257303

    Bentham, J., Di Cesare, M., Bilano, V., Bixby, H., Zhou, B., Stevens, G. A., … (NCD-RisC), N. C. D. R. F. C. (2017). Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults. The Lancet, 390(10113), 2627–2642. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32129-3

    Nambiar, D., Razzak, J., Afsana, K., Adams, A. M., Hasan, A., Mohan, D., & Patel, V. (2017). Mental illness and injuries: Emerging health challenges of urbanisation in South Asia. BMJ, 357. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1126

    Nguyen, P. H., Sanghvi, T., Kim, S. S., Tran, L. M., Afsana, K., Mahmud, Z., … Menon, P. (2017). Factors influencing maternal nutrition practices in a large scale maternal, newborn and child health program in Bangladesh. PloS one, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179873

    Nguyen, P. H., Sanghvi, T., Tran, L. M., Afsana, K., Mahmud, Z., Aktar, B., … Menon, P. (2017). The nutrition and health risks faced by pregnant adolescents: Insights from a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh. PloS one, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178878

    Mistry, S. K., Jhohura, F. T., Khanam, F., Akter, F., Khan, S., Yunus, F. M., … Rahman, M. (2017). An outline of anemia among adolescent girls in Bangladesh: findings from a cross-sectional study. BMC hematology, 17, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12878-017-0084-x

    NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). (2017). Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015: A pooled analysis of 1479 population-based measurement studies with 19·1 million participants. The Lancet, 389(10064), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31919-5

    Yunus, F. M., Khan, S., Mitra, D. K., Mistry, S. K., Afsana, K., & Rahman, M. (2018). Relationship of sleep pattern and snoring with chronic disease: Findings from a nationwide population-based survey. Sleep Health, 4(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2017.10.003

    Frongillo, E. A., Nguyen, P. H., Saha, K. K., Sanghvi, T., Afsana, K., Haque, R., … Menon, P. (2017). Large-scale behavior-change initiative for infant and young child feeding advanced language and motor development in a cluster-randomized program evaluation in Bangladesh. The Journal of Nutrition, 147(2), 256–263. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.116.240861

    Shakur, H., Roberts, I., Fawole, B., Chaudhri, R., El-Sheikh, M., Akintan, A., … Collaborators, W. T. (2017). Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 389(10084), 2105–2116. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30638-4

    Menon, P., Nguyen, P. H., Saha, K. K., Khaled, A., Kennedy, A., Tran, L. M., … Rawat, R. (2016). Impacts on breastfeeding practices of at-scale strategies that combine intensive interpersonal counseling, mass media, and community mobilization: results of cluster-randomized program evaluations in Bangladesh and Viet Nam. PLoS Medicine, 13(10). https:// /10.1371/journal.pmed.1002159

    Jolly, S. P., Rahman, M., Afsana, K., Yunus, F. M., & Chowdhury, A. M. R. (2016). Evaluation of maternal health service indicators in urban slum of Bangladesh. PloS one, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162825

    Graham, W. J., Morrison, E., Dancer, S., Afsana, K., Aulakh, A., Campbell, O. M., … Woodd, S. (2016). What are the threats from antimicrobial resistance for maternity units in low- and middle- income countries?. Global health action, 9, 33381. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.33381

    Rahman, M., Yunus, F. M., Shah, R., Jhohura, F. T., Mistry, S. K., Quayyum, T., … Afsana, K. (2016). A controlled before-and-after perspective on the improving maternal, neonatal, and child survival program in rural Bangladesh: An impact analysis. PloS one, 11(9), e0161647. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161647

    Kruk, M. E., Kujawski, S., Moyer, C. A., Adanu, R. M., Afsana, K., Cohen, J., … Yamey, G. (2016). Next generation maternal health: External shocks and health-system innovations. The Lancet, 388(10057), 2296–2306. https://doi.org/org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31395-2

    Menon, P., Nguyen, P. H., Saha, K. K., Khaled, A., Sanghvi, T., Baker, J., … Rawat, R. (2016). Combining intensive counseling by frontline workers with a nationwide mass media campaign has large differential impacts on complementary feeding practices but not on child growth: Results of a cluster-randomized program evaluation in Bangladesh. The Journal of nutrition, 146(10), 2075–2084. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.116.232314

    Sanghvi, T., Haque, R., Roy, S., Afsana, K., Seidel, R., Islam, S., … Baker, J. (2016). Achieving behaviour change at scale: Alive & Thrive’s infant and young child feeding programme in Bangladesh. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 12(S1), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12277

