title: Feasibility of a first responder programme in rural Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and implement a first responder training programme, assess the feasibility of training lay persons with low literacy in rural Bangladesh and determine the acceptability of the programme in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A first responder training programme including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was developed covering 20 villages in a rural sub-district in north-central Bangladesh. 2398 participants received training and 2120 graduated over a 14-month period. Responders were a mix of adolescents, community volunteers and community elders. The programme was evaluated through post-training assessment of knowledge and skills of participants and performance evaluation of trainers. A focus group discussion was used to assess the response of community leaders to usefulness and community acceptance of the programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Materials developed for training include a low-literacy training manual, posters and a training video. Almost 90 per cent (88.4) of participants qualified in post training assessment. Adolescents and community volunteers had higher pass rates than community elders. In all, CPR skills showed a significant decline over 9 months of assessment, while first aid knowledge appeared stable over the same period. Community leaders considered the programme useful for the community and expressed their support for the programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Developing a first responder training programme that includes CPR in a rural Bangladesh community is feasible if participants have secondary school attainment. Adolescents and young adults are suitable candidates. Evaluation is ongoing to see whether the programme graduates were able to reduce morbidity and mortality through effective first response efforts.
authors.affiliation: International Drowning Research Centre - Bangladesh (IDRC-B), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: aminur@ciprb.org.
authors.forename: Aminur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: International Drowning Research Centre - Bangladesh (IDRC-B), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: thomasmecrow@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Tom Stefan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Mecrow
authors.affiliation: Centre for Injury Prevention Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mashreky@ciprb.org.
authors.forename: Saidur Rahman
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mashreky
authors.affiliation: Centre for Injury Prevention Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: fazlur@ciprb.org.
authors.forename: A K M Fazlur
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: International Drowning Research Centre - Bangladesh (IDRC-B), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: nusrat_160@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nahida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nusrat
authors.affiliation: International Drowning Research Centre - Bangladesh (IDRC-B), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: kmahruba@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mahruba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanam
authors.affiliation: Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA), Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: jscarr@rlssa.org.au.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scarr
authors.affiliation: The Alliance for Safe Children (TASC), Atlanta, USA. Electronic address: mlinnan@tasc-gcipf.org.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CPR training; Drowning; LMICs; Low literacy setting; Resuscitation; Rural Bangladesh