Women's Intensity of Non-Communicable Diseases Compared to Men in Bangladesh

Abstract: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are strongly connected with human mortality and morbidity. Bangladesh has a high rate of chronic illnesses. Global efforts for women's health are mostly focused on improving sexual and reproductive health. The purpose of this study is to determine the severity of Noncommunicable diseases in women by comparing risk variables by gender. Between February and May 2023, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken to identify the baseline status of Noncommunicable disease risk variables among men and women over the age of 35 in chosen intervention and control locations in rural Bangladesh as part of a noncommunicable diseases project. We conducted blood pressure and anthropometric assessments on 100 men and 100 women using the World Health Organization STEPS questionnaire and normal operating procedures. We performed a descriptive analysis with SPSS Statistics 20.0. According to the findings, 75% of males are married, 5% are single, and 20% of women are widowed. Approximately 46% are working women. Women had a greater prevalence than males of lack of physical activity (28% vs 72%), overweight and obesity (45% vs 55%), excessive waist circumference (21% vs 79%), Noncommunicable diseases (35% vs 65%), and uncontrolled diabetes mellites after medication (47% vs 53%). Women are less likely than males to seek medical treatment (83% vs 17%), have self-reported ailments (69% vs 31%), consume fruits and vegetables (77% vs 23%), or use medicines (59% vs 41%). Women are more likely to suffer from anxiety (67%) and depression (86%). In Bangladesh, women have a greater incidence of certain behavioral and clinical risk factors than males. A thorough assessment of such differences between men and women might increase knowledge of situations and help health providers and policymakers optimize preventative policies to reduce the global illness burden more effectively in both men and women. Keywords: Noncommunicable Diseases, Women’s Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Bangladesh.