    Marcil, L., Afsana, K., & Perry, H. B. (2016). First steps in initiating an effective maternal, neonatal, and child health program in urban slums: The Brac manoshi project’s experience with community engagement, social mapping, and census taking in Bangladesh. Journal of Urban Health, 93(1), 6–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-016-0026-0

    Islam, S., Hirayama, T., Islam, A., Ishikawa, N., & Afsana, K. (2015). Treatment referral system for tuberculosis patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Public health action, 5(4), 236–240. https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.15.0052

    Rahman, M., Jhohura, F. T., Mistry, S. K., Chowdhury, T. R., Ishaque, T., Shah, R., & Afsana, K. (2015). Assessing community based Improved Maternal Neonatal Child Survival (IMNCS) program in rural Bangladesh. PloS one, 10(9), e0136898. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136898

    McDougall, L., Sharma, A., Franz-Vasdeki, J., Beattie, A. E., Touré, K., Afsana, K., … Papp, S. (2015). Prioritising women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health in the post-2015 world. The BMJ, 351(h4327). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h4327

    Murphy, J., Hatfield, J., Afsana, K., & Neufeld, V. (2015). Making a commitment to ethics in global health research partnerships: A practical tool to support ethical practice. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 12, 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-014-9604-6

    Campbell, O. M. R., Benova, L., Gon, G., Afsana, K., & Cumming, O. (2015). Getting the basic rights – the role of water, sanitation and hygiene in maternal and reproductive health: A conceptual framework. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 20(3), 252–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12439

    Jahan, R., & Afsana, K. (2015). Commentary: Sustaining progress towards comprehensive reproductive health services in Bangladesh. Global public health, 10(2), 180–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2014.986164

    Campbell, Y. V., Mason, E., Graham, W., Benova, L., Chopra, M., Campbell, O. M. R., … Cumming, O. (2014). From joint thinking to joint action: A call to action on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene for maternal and newborn health. PloS Medicine, 11(12), 252–267. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001771

    VanderEnde, K. E., Moran, A. C., Leasure, K., Day, L. T., Afsana, K., Kalim, N., … Sibley, L. M. (2014). Recognition of and Response to neonatal intrapartum-related complications in home-birth settings in Bangladesh. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 32(3), 503–512.

    Afsana, K., Grant, J. P., & Evans, J. (2014). Crisis of health workforce in Bangladesh: A non-government organization’s experience in deploying community health workers in primary health care. Perspectives in Public Health, 134(5), 253–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913914545291

    Afsana, K., Haque, M. R., Sobhan, S., & Shahin, S. A. (2014). BRAC's experience in scaling-up mnp in Bangladesh. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 23(3), 377-384. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.3.22

    Afsana, K., & Wahid, S. S. (2014). Health care for poor people in the urban slums of Bangladesh. The Lancet, 382(9910), 2049–2051. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62295-3

    Avula, R., Menon, P., Saha, K. K., Bhuiyan, M. I., Chowdhury, A. S., Siraj, S., … Frongillo, E. A. (2013). A program impact pathway analysis identifies critical steps in the implementation and utilization of a behavior change communication intervention promoting infant and child feeding practices in Bangladesh. The Journal of Nutrition, 143(12), 2029–2037. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.113.179085

    Haqqani, N., VanderEnde, Kristin, Moran, Allisyn, Afsana, K., Day, L. T., & Sibley, L. (2011). Exploring the recognition of and initial response to prolonged labor and birth asphyxia in Dhaka, Dinajpur, and Matlab, Bangladesh. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 56, 528–528. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1542-2011.2011.00099.x

    Hashima-E- Nasreen, Nahar, S., Mamun, M. A., Afsana, K., & Byass, P. (2011). Oral misoprostol for preventing postpartum haemorrhage in home births in rural Bangladesh: How effective is it? Global Health Action, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v4i0.7017

    Afsana, K., & Rohde, J. (2011). Decline in neonatal mortality in large poor populations. The Lancet, 377(9784), 2178–2179. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60960-4

    Ahmed, S. M., Hossain, A., Khan, M., Mridha, M. K., Alam, A., Choudhury, N., … Bhuiya, A. (2010). Using formative research to develop MNCH programme in urban slums in Bangladesh: Experiences from MANOSHI, BRAC. BMC Public Health, 10(663). https://doi.org/org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-663

    Moran, A., Wahed, T., & Afsana, K. (2010). Oxytocin to augment labour during home births: An exploratory study in the urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117(13), 1608–1615. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02714.x

