Indian Journal of Community Health
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National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 – A critical perspective
Get PDFMore than 8% of the global population is affected by a rare disease and >50% affected are children (30% of whom will die before 5 years). There are 6,000-8,000 classified rare diseases – 80% are genetically based – with less than 500 FDA approved treatments (or <5% have therapies) available to treat them. Lack of standard definition and community-based epidemiological data in India limits the estimation of prevalence and/or disease burden; though extrapolations at 6% to 8% show 72 to 96 million affected individuals. The Government of India approved the “National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021” on 30th March 2021. It is a step in the right direction; at the time it necessitates optimal utilization of allocated resources and timely appraisal of the policy itself
Age at natural menopause and factors affecting its onset: A cross-sectional study among postmenopausal females in District Dehradun
Get PDFBackground: Menopause has become a popular topic of study as life expectancy rises around the world. The average age at menopause in both developed and developing countries ranges from 45 to 53 years. Factors influencing the extent of ovarian follicle reserve dwindling, such as sociodemographic, menstrual, reproductive, and dietary factors. Aim and Objective: The present study aimed to determine the mean age of menopause and to find out the various factors affecting menopause onset. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural and urban areas of District Dehradun for a period of 1 year starting 1st August 2020 to 31st July 2021. Data were collected using multistage stratified random sampling from 211 cases of natural menopause. Chi-square was applied as statistical test of significance and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: According to current study, average age menopausal age is 46 years. Variables like sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, reproductive and menstrual factors were found to have a significant relationship with onset of menopause. Conclusion: Menopause, whether it occurs early or late in life, several factors are responsible for deciding its onset. As a result, it is critical to identify the factors influencing the onset of menopause
Determinants of Reproductive Tract Infection among married women in rural and peri-urban areas of Aligarh: A cross sectional Study
Get PDFBackground: Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI) have a direct impact on reproductive and child health through infertility, cancers, and pregnancy complications, and they have an indirect impact through their role in facilitating the sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. Objectives: To find the prevalence and determinants of RTI/STI among married women of reproductive age group in rural and peri-urban areas of Aligarh. Methods: The data were collected by using a pretested, semi-structured with both open and closed-ended questionnaire from 500 married women of reproductive age group. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 20.0 Proportion, frequencies, ?2, and logistic regression were used to interpret the data. Results: Prevalence of RTI/STI symptoms was found to (42.8%) in rural areas and 37.6 % in peri-urban areas. Strong association was found in study subjects having lower educational status, who were not using any contraceptive method, not following good menstrual hygiene, early marriage age had husband history of RTI/STI, had a history of abortion, had a history of violence, and increased parity. Conclusions: Prevalence of symptoms found to be associated with these females having low educational status, early age of marriage, high parity, partner history of reproductive Tract Infections, history of violence etc. So, there should be more focus on improvement in these factors to reduce the prevalence
Descriptive analysis of sleep quality and its determinants among rural population of coastal Karnataka
Get PDFBackground: A good quality of sleep helps to maintain mood, memory and cognitive performance. Aim & Objective: To assess quality of sleep and its determinants among rural adults. Settings and Design: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in rural field practice area of a medical college Methods and Material: Pittsburg sleep quality index scale was used to assess quality of sleep. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from participants. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test was used to find out association between poor sleep and specific morbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was done to assess predictors of poor sleep. Results: Among the 614 study subjects, 60.3% had good sleep. Presence of morbidity was significantly associated with poor sleep [AOR=1.48; 95%CI=1.05-2.08]. Presence of a dark room, taking a bath or having milk before bed time were top reasons cited to be facilitating good sleep. Presence of mosquitoes, having young children or adolescent at home and vital events in last one year were reported to hinder good sleep. Conclusions: A sizeable proportion of rural adults have poor sleep. Presence of morbidity was a significant predictor of poor sleep
