Population Council Research that makes a difference

Laila Rahman

Senior Program Officer

Laila Rahman is a senior program officer affiliated primarily with the Poverty, Gender, and Youth program; and secondarily with the Reproductive Health program at the Population Council.

Rahman has over eight years' experience in social and behavioral health science and public health research, and monitoring and evaluation. She is keenly interested in issues related to youth sexual and reproductive health and rights; financial education for adolescents; preventing violence against women and children; improving maternal, newborn, and child health; and enhancing community participation with a rights-based approach. A goal of Rahman's work is to translate research into action for policy change with a sustainable approach, and scale up successful interventions.

Within the Poverty, Gender, and Youth program, Rahman is coordinating a pilot project that compares the effects of the mentoring approach against conventional teaching methods to enhance the personal financial skills of adolescent girls. She has guided the development of the intervention activities and financial education curriculums for adolescent girls, mentors, and teachers. Within the Reproductive Health program, she has been coordinating a pilot study to test interactions between supply- and demand-side financing to improve maternal, newborn, and under-five children’s health in Bangladesh.

Rahman's previous work at the Council has included developing sexual and reproductive health curriculums for in- and out-of-school adolescents and youth; scaling up the reproductive health curriculum at Department of Youth Development’s youth training centers; and designing a participatory rural appraisal methodology to identify operations research issues. In Hawaii, Rahman investigated the racial gradients in birthweight-specific infant mortality by studying the use of the same low-birthweight cut-off point across Asian and Pacific Islander ethnicities.

Rahman received a master's degree in finance from Dhaka University in 1995. In 2009, she completed a master's of science in public health with East-West Center fellowship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She was inducted into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, Gamma Chapter, Hawaii, in 2009 for academic excellence and contributions to public health.

Laila Rahman

Senior Program Officer

Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Violence against Adolescent Girls and Women in Urban Bangladesh (more)
The Growing Up Safe and Healthy (SAFE) project seeks to provide context-specific strategies for vulnerable adolescents to build their social and health assets, with the eventual goal of improving their lifelong functional capabilities and well-being.
(11/2010 - 10/2014)
Topics: Adolescence/transitions to adulthood; Child marriage; Sexual and gender-based violence; Social isolation/support
Countries: Bangladesh

Pay for Performance (P4P) Operations Research Study (more)
Following a successful feasibility study on introducing a P4P financing scheme, the Population Council is now conducting operations research to test the potential of this service-delivery model to increase utilization of maternal, newborn, and child health care through performance-based payment to providers.
(2/2010 - 6/2011)
Topics: Maternal and newborn health; Strengthening health systems
Countries: Bangladesh

Promoting Financial Education Through Mentoring Relationships (more)
Council researchers have been testing a new personal financial education curriculum through mentoring relationships against a more conventional teaching method for adolescents in Bangladesh.
(9/2009 - 9/2010)
Topics: Financial literacy/livelihoods; Schooling; Social isolation/support
Countries: Bangladesh

Demand-based Reproductive Health Commodity Project (more)
Council researchers introduced DBRHCP to increase use of reproductive health services by emphasizing creating demand and improving the quality of reproductive health services through informed choice.
(10/2005 - 8/2009)
Topics: Access to contraceptive methods; Health care financing; Quality of care; RTIs/STIs; Safe pregnancy, antenatal, and delivery care
Countries: Bangladesh

Demand-based Reproductive Health Commodity Project: Creating a Space for Men and Youth at Health and Family Welfare Centers (more)
Council researchers tested the feasibility of providing access to reproductive health services among men and youth in rural areas of Bangladesh.
(7/2007 - 3/2009)
Topics: Access to contraceptive methods; Health care financing; Integrating health services; RTIs/STIs
Countries: Bangladesh

Laila Rahman

Senior Program Officer

Incentivizing providers to improve maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh: Pay-for-performance model refinement and advocacy (P4P MRA) final report  (PDF
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Zafar Ullah Khan,A.K.M.; Mahmud,Riad; Alim,Azizul; Hena,Ismat Ara; Akter,Farhana; Dey,Anup Kumar
Publication date: 2012

