Indian Journal of Community Health
Not a member yet
1720 research outputs found
Sort by
Anaemia and Iron studies among women of reproductive age group: A Cross-sectional survey of a Large Cantonment in Western Maharashtra
Get PDFBackground: Anaemia remains a major cause of concern among the women of reproductive age in our country. However, there is a wide variation amongst different socio-economic strata. Aim & Objectives: This study was conducted among women of reproductive age for prevalence of anaemia and its association with certain socio-clinical variables in cantonment. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. The information regarding socio-demographic variables, anthropometric measurements and clinical parameters were taken. Hemogram and iron profile was done by collecting venous blood from the participants. Results: Data was analyzed for 722 participants. Out of these 140, mild, moderate and severe anaemia was seen in 57, 77, 06 respectively. The major factors associated with anaemia were heavy menstruation and higher parity. Amongst these 140, iron deficiency anaemia was diagnosed in 135 .Among the 28 pregnant women, eight were anaemic (28.6: 95% CI 19.1-63.9).Conclusion: The results of our study showed lower prevalence of anaemia than national level and majority of these were iron deficiency anaemia, which is amenable to prevention and treatment
Occupational Exposure to Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary care hospital: A KAP study
Get PDFBackground: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are serious occupational health problem related to accidental exposure of health care workers (HCWs) while involved in patient care services. The percutaneous exposure to potentially contaminated blood and body fluids with blood borne pathogens are responsible for significant prevalence of Hepatitis B, C & HIV infections amongst HCWs. Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in hospital settings over a period of one year. 178 HCWs were selected for study using systematic random sampling after proportional allocation for each professional category in the hospital. Collected data was processed on SPSS ver 24. The association between needle stick and associated factors were measured using the odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval. The statistical significance was made at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results Total of 62 incidences of sustaining a needle stick injury in a year was recorded amongst 178 HCWs. In this study, statistically significant results with p value less than 0.05 was obtained with association with variables like gender [AOR=1.36 (0.64 - 2.68)], experience in years as HCWs [AOR=1.23 (0.32 - 2.12)], profession [AOR=0.063 (0.001- 0.43)], observance of universal precautions as wearing gloves [AOR=0.33 (0.169 – 0.631)] or any training on PEP or universal precautions [AOR=2.29 (1.320 - 4.696)]. Conclusion: NSIs have the potential to affect the health system both directly and indirectly. To lessen the dangers and impacts of NSIs stringent training should coordinate the endeavors toward preparing of health care workers, utilization of wellbeing designed gadgets, and diminishing patient burden per health care workers
Omicron and vaccine booster dose – an update
Get PDFMutations in coronavirus is not unheard off. The variant, Omicron B.1.1.529 has overall 50 mutations and is considered as a variant of concern. Though the new variant has shown changes throughout its genome, S gene changes predominate. Significant changes in the S encoding gene, S gene, influences not only the transmissibility properties of SARS-CoV-2 but also the efficacy of existing vaccines. Increased transmissibility and ability of this variant to evade host immune responses conferred either due to past infections or due to vaccination driving increase in number of infections. However, the severity of the infections is low in comparison to its predecessors. A meta-analysis of ten studies analyzing the effect of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, it was found studies report 10-to-42-fold increase in omicron neutralization. COVID appropriate behaviors, if followed rigidly can bring a meaningful change in the viral spread and resultant health impacts
Disaster and Mental Health Preparedness in India: A Scoping Review
Get PDFBackground: Disaster and mental health preparedness are inseparable domains highlighted during all the major disasters in India. To build Disaster-Mental health Preparedness (Disaster MHP), one has to understand the existing strategies, systemic efforts, and ground-level implementation. In this scoping review, we have analyzed the mental health preparedness efforts during major disasters in India. Methodology: We followed the Peters MDJ et al framework for scoping review named ‘Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. This included the searching relevant articles on PubMed and google Scholar, and concept-context of the review. Results: The review identified major efforts taken during ten disasters in past 40 years and mapping of the potential areas for development of sustainable efforts towards Disaster MHP. Conclusion: This is the first systematic scoping review from India that provides insight into strength and sustainability of disaster mental health preparedness in India. The mapping of the review focuses on the models emerged from Bhopal, Odisha, Tamilnadu and NIMHANS for the future infrastructure, capacity building, and environment required for Disaster-MHP in India
Awareness about pictorial warnings on tobacco products and its impact on tobacco consumers in coastal Karnataka
Get PDFBackground: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including cancer. India revised the pictorial warnings on all tobacco products in 2018, but its impact on tobacco consumers after the revision is less studied. Aim and Objective: To assess the awareness of the revised pictorial warnings on tobacco products and the impact of it on tobacco consumers in a coastal town. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st to 31st March 2021 among 185 adult tobacco consumers in a coastal town in Karnataka after obtaining ethical clearance and informed consent. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0 by descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Majority (95.7%) were males and 96.2% had seen the pictorial warning on the tobacco products. The commonly consumed tobacco products were panmasala (44.9%), gutka (38.9%), cigarette (31.4%) and bidi (15.1%). The mean age of initiation of consuming tobacco products was 24.8 years and mean duration of the habit was 17 years. Conclusions: A majority (96.2%) have seen the pictorial warnings on the tobacco products and significant predictors for reducing tobacco consumption were those who inferred the pictorial warnings as tobacco is injurious to health and cancerous
Correlation of Human Height with Hand Dimensions: A Study among Medical students