Respiratory health of the small scale dairy workers of urban Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Get PDFBackground: Human in close inhabitation with the cattle due to unventilated or inadequately ventilated establishments or inadequate living space, is always at a risk of sustaining infection from the cattle through different modes of disease transmission. This study hints at the increased incidences in respiratory infections among dairy workers in unorganized and small scale dairy farms due to amendable unhygienic practices. Methods: This survey was part of a larger study, conducted after ethics approval. Number of households involved in dairy work surveyed were 60. From every house, two members actively involved in dairy work were chosen and total respondents were 120. The study tool was a semi structured, mixed questionnaire. Results: 67.5% dairy workers self-reported occurrence of respiratory symptoms which included the complaints like cough,breathing difficulty on exertion. None of the dairy workers were vaccinated against any milk borne disease.Conclusion: The housing, civic amenities accessed by them and their awareness are probably the main reasons for wide variety of self perpetuated practices and deviations of standard requirement.Use of protective gear (gloves,caps,masks) should be strictly emphasized and popularized
Study on low birth weight and its associated factors among newborns delivered in a tertiary care hospital of Banda district, Uttar Pradesh
Get PDFBackground: Low birth weight is associated with higher morbidity and mortality including impaired growth and development, malnutrition etc. Worldwide, one- fifth of newborns delivered are low birth weight. Aims & objectives: To estimate frequency of low birth weight & its associated factors among newborns delivered in a tertiary care hospital. Materials & Methods: A cross sectional analysis of 290 newborns delivered in tertiary care hospital, Banda, Uttar Pradesh during period of 15th February 2021 to 31st December 2021 was done for estimating low birth weight frequency & its associated factors including child characteristics, mother characteristics & father characteristics using data from medical record section of hospital. Frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation, chi square test & independent t- test was used. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 91 out of 290 newborns delivered were low birth weight (27.9%, 95% CI- 23.1%- 33.4%). The following factors were shown to have a significant association with low birth weight: education of mother (p=0.04), education of father (p=0.03), occupation of father (p=0.02), and duration of pregnancy (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that education of mother, education of father, occupation of father, and duration of pregnancy had significant association with low birth weight frequency that suggests that improving literacy status can help in decreasing burden of low birth weight apart from other factors
Assessment of Selfie addiction among undergraduate medical Students
Get PDFBackground: Selfie’ means “A photograph that one has taken of oneself or a self portrait photograph typically taken with a smart phone or digital camera and shared via social media”. Considering the dependency on Internet and selfie taking behavior among professional students, the study was undertaken. Aims and Objective- to determine the demographic profile of selfie users and different variables related to selfie taking and posting and its association with risky dangerous selfie. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 220 undergraduate medical students were using smartphone. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Male students of middle class family of urban areas were more involved in taking selfie. Females were comparatively spending more time (2-3 hrs) on Internet (X2 =19.494 and p = .001).Total 14% students were taking 3-5 selfie and posted on social media(Statistically significant,X2 =7.882,p =0.019). 19(8.63%) participants admitted of taking dangerous selfie of which male 13(14.0%) more than female 06(8.4%). Conclusion: Age and gender affects the number of selfies one clicks. This is developing a new mental disorder ‘selfitis’ as well as desire to take dangerous selfie. There is need of health awareness programme, IEC regarding importance of healthy life style
A qualitative analysis of perspectives of district level frontline managers in Karnataka during first wave of COVID 19
Get PDFWith the emergence of pandemic, health sector has been facing innumerable challenges right from prevention to management of COVID-19. This study attempts to understand these factors from a local perspective that will help in better planning and management of situation for the future. Karnataka was one of the 8 states selected as part of a multisectoral qualitative study. Perspectives of frontline managers regarding the management of COVID 19 pandemic situation were taken by in depth interviews. Deductive thematic analysis from the audio recordings and transcripts showed public apprehensions, gaps in decentralized approach and specific guidelines, monitoring difficulties and workforce related issues as factors of concern
