Indian Journal of Community Health
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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of COVID 19 and the factors influencing them among a Rural Population in South India
Get PDFBackground: Mitigation measures to control the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) depends on the public adherence to preventive measures which is influenced by their knowledge and attitude. Aim: To find the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the rural population toward COVID-19 and to establish its socio-demographic influencing factors. Material and methods: KAP study regarding Covid-19 was done among the rural population during August 2020 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Among 500 participants, the mean knowledge, attitude and practice score was 21.55± 2.9 ( Range 0- 30 ), 30.0± 2.88 ( Range 12- 36 ) 9.4± 1.25 ( Range 0-13 ) respectively. Higher knowledge was associated with higher education and employed individuals. Favourable attitude was among those aged <35 years and having higher education. Optimistic practices were exhibited by employed individuals and when children <12 years are present in their home. Conclusions: Study participants preceded good knowledge, positive attitude towards COVID-19 but practice is not sufficient enough to win the battle against the dreadful disease due to considerable knowledge- practice gap
Situational analysis of ‘Virtual evaluation,’ amidst the COVID-19 pandemic for future exploration! - An experience from a single-center study
Get PDFIt was 30th January 2020 when India reported its first COVID 19 in Kerala. Soon, the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 was inevitably knocking at the doors of the small hilly state of Himachal Pradesh (HP). On 20th March 2020, HP reported its first two cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Kangra district. Since then, although the COVID-19 pandemic was ensuing in the state, the epidemic was well contained due to the extensive collective efforts of the health department and other stakeholders.
COVID 19 pandemic has emerged as a significant barrier, hampering all the regular activities and impacting all spheres of life. Particularly in HP, health care services were predominantly delivered through government services across the state. As program managers, post-graduates of Community Medicine are the critical stakeholders of health care delivery at the peripheral level and integral implementers of Flu-Clinic, Contact Tracing, Surveillance and field survey teams. Ensuing pandemic enforces the need for the early placement of trained workforce in the periphery for apt delivery of specialized services amongst the community
Serosurveillance among COVID-19 Cases in Ahmedabad Using SARS-COV2 IgG Antibodies
Get PDFBackground: Serosurveillance study focusing on antibodies against SARS-CoV2 among the Covid19 cases can add value in the scientific knowledge & help in formulating valid predictions regarding immunity status in the post-covid period. Objectives: To estimate seropositivity among covid19 cases and to identify various factors affecting seropositivity. Methods: During second half of October 2020, a population based serosurvey on Covid19 cases was carried out in Ahmedabad. Covid-Kavach test kits were used and estimated seroprevalence was compared with available demographic and covid19 case related parameters to identify factors affecting seropositivity in the post-covid period. Simple proportions and Z-test were used as appropriate. Results: As on October 2020, the sero-positivity among Covid19 cases in Ahmedabad was 54.51% [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 52.14-56.86%]. Females have higher positivity (54.78%) as compared to males (54.30%) but the difference was statistically not significant (Z=0.19, P=0.84). Among children and elderly, the positivity is high and from young adults to elderly the seropositivity has an increasing trend. Severity of clinical illness and longer duration of hospitalization are associated with higher seropositivity. Conclusion: With 54.51% seropositivity among covid19 cases, it is clear that all the covid19 cases may not have developed IgG antibodies, have undetectable level or might have disappeared during the post-covid period. Comparison of seropositivity with age group and clinical case details clearly suggest close correlation with the severity of clinical symptoms. The seronegative cases indicate the need for further in-depth scientific research to identify the factors affecting immunity and to uncover the reasons behind the same
A perception of medical students about role of cinema on mental health
Get PDFBackground: Among few of the recreational activities of students are sports and watching cinema. Movies are found to be powerful instruments in influencing the attitudinal changes, emotional impact, education, life styles, health and other behaviours. Objectives 1. Choice of cinema among medical students 2. Perceived effects of watching cinema on study participants. Methods- This was a cross sectional study carried out among undergraduate medical students. Sample size: 153. Result: Age of the participants ranged from 18-29 years averaging 21.43 years. Bollywood movies were the most commonly watched by 113 (73.9%) followed by Hollywood movies watched by 104 (68%) study participants.77 (50.3%) participants believed that movies showing sexual violence against females badly affect the psyche of females
Strategies to provide care to Non-COVID Patients in the COVID Era: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Institute in Northern India
Get PDFWith the COVID-19 pandemic the health system is facing dual burden of cases, one being the COVID-19 or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases and the second being the other Non-COVID cases. The Non-COVID cases due to the burden of the SARI cases became almost neglected by the Health System increasing the sufferings of the Non-COVID cases. In the current COVID times All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur continued to provide the health care to the Non-COVID cases. The current manuscript provides the detailed strategy and results of the various strategies used to provide care to such Non-COVID patients with minimum risk to the healthcare staff
An illustration of delays in Mucormycosis: A case Study
