Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595921›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Building Capacity in Crisis: Evaluating a Health Assistant Training Program for Young Rohingya Refugee Women.

Nada Alnaji, Bree Akesson, Ashley Stewart-Tufescu, Md Golam Hafiz, Shahidul Hoque, Farhana Ul Hoque, Rayyan A Alyahya, Carine Naim, Sulafa Zainalabden Alrkabi, Wael ElRayes and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Nada AlnajiHope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, Ramu 4700, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0001-6104-1613
Bree AkessonFaculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6760-7198
Ashley Stewart-TufescuFaculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2730-9764
Md Golam HafizHope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, Ramu 4700, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0002-2204-5379
Shahidul HoqueHope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, Ramu 4700, Bangladesh.ORCID 0009-0006-3165-6784
Farhana Ul HoqueHope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, Ramu 4700, Bangladesh.
Rayyan A AlyahyaSaudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Riyadh 12823, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-2183-9900
Carine NaimIndependent Researcher, Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0002-5569-0374
Sulafa Zainalabden AlrkabiFaculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK.
Wael ElRayesDepartment of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8059-5061
Iftikher MahmoodHope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, Ramu 4700, Bangladesh.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the largest humanitarian emergencies of the 21st century, with nearly one million Rohingya residing in overcrowded camps in southern Bangladesh. Women and children face the greatest vulnerabilities, including inadequate access to education and healthcare, which exacerbates their risks and limits opportunities for personal and community development. While international organizations continue to provide aid, resources remain insufficient, particularly in maternal and child healthcare, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable interventions.

objectivesThe Hope Foundation for Women and Children in Bangladesh launched a pilot project for the Health Assistant Training (HAT) program to address critical gaps in healthcare and education for the Rohingya community. This nine-month training program equips young Rohingya women with essential knowledge and skills to support maternal health services in both clinical and community settings.

designWe conducted a qualitative evaluation of the HAT Program to explore its acceptance and anticipated benefits for both participants and the community.

methodsThe research team used semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field observations to explore the HAT Program's impact on young Rohingya women and their community. They analyzed data through thematic analysis, developing a coding framework and identifying key themes to uncover patterns and insights.

resultsThe results were categorized into four themes: (1) community acceptance of the HAT Program, (2) the HAT Program's impact on the health assistant trainees, (3) the impact of the HAT Program on the community, and (4) the potential ways to expand the HAT Program.

conclusionsThis research underscores the program's impact on improving healthcare access, enhancing women's empowerment, and promoting community resilience. By situating this initiative within the broader context of refugee health, education, and capacity-building, this research highlights the HAT program's potential as a replicable model in Bangladesh and in other humanitarian settings.

Indexed as

Capacity BuildingMaternal Health ServicesRefugeesAdultBangladeshFemaleHumansProgram EvaluationYoung Adultcapacity buildingchild and maternal health careeconomic empowermentprogram evaluationrefugee healthRohingya crisis

Identifiers

PMID41595921
PMCPMC12840703

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.