Introduction  (PDF
Amin,Sajeda; Rahman,Laila; Hossain,Sara; Naved,Ruchira Tabassum
from Growing Up Safe and Healthy (SAFE): Baseline report on sexual and reproductive health and rights and violence against women and girls in Dhaka slum
Publication date: 2012

Knowledge, attitude and practices associated with sexual and reproductive health and rights  (PDF
Rahman,Laila; Hossain,Md.Irfan; Amin,Sajeda; Naved,Ruchira Tabassum
from Growing Up Safe and Healthy (SAFE): Baseline report on sexual and reproductive health and rights and violence against women and girls in Dhaka slum
Publication date: 2012

Marriage and dowry  (PDF
Amin,Sajeda; Rahman,Laila; Hossain,Md.Irfan; Naved,Ruchira Tabassum
from Growing Up Safe and Healthy (SAFE): Baseline report on sexual and reproductive health and rights and violence against women and girls in Dhaka slum
Publication date: 2012

A P4P model for increased utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh  (PDF
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Hena,Ismat Ara; Zafar Ullah Khan,A.K.M.
Publication date: 2011

A pay-for-performance innovation integrating the quantity and quality of care in maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh  (PDF
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Mahmud,Riad; Alim,Azizul; Hena,Ismat Ara; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rahman,Md.Hafizur
P4P Final Report
Publication date: 2011

A pay-for-performance model for increased utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh 
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Hena,Ismat Ara; Zafar Ullah Khan,A.K.M.
P4P Policy Brief
Publication date: 2011

Innovative financing through pay-for-performance for providers to improve quality of care in Bangladesh: Transforming research into action  (PDF
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Hena,Ismat Ara
Workshop report
Publication date: 2011

Innovative financing through pay-for-performance for providers to improve quality of care in Bangladesh: Transforming research into action  (PDF
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rahman,Laila; Hena,Ismat Ara
Workshop brief
Publication date: 2011

Introducing pay-for-performance approach to increase utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh 
Hena,Ismat Ara; Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Julkarnayeen,Md.; Acharja,Liton
P4P Research Update (no. 2)
Publication date: 2011

Measuring the quality of care in maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh 
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Hena,Ismat Ara; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Ratcliffe,Hannah; Haque,Eashita; Rahman,Md.Ataur; Julkarnayeen,Md.; Dey,Anup Kumar; Sultana,Nargis
P4P Research Update (no. 3)
Publication date: 2011

Performance based financing for providers to address the maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh 
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Mahmud,Riad; Alim,Azizul; Hena,Ismat Ara; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi
P4P Project Brief
Publication date: 2011

Facility assessment report: Introducing pay-for-performance (P4P) approach to increase utilization of maternal, newborn, and child health services in Bangladesh  (PDF
Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Hena,Ismat Ara; Akter,Farhana; Rahman,Mohammad Ataur; Julkarnayeen,Md.; Akteruzzaman,Md.; Rana,Md.Sohel; Ali,Ripa
Publication date: 2010

Introducing pay-for-performance (P4P) approach to improve maternal, newborn, and child health in Bangladesh  (PDF
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara; Akter,Farhana; Rahman,Md.Ataur; Julkarnayeen,Md.
P4P Research Update (no. 1)
Publication date: 2010

Manual on financial mechanism for the health facilities: Introducing pay-for-performance approach to increase utilization of maternal, newborn, and child health services in Bangladesh  (PDF
Rahman,Laila; Shil,Dipak Kumar; Rashid,Md.Mamun-or; Hena,Ismat Ara; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Akter,Farhana; Dey,Anup Kumar; Ali,Ripa; Abedin,Joynal; Rahman,Mursheda; Rahman,Md.Ataur; Julkarnayeen,Md.; Rahman,Arifur; Sardar,Md.Abdur Rab
Publication date: 2010

White paper: Enhancing adolescent financial capabilities through financial education in Bangladesh  (PDF
Amin,Sajeda; Rahman,Laila; Ainul,Sigma; Rob,Ubaidur; Zaman,Bushra; Akter,Rinat
Publication date: 2010

Achieving the Cairo conference (ICPD) goal for youth in Bangladesh  (abstract) (HTML
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Bhuiya,Ismat; Khan,M.E.; Islam,Md.Rafiqul
International Quarterly of Community Health Education 24(4): 267-287
Publication date: 2006