    Afsana, K., Rashid, S. F., Chowdhury, A., & Theobald, S. (2007). Promoting maternal health: Gender equity in Bangladesh. British Journal of Midwifery, 15(11), 721–721. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2007.15.11.27474

    Afsana, K. (2004). The tremendous cost of seeking hospital obstetric care in Bangladesh. Reproductive Health Matters, 12(24), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(04)24142-8

    Afsana, K., Shiga, K., Ishizuka, S., & Hara, H. (2004). Reducing effect of ingesting tannic acid on the absorption of iron, but not of zinc, copper and manganese by rats. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 68(3), 584–592. https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.68.584

    Afsana, K., Shiga, K., Ishizuka, S., & Hara, H. (2003). Ingestion of an Indigestible Saccharide, Difructose Anhydride III, Partially Prevents the Tannic Acid-Induced Suppression of Iron Absorption in Rats. Journal of Nutrition, 133(11), 3553–3560.

    Afsana, K., & Rashid, S. F. (2001). The challenges of meeting rural Bangladeshi women’s needs in delivery care. Reproductive Health Matters, 9(18), 79–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(01)90094-1

    Rashid, S. F., Hadi, A., Afsana, K., & Begum, S. A. (2001). Acute respiratory infections in rural Bangladesh: cultural understandings, practices and the role of mothers and community health volunteers. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 6(4), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00702.x

    Reports

    Afsana, K., Habte, D., Hatfield, J., Murphy, J., & Neufeld, V. (2009). Partnership Assessment Toolkit. International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR), 1–24. Retrieved from https://www.elrha.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/PAT_Interactive_e-1.pdf

    Hashima E Nasreen, Ahmed, S. M., Begum, H., & Afsana, K. (2007). Maternal, neonatal and child health programmes in Bangladesh: Review of good practices and lessons learned. BRAC Research and Evaluation Division.

    Afsana, K., Ahmed, S. M., Mayeed, M., Roy, R. D., & Karim, F. (1998). Women, workload and the women’s health and development programme: Are women overburdened? Brac Research Monograph Series No. 11, 1–22. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.522.703&rep=rep1&type=pdf

    Afsana, K., & Mahmud, S. N. (1998). Reaching quality services of BRAC health centers to the people. Brac Research and Evaluation Division, 155–224. Retrieved from http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/12935

    Afsana, K., & Mahmud, S. N. (1998). Validation of baseline information of reproductive health & disease control programme. Brac Research and Evaluation Division, 55–88. Retrieved from http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/12936

    Afsana, K., Mahmud, S. N., Chowdhury, A., Karim, F., & Khan, S. H. (1997). Quality assessment of Brac health Centres. Brac Research and Evaluation Division, 186–232. Retrieved from http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/13620

    Afsana, K., & Chowdhury, A. (1996). Client satisfaction with services provided at the antenatal care centres of Brac. Brac Research and Evaluation Division, 66–85. Retrieved from http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/12895

    Afsana, K., Chowdhury, A., Mahmud, S. N., & Karim, F. (1996). Competence of the programme organizers in antenatal care: An issue of the quality of care. Brac Research and Evaluation Division, 122–165. Retrieved from http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/13210

  • Professional Activities

    +–

    1. Professor, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, 2011- Present
    2. Director, Health, Nutrition & Population Programme, BRAC, March 2012-Nov 2018
    3. Associate Director, July 2009-February 2012
    4. Program Head, BRAC Health Program, July 2008-June 2009
    5. Program Coordinator, BRAC Health Program, BRAC, July 2006-June 2008
    6. Program Manager, BRAC Health Program, BRAC, November 2003-June 2006
    7. Senior Sector Specialist, Health and Nutrition Program, BRAC, August 2003 – October 2003
    8. Senior Research Fellow, Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, February 1999-July 2003
    9. Associate Research Fellow, August 1995-January 1999
    10. Research Fellow, June 1992-July 1995
    11. Health Worker, Central Health Services, Ottawa (Canada); August 1986- August 1991
    12. Anaesthetist, Dhaka Medical College Hospital; January 1985 – August 1985
    13. Medical Officer in Masimpur Thana Health Complex, Tongi, Dhaka; March –December 1984
    14. Internship, Dhaka Medical College Hospital; March 1983- February 1984



     

  • Conferences, Talks, and Speaking Engagements

    +–

    Key note and plenary speakers in major conferences - Women Deliver, Global Maternal Health Conference, Global Maternal and Newborn Health Conferences, International Congress in Nutrition, Women's Forum, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and many at global, regional and national levels