Get PDFBackground: Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection with a high fatality rate and is the third most common fungal infection that is invasive in nature, next to candidiasis and aspergillosis. It is attributed to the poor socio-economic status and triggered by the local trauma due to unhygienic setup or poor health care. The pathway of pathogenesis is not clearly understood in immunocompetent patients and therefore becomes a matter of great concern.Aim& Objective: To explore the pathway of mucormycosis in a case of post SARS-CoV-2 infection Settings and Design: Tertiary Care hospital of Jabalpur DistrictMethods and Material: Interview with the case and care taker and case file review.Results: We could conclude this as a case of rhino- orbital mucormycosis attributed to uncontrolled blood sugar during treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, three delays that have occurred during the disease progression like ignorance from health service provider, late diagnosis, non compliance to the advice given by health facility, poor oral and nasal hygiene and no use of distilled water in humidifier. Conclusions: The early diagnosis, prompt Treatment , surgical intervention , proper blood sugar monitoring and rational use of steroids are important steps of successful outcome of the disease
Mask Use pattern, Public Perception and Barriers to Effective Mask Usage-A battle far from over
Get PDFBackground & Objective: Proper mask wearing reduces the transmissibility and risk of Covid-19 infection still compliance to mask use is low. This study was conducted to observe the mask usage pattern, perception and barriers to effective mask usage (EMU). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in collaboration with district police administration to observe mask usage pattern in various crowded places. Methods and Material: Participants from general public (n=6995) in 10 preselected areas of city were observed and then interviewed about their perceptions about EMU. Indirect observation of EMU was also done by screening CCTV footage, followed by another set of observation at same places after conducting a health education campaign. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: EMU was seen in nearly 62% participants. Younger age, native population, education above matric, persons driving two & four wheelers, had significantly higher compliance. During CCTV observation, EMU was 57.5%, and was highest near public places, roads and intersections while lowest near bus stand and religious places. Some improvement in compliance was seen after health education at these places. Breathing difficulty, no use of wearing mask and feeling uncomfortable were the most common reasons given by participants for non-compliance.Conclusions: EMU was lower in elderly, migrants, less educated, unemployed, daily wage workers, so these groups should be especially sensitized about preventive measures. There is need for extensive public education to bring out behavioral change regarding proper mask wearing to control this pandemic and prevent further waves
Assessing the burden of Covid-19 in the slums of Bangalore city: Results of Rapid Community Survey
Get PDFBackground: Karnataka, more so Bangalore, reported an increase in number of COVID-19 cases in early April 2021. Objective: To assess the burden of COVID-19 in the slums of Bengaluru city. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional multi centre community-based study was done in the 2nd and 3rd week of April 2021 in 24 different slums in Bangalore city. WHO cluster random sampling technique was followed. Swabs for RTPCR test and 4 ml of venous blood was collected from 728 subjects more than 18 years of age. Results: A total of 51 (7%) subjects were positive for COVID-19 through RT-PCR. Majority 33 (56.9%) were in the age group of 18-44 years. 148 (20.3%) subjects were sero-positive on blood examination and 18-44 years was the (59.4%) preponderant age group. Overall seropositivity was 20.3% (95%CI; 17.4-23.2) and RT-PCR positivity is 7% (95%CI; 5.2-8.8%) among the subjects surveyed. In the inner core area of Bangalore, seropositivity was 24.2% (95%CI; 21.0 – 27.3) and RT-PCR positivity was 8% (95%CI; 6.1-9.9). Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine were taken only by 1.55% subjects during the study period. Conclusion: The study showed that one in 5 subjects were sero-positive to SARS-CoV-2 and one in 15 individuals had active COVID-19 infection
COVID 19 Vaccination strategies in India- A Public Health perspective
Get PDFCOVID-19 has emerged as one of the most challenging pandemics of the recent times. Although physical-distancing and other transmission-mitigation strategies have helped battling this virus in the most effective way, but this will also paradoxically leave the population without immunity to COVID-19 and thus susceptible to additional waves of infection. Thus, to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, safe and effective vaccination programme is required globally with robust vaccination strategies. This article pens down the important strategies being implemented globally for successful vaccination programme and critically reviewing them from public health perspective
Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre of Kolkata
Get PDFBackground: Drug resistant tuberculosis is a major public health threat that hinders progress in tuberculosis control worldwide. In 2019, India contributed highest cases of TB (27%) Worldwide. In 2019, 3.3% of new TB cases and 18% of previously treated cases had MDR/RRTB worldwide and India (27%) had the largest share of the global burden. This study was done to find out the sociodemographic and clinical profile of drug resistant TB patients. Methodology: It is an observational descriptive study with cross-sectional design, conducted at the drug resistant tuberculosis centre of R. G. Kar Medical College of Kolkata, West Bengal. Study Population consisted of the patients who were registered for the DR-TB regimen. Study duration was July 2016 –March 2017. Pre-tested, semi-structured schedule was designed to capture their sociodemographic profile, treatment history, clinical findings and available medical records. Data were compiled in MS Excel and analyzed in IBM SPSS 23.0. Results: Out of 159 cases, 27% patients were between 21-30 years. Males were predominant (68.6%). Most patients (56.6%) were underweight (BMI<18.5kg/m2). HIV seropositivity was found in 4 (2.5%) cases. Among all cases, 81.1% had history of taking ATD and 34.4% was cured in previous episode of treatment. The commonest associated comorbidity was DM (15.7%). Rifampicin resistance (93.1%) was most common followed by Isoniazid (8.2%). Pallor was found among 94.3% patients. Most patients had bilateral (62.3%) and moderately extensive (57.2%) lesions in chest x-ray. Conclusion: DR-TB control should focus adequately on younger age group as numbers of resistance is increasing among them. Relapse in previously cured cases was found to be major contributor of DR-TB suspect cases. Though, Rifampicin resistance was so common but prevalence of resistance to 2nd line drugs is still low. Focus should be given on early detection of drug resistance in all TB cases and improvement of nutritional status of the TB patient