Amra hobo schocheton: Kishor-kishoree o juboder jonno jeebon dokkhota bhittik projonon shastho, HIV, AIDS ebong gender bishoyok proshikkhon [We shall get aware: Life skill based reproductive health, HIV, AIDS and gender education for adolescents and youth] 
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat; Alam,Md.Rabiul; Islam,Md.Rafiqul
Student manual
Publication date: 2006

Improving sexual and reproductive health of female adolescents in Bangladesh by providing information and services  (abstract) (PDF
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Adamchak,Susan E.
Population Review 45(2): 60-71
Publication date: 2006

Kishor-kishoree o juboder jonno jeebon dokkhota bhittik projonon shastho, HIV, AIDS ebong gender bishoyok proshikkhon: Proshikkhok manual [Training manual for trainers on life skill based RH, HIV, AIDS and gender education for adolescents and youth] 
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat; Alam,Md.Rabiul; Islam,Md.Rafiqul
Publication date: 2006

Population and development: Pilot research at community level on linkage between reproductive health and poverty 
Rob,Ubaidur; Islam,M.Mazharul; Anwar,Md.Mahabub Ul; Arifeen,Aminul; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2006

Scaling up a reproductive health curriculum in youth training courses  (PDF
Rahman,Laila; Islam,M.Mazharul; Rob,Ubaidur; Bhuiya,Ismat; Khan,M.E.
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2006

Training manual for trainers on life skills based RH, HIV/AIDS, and gender education for adolescents and youths 
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat
Publication date: 2006

Voicing the community: A study for the community to identify and prioritize family planning and reproductive health problems 
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Ahmed,Salahuddin; Anwar,Md.Mahabub Ul; Moshiur Rahman,Md.
Publication date: 2006

Health sector reform in developing countries: Trends and lessons learned 
Rob,Ubaidur; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Anwar,Md.Mahabub Ul; Rahman,Laila; Mutahara,Marium ul
Publication date: 2005

Improving adolescent reproductive health in Bangladesh  (PDF
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider; Rahman,Laila; Haque,Nazmul; Adamchak,Susan E.; Homan,Rick; Khan,M.E.
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004

Mid-term review of GOB-UNFPA ARH project: An initiative for improving reproductive health of adolescent girls in Bangladesh through peer education and personal social education 
Rahman,Laila; Kabir,Mohammed; Rob,Ubaidur; Siddiqua,Yasmin; Mutahara,Marium ul
Publication date: 2004

Improving adolescents' reproductive health in Bangladesh 
Rob,Ubaidur; Bhuiya,Ismat; Rahman,Laila; Yusuf,Nazia
FRONTIERS Research Update (no. 2)
Publication date: 2002

Laila Rahman

Senior Program Officer

Gender-based violence in linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV response  
Presentation at side event entitled "It's possible: Making the most of linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV response," for the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, 8 June, New York
Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2011

Let there be light for increasing use of male contraceptive methods in low-performing areas of Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, 31 October
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2011

Pay-for-performance for providers and clients: An alternate model to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Bangladesh  
Presentation at the 13th Annual Scientific Conference of ICDDR,B: Science to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 14-17 March
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara; Ahmed,Lubana; Alam,ABM Jahangir
Publication date: 2011

Pay-for-performance for providers in public health facilities in Bangladesh: Does it pay off?  
Presentation at the 38th Annual International Conference on Global Health: Securing a Healthier Future in a Changing World, Washington, DC, 13-17 June
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Ahmed,Lubana; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara
Publication date: 2011

Performance-based incentive matters to increase utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, 31 October
Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara
Publication date: 2011

Performance-based payment to providers: A new twist with institutional targets to improve facility performance (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2 November
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara
Publication date: 2011

Quality of care in private and public facilities: Making childbirth cherished and safe for women in Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, 30 October
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi; Hena,Ismat Ara
Publication date: 2011

Sexual and reproductive health education in schools in Bangladesh  
Presentation at the Population Council's Seminar on Global Program on Poverty, Gender, and Youth, Dhaka, 4 March
Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2010