  • Awards, Honors

    +–

    GSK-Save the Children Health Innovation Award for Manoshi 

    2014

    The Woman of Distinction Award 2011 by NGO Committee  on the Status of Women, NGO CSW, New York             

    2011

     D.K. Agencies India’s award for the best Australian  doctoral thesis on an Asian subject 

    2005

    Asian Studies Association of Australia's Presidents' Prize for the best thesis on Asian topic

    2004

    The 2003 University Research Medal  Edith Cowan University      

    2003

    The 2003 Faculty Research Medal Edith Cowan University                                                                         

    2003

    International Post Graduate Research Fellowship                       

    2000-03

    Edith Cowan University Fellowship                                                  

     

    BRAC Study Grant for MPH                                                              

    1996-97

    Bangladesh Government Scholarship                                            

    1977-82

  • Membership

    +–

    1. Member, Advisory Committee, Social Innovations on Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
    2. Member, External Evaluation Reference Group, The Partnership for Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, Geneva, Switzerland
    3. Member, External Advisory Committee, International Health and Tropical Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
    4. Member, Advisory Committee, Air-bel Center, International Rescue Committee, NY, USA
    5. Member, Guideline Development committee, SRHR and Self Care, WHO. Geneva, Swizerland
    6. Member, Board, Global alliance for Improved Nutrition, Geneva, Switzerland
    7. Member, Civil Society Alliance for Scaling up Nutrition (SUN), Bangladesh
    8. Ex Co-Chair, UHC2030 Alliance, Fragile State Working Group, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
    9. Ex-Member, Steering Group, BMS Campaign, London
    10. Ex-Member, Steering Committee, Vaccine Initiative Strategy , GAVI, Geneva
    11. Ex-Member, Civil Society Group, Health Nutrition and Population, The World Bank Group
    12. Ex-Advisor, Steering Committee, The Woman Trial (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
    13. Ex-Member, Inter-coordination Committee (ICC) for Vaccine, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
    14. Ex-Member, Technical Committee, Grameen Veolia Water Ltd, Bangladesh
    15. Member, Canadian International Society on Health, Ottawa, Canada
    16. Innovia Fellows, the Netherlands
    17. Member, SEAPIN
    18. Harvard Alumni, USA
    19. Edith Cowan University Alumni, Australia
    20. Member, Technical Group, BIRTAN, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh
    21. Member, Technical Advisory Board, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
    22. Member, Obstetric and Gynaecological Association of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
    23. Member, Bangladesh Medical Association, Bangladesh
    24. Member, Bangladesh Public Health association, Bangladesh
    25. Member, Executive Committee, White Ribbon Alliance, Bangladesh
    26. Member, Healthy Newborn Network
    27. Member, Bangladesh Urban Health Network.
    28. Member, Academic Committee, Masters in Early Childhood Development, Institute of Education
    29. Ex-Technical Advisory Committee member in “Nutrition, Health and Demographic Survey of Bangladesh-2011, Dhaka University, Bangladesh
    30. Ex-Member, Visioning Exercise Group and Task Team, Global SUN Movement
    31. Ex-Advisor, Maternal Health Task Force, Engender Health, USA
    32. Ex Board Member (Alternate), The Partnership for Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, WHO, Geneva
    33. Ex Board Member, The Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, Ottawa, Canada

  • Research Areas/Interests

    +–

    1. Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal. Child and Adolescent Health
    2. Nutrition
    3. Urban Health
    4. Sexuality
    5. Humanitarian Setting
    6. Gender and Health
    7. Health System
    8. Research Methodology

News & Events

PPDM Workshop On Compound And Cascading Disaster Risk Management

February 7th, 2023
The Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management (PPDM) BRAC University

Professor Vincent Chang joins Shikho-Prothom Alo GPA 5 celebration

February 6th, 2023
Professor Vincent Chang, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University recently joined Shikho

Architecture Faculty received an "Honorable Mention" award in the "AI Architecture Competition 2022."

February 6th, 2023
Assistant professor Abul Fazal Mahmudun Nobi has received “Honorable mention”

ESS holds book launching ceremony

February 5th, 2023
Economics and Social Sciences Department (ESS) of BRAC University organized the

BRAC Hope festival

February 9th, 2023 - 11:00am to
February 11th, 2023 - 10:00pm
As an epilogue of year-long observance, marking its 50 years, and to rejoice the

Call for Papers Bangladesh Beyond 50: Quest for Inclusive Development

June 15th, 2023 - 8:00am
 The school of General Education (henceforth GenEd) is pleased to announce






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