Risk Factors of Fish Borne Illness Among University Students of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: University students in Bangladesh face significant risks of fish-borne illnesses (FBIs), with recent observations suggesting that students from public universities are particularly more vulnerable compared to those attending private institutions. Despite this concern, no comprehensive epidemiological studies have yet explored the prevalence of FBIs, the level of awareness among students, or their medical attention-seeking behaviours. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates the risk factors associated with FBIs among Bangladeshi university students. The manuscript, titled "Risk Factors and Awareness of Fish-Borne Illnesses Among University Students in Bangladesh", by Hridoy et al. (2025), has been submitted to Frontiers in Public Health and is currently under review.

Implication: The dataset used in this study is crucial for public health research as it provides empirical evidence on the health vulnerabilities of a significant segment of the population—university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured hybrid questionnaire through the KoBoToolbox sampling method. A total of 2013 university students participated between August to December 2024.

Remarks: The present findings underscore the need for rigorous action on university campuses, including improving the quality of foods served in hall dining facilities, implementing management interventions, and ensuring better health services are provided by university authorities.

Ethical Approval: The study was reviewed by and followed institutional guidelines and was approved by the ethics board of the Institutional Review Board, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh [Memo no: SAU/Ethical committee/APR/24/05]. Therefore, the study followed the medical ethical guidelines established in the Helsinki Declaration of 1975. Participation necessitated obtaining written consent from both the participating universities and each individual student involved in the study.