Sexual and reproductive health rights education in Bangladesh: YES but HOW  
Presentation at the ICDDR,B and Population Council's Workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Platform, Dhaka, 19 April
Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2010

Tying incentive with the quality of care to improve maternal health care in Bangladeshi facilities  
Presentation at Global Maternal Health Conference, New Delhi, 30 August- September
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Ahmed,Lubana; Hena,Ismat Ara; Talukder,Md.Noorunnabi
Publication date: 2010

Redefining racial disparities in preterm birth: Do Asian or Pacific Islanders have the best preterm birth outcome  
Presentation at the 20th Annual Graduate Student Conference of School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Hawaii, 12 March
Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2009

Women's responsibility in family planning: Breaking the borders of disparities in choices (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, 25-29 October
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Ahmed,Salahuddin; Anwar,Md.Mahabub Ul; Rahman,Md.Moshiur
Publication date: 2008

Scaling up of a reproductive health curriculum in youth vocational training centers in Bangladesh  
Presentation at 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights, Hyderabad, 29-31 October
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.
Publication date: 2007

Men to eliminate violence against women: Where do we stand  
Presentation at the IPPF and Malaysia Federation of Family Planning Associations' Third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health, Kuala Lumpur, 17-21 November
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2005

Road to achieve Cairo goal for youths in Bangladesh  
Presentation at the IPPF and Malaysia Federation of Family Planning Associations' Third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health, Kuala Lumpur, 17-21 November
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2005

Adolescent reproductive health needs: Findings from an operations research study  
Presentation at the FRONTIERS workshop Translating Research Findings into Action: Experiences from Bangladesh, Dhaka, 17 June
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Are husbands allowed to rape in Bangladesh: Social and legal aspects (abstract)  
Presentation at American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2003

Bangladesh parents' knowledge and attitude about adolescent reproductive health issues  
Presentation at American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Rob,Ubaidur; Bhuiya,Ismat; Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2003

Deep down the adolescent sexual behavior: Initiations and implications  
Presentation at the Second Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health, Bangkok, 6-10 October
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2003

Do adolescents need separate facilities for sexual and reproductive health services?  
Presentation at the Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health, Bangkok, 6-10 October
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Effectiveness of linking schools with sexual and reproductive health services: Experiences from a pilot project in Bangladesh  
Presentation at American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Exploring the key factors for tobacco and substance abuse by adolescents in Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Rahman,Laila; Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur
Publication date: 2003

Improving adolescents' sexual and reproductive health: Experiences from an operations research project  
Presentation at the FRONTIERS Dissemination Seminar on Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health, Dhaka, 20 January
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Adamchak,Susan E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Joining hands for improving the well being of the disabled children in a resource poor setting: Experience from a pilot project in Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 16-19 November
Rahman,Laila; Dey,Subrata
Publication date: 2003

Peer approach to educate adolescents about sexual and reproductive health  
Presentation at Second Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health, Bangkok, 6-10 October
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Should women face physical assaults: Voices of adolescents from Bangladesh (abstract)  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 16-19 November
Rahman,Laila; Rob,Ubaidur; Bhuiya,Ismat
Publication date: 2003

Strategies to improve reproductive health of adolescent girls in Bangladesh: Experiences from a pilot project  
Presentation at American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Unmarried adolescents boys' vulnerability towards HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition, 17-18 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2003

Developing and introducing a school curriculum on sexuality: A challenge  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 130th Annual Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, 9-13 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2002

Friendly environment: A vital issue for adolescents' sexual and reproductive health education program  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 130th Annual Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, 9-13 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2002

Risky behavior of adolescents in Bangladesh: Findings from an in-depth study  
Presentation at the American Public Health Association 130th Annual Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, 9-13 November
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Khan,M.E.; Rahman,Laila
Publication date: 2002

Contact

E-mail: lrahman@popcouncil.org

Address:
Laila Rahman
Population Council
House #15B, Road #13
Gulshan, Dhaka-1212,   Bangladesh
+880 2 882 1227

What's New

For 60 years, the Population Council has changed the way the world thinks about important health and development issues. Explore an interactive timeline of the Council's history, learn more about some of our key contributions, and watch a short video about why your support is so important to us.

Get Involved

Connect

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Visit our Youtube channel