Get PDFBackground: Anthropometry is widely used for Identification of an individual. Height is one of the most important parameters of anthropometry. It is strongly correlated with the individual’s hand dimensions and if either of the measurements are known, the other can be calculated. Aim and Objective: To know correlation between the hand dimensions and Height of an individual and to apply the regression line of height on hand dimension of the person. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the medical students. Anthropometric indices were recorded after obtaining written consent and institutional approval using standard equipments. Linear regression and Pearson coefficient were calculated to study the correlation and arrive at the equation to calculate Height from Hand length. Results: Age of the study participants who consented for study (150) ranged between 18-24 years. Mean height was 165.91 cm. Mean right hand length was 17.71 cm and 17.69 cm on left hand. Mean hand width was 7.79 cm on right side and 7.56 cm on left side. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between height and the hand dimensions. Conclusions: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between hand dimensions and height. Forensic investigation, body identification and triage can be facilitated through calculating Height from hand dimensions when only mutilated body remains are received during disasters
Epidemiological and clinical profile of Laboratory confirmed cases of COVID 19 admitted in Tertiary care Hospital Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
Get PDFBackground: Three or more waves of COVID 19 pandemic have hit the different parts of world including India very hard, taking toll on the lives of people both in terms of morbidity and mortality. Keeping this in mind, the present study was conducted with an aim to determine the socio-demographic and clinical profile of laboratory confirmed COVID 19 cases and to determine their association with oxygen requirement and outcome of disease at the time of discharge. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on lab confirmed COVID 19 cases admitted in tertiary care hospital in Jammu from June-July 2021.Data was collected using convenient sampling method. The self-designed questionnaire used for data collection obtained information regarding socio-demographic characteristics of patients as well as clinical features of the disease. Results: Out of total 161 patients studied, 60.8% were males and 39.2% were females. Mean age was 51.2 ± 17.5 years. Comorbid conditions were present in 37.8% patients, with hypertension being the most common ( 36%). Cough, Fever, breathlessness and myalgia were the main presenting symptoms (90%, 81%, 57.7% and 56% respectively). The variables which were found to have statistically significant association with oxygen requirement and the outcome of disease at the time of discharge were age, gender and presence of co-morbidity (p <0.05). Conclusions: Advancing age, male gender and presence of underlying co-morbidity were found to be significant risk factors for the requirement of oxygen and poor outcome of the disease
COVID-19 Vaccination status among Health care workers diagnosed with COVID-19 in a tertiary care institute of Uttarakhand: A Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFBackground: Vaccines are considered as the one of the main pillars in halting and ending the presently on-going coronavirus disease (COVID-19 disease) pandemic which has spread globally since it was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In the absence of specific therapy, infection prevention practices and mass vaccination remains the mainstay in controlling the disease. Objectives: Objective of the study was to assess COVID-19 vaccination status, socio-demographic and clinical profile among healthcare workers diagnosed with COVID-19. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey from 1st March 2021 to 30th June 2021 among healthcare workers who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a tertiary care institute of Uttarakhand, India was conducted, and universal sampling was used. Institutional Ethics Committee approved this study. Results: Total 662 healthcare workers were diagnosed with COVID-19. 429 (64.8%) of these COVID-19 diagnosed healthcare workers had received either single (129,30%) or both dose (300,70%) of COVID-19 vaccine while remaining 233 (35.2%) belonged to non-vaccinated group. History of exposure to COVID-19 positive patients was higher in vaccinated (66.4%) than in non-vaccinated group (55%) (p = 0.004). Hospitalisation was found to be higher among non-vaccinated (5.6%) than vaccinated group (2.3%) (p = 0.029). Conclusions: This study concludes that being vaccinated against COVID-19 disease provides protection against severe infection and reduces the need for hospitalization
Sexuality Education- Understanding adolescents’ perspective
Get PDFIntroduction: Adolescence is very dynamic phase in life and if child is not able to cope up with the changes then the effects on health are lifelong. Evidence supporting role of holistic/ comprehensive sexuality education empowering children in this coping process is present. But still the controversies exists in all countries about either acceptance, content or delivery of the sexuality education. To make curriculum more acceptable, engaging and effective, it is very important to take into consideration adolescent’s perspective. In present study, we tried to understand felt need of adolescents about sexuality education. Objective: To understand need for sexuality education. Methods: The methods used were question box, self-administered questionnaire, and name the organs in blank human figure activity all in different set of students. Results: 48% questions were to seek scientific information but extent was up to enquiring about sex toys.12% about emotional changes, 11% about cultural norms,9% about romantic relationship and 6% to clear myths. The basic knowledge about human body, pubertal changes was poor, more so in girls. The attitude towards pubertal changes was mostly negative in girls, curious in boys. The inhibition in mentioning reproductive system organs was significant in both, indicating attitude. 98% were willing to have correct knowledge about the pubertal changes and effects on life. Conclusion: The comprehensive sexuality education is unmet need in India. Taking into consideration perspective of adolescents, it should contain scientific knowledge and other relevant topics
Socio-economic Correlates of Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Contraceptive Use by Reproductive age-group Females
Get PDFBackground: Oral Contraceptive use, BP and BMI are strongly associated variables in terms of socio economic conditions. Oral Contraceptives are an important and widely accepted contraceptive modality used throughout the world. Aim & Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of socio-economic factors on Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood pressure (BP) and contraceptive use by reproductive age-group females of Uttarakhand. Settings and Design: This study utilizes nationwide data from the Fourth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-IV). Methods and Material: Information was collected from Indian Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) Mumbai and 17,300 women of Uttarakhand were considered for this study. Statistical analysis used: For inter age-group comparisons of blood pressure, BMI and socio-demographic indicators, analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique has been used. Results: The variation in mean age at menarche was found to be significant (p< 0.01, ANOVA). The numbers of live births over the women\u27s total lifetime were lower in the younger age groups (p<0.01, ANOVA). Conclusions: The important findings of present study were that the use of contraceptive tended to have increased BMI and elevated blood pressure, even though the magnitude of these was little (equal to 4% and 40% respectively)