Quantifying the mobile phone usage and gauging the perception about its harmful effects among the Otorhinolaryngologists in India- A questionnaire-based pan India survey
No full textIntroduction-There is a definitive risk to human health because of mobile phones. The awareness towards mobile phones emitted electromagnetic radiation is of paramount importance to prevent health risks and possible negative health disorders. Aim and objectives-The aim of the survey is to assess the awareness of mobile phone radiation and its harmful effects on the body and the mobile phone usage trend among Otorhinolaryngologists from India. Methodology-The present survey aimed to obtain baseline data on cell phone usage and radiation awareness among a relatively homogenous cohort of Otorhinolaryngologists from India. This is a cross-sectional online survey assessing awareness of Mobile Phone radiation through a custom-made questionnaire devised by the authors which consisted of four parts: 1. Demographic details, 2. Mobile phone usage trend, 3. Knowledge of mobile phone radiation 4. Awareness of health hazards produced by mobile phone radiation. Results- The total number (n) of otorhinolaryngologists to whom the questionnaire was sent was 6336 of which 259 of them responded which formed the sample size of our study. Thus, the response rate of the survey was 4%. A total of 259 Otorhinolaryngologists participated in the study. The mean age of the population involved in the survey is 41.7810.32 years. The male-female ratio of the survey is 161:98 respectively. There were 172 private and 87 government ENT practitioners in the survey. MS otorhinolaryngology was the most common qualification of the study with 223 doctors having the degree, 20 having DNB, and 7 of them having completed DLO. The mean years of medical practice after postgraduation of the Otorhinolaryngologists participating in the questionnaire are 13.537.38 years. The major contributors to the survey were private ENT consultants with a count of 110, followed by Senior Residents 58, Assistant Professor 39, Professor 29, Associate professor 10, and Additional professor 13. It was evident from the questionnaire that 242 of the respondents were right-handed and 204 of the study population used their right ear for talking over the phone, it was also cross-checked by giving a miss call to them in close vicinity. The mean years of exposure to mobile phone usage by Otorhinolaryngologists are 15.01 5.75. A maximum of 153 surgeons were using mobile phones for 11-20 yrs. The average hours of daily mobile phone usage were 373 minutes. A highest of 101 Otorhinolaryngologists using mobile phones for >4 Hrs. Surprisingly through the questionnaire we came to know that a total of 60 doctors among the 250 use the phone daily for an average of more than 10 Hrs, which is 24% of the study population surveyed. Questions 15-24 were purposed to bring the awareness knowledge of the respondents towards electromagnetic radiation of the cellular phones and it can be arbitrarily said that a score of 5 or more means that the person is aware. The average of the correct responses to each of the 10 questions given by the ENT practitioners is 5.97±1.66. Similarly, questions 25 to 35 assess the awareness of health hazards produced by mobile phone radiation. The mean correct response of the Otorhinolaryngologists is 6.30±1.87
Prevalence and Pattern of Substance Abuse among 18 to 60 years Male in a Rural Area of District Etawah, Uttar Pradesh
Get PDFAbstract: Adolescent and young people’s behavior is of major concern due to Substance abuse. According to WHO, Substance abuse is consistently or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice. Globally, alcohol and tobacco as a risk factors cause 4.0% and 4.1% of the overall burden of disability respectively. Objective: To determine the prevalence of substance abuse among 18 to 60 years’ male in rural Etawah and to identify type and pattern of substance abuse. Material and Methods: It was a community based cross sectional study carried out in five block of district Etawah for a period of one and half year. 1500 participants were interviewed using pre designed pre-tested questionnaire and data regarding socio demographic profile and pattern of abuse were collected. Data was entered in Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed by SPSS version 24 using appropriate statistical test. Result: Among 1500 participants, majority were below 30 years of age (i.e. 42.8%). In this study prevalence of Substance use among was 47% [707/1500]. Among all the other substance use, smokeless tobacco showed highest prevalence. Conclusion: Substance use is common in both urban as well as in rural area. So there is a need to educate and aware people regarding bad effects of drug abuse