28 research outputs found
Evaluation of input and process components of quality of child health services provided at 24 × 7 primary health centers of a district in Central Gujarat
No full textContext: With the critical Indian challenge on child survival and health, time is ripe to initiate focus on quality of services apart from measuring coverage, to bring about improvements. Aims: To assess the quality of child health services provided at 24 × 7 Primary Health Centers of Vadodara District in Gujarat in terms of Input and Process Indicators. Settings and Design: The study was carried out in 12 randomly chosen 24 × 7 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) of Vadodara district using a modified quality assessment checklist of the Program on District Quality Assurance for Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services with use of scores from May 2010 to June 2011. Subjects and Methods: Inputs assessment was done by facility survey. Process assessment for the four child health service components used actual observation of service, review of records and interview of service providers and clients. Results: The mean obtained score for facilities in Input section was 65%. Highest score was obtained for Drugs and Consumables (86%) followed by Equipments and Supplies (74%). The score obtained for Infrastructure facility was 65%, Personnel and training was 56% and Essential protocols and guidelines scored 43%. The mean obtained score in the process section was 55%. Highest scores were obtained for immunization at 76%. This was followed by newborn care (52%), growth monitoring (52%). management of sick child (41%). Conclusion: Quality improvement efforts should focus not only on resource-intensive structural improvements, but also on cost-effective measures at improving service delivery process, especially adherence to service guidelines by providers
Health-Care Providers' Preparedness for H1N1/09 Influenza Prevention and Treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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In Tanzania, the first case of H1N1/09 influenza was reported in September 2009. By March 2010, the reported number of cases was 770 with one death. Due to shortage of qualified human resources, essential medicines and laboratory supplies in health facilities, it was not known how well health-care providers in the country were prepared to deal with the pandemic. The study was conducted from December 2009 to May 2010 in public hospitals and private community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Fifty-three prescribers and 200 dispensers were interviewed to assess their knowledge on the prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza, and dissemination of correct information to the public regarding the pandemic. Most participants had inadequate knowledge on the transmission, prevention and management of H1N1/09 influenza. The majority of prescribers knew neither the antiviral drugs recommended for the treatment of H1N1 influenza (64%) nor their adverse effects (92.5%). The drug dispensers' knowledge was also inadequate regarding the transmission, prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza. Forty-one (20.5%) salespersons without formal training in pharmaceutical or medical sciences were found dispensing and supervising the pharmacies. Most participants had misconceptions on how H1N1/09 virus was transmitted. The results of the study revealed gaps in the knowledge of the health-care providers on the prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza infection. This indicates the need for strengthening of health-care systems and provision of continuing education and professional development for health-care providers on new and re-emerging diseases in the community.\u
Studies in design and development of stomach specific drug delivery system using various approaches
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Attitudes of undergraduate medical students toward mental illnesses and psychiatry
No full textBackground: Worldwide, studies show negative attitude among medical students toward psychiatry and mental illness. The knowledge of the attitude and awareness of the undergraduate medical students toward psychiatry, mental health, and psychiatric disorders are most important as they are going to be involved in the care of these patients either directly or indirectly during the later years of their careers.
Aim: This study aims to assess attitude toward psychiatry and mental illness among undergraduate medical students.
Methodology: The responses of 67 medical students from the 6th semester (third professional year) batch who completed their 2-week clinical posting of psychiatry in 4th semester (i.e., second professional year) were collected using validated questionnaires, attitude towards mental illness (AMI), and attitude towards psychiatry (ATP) that assessed their attitudes to psychiatry and mental illness. Double data entry and validation were done using EpiData and analysis using Epi Info software.
Results: Median AMI score was 54 (out of maximum 100) showing a neutral AMI. Median ATP score was 82 (out of maximum 150) also showing a neutral ATP. The theme-wise analysis showed that the attitude of students toward psychiatrist and psychiatry branch was relatively better compared to their AMI.
Conclusion: Undergraduate students have a neutral attitude to psychiatry and mental illness. More efforts are needed to change the attitude to favorable side
Process evaluation of child health services at outreach sites during health and nutrition day (Mamta Day) in urban slums of Western India
No full textProcess evaluation of child health services at outreach sites during health and nutrition day (Mamta Day) in urban slums of Western India
No full textIntroduction: Health indicators of rural and urban India show a wide variation. Rural areas have received large focus in child health services, but on the flip side, urban areas have been the last to receive such attention. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to include one randomly selected outreach session from all the 19 urban primary health centers of Vadodara city from April 2013 to May 2014. Nineteen session sites were observed for the process evaluation of three components of child health care, namely, “planning of Health and Nutrition Day,” “availability of vaccines/logistics,” and “direct observation of actual immunization process” at the site using a structured checklist. Results: Most of the vaccines and logistics were present at all 19 sites visited, but adverse events following immunization kit were observed at ten sites (52%) only. Open vial policy, no-touch technique, and immediate cutting of syringe with hub cutter were implemented at all sites; however, completely filled Mamta Card was observed at 9 (47%) sites only. All four key messages were given at 5 (26%) sites only. Conclusion: Immunization services such as proper vaccine administration with no-touch technique and open vial policy were mainly focused; however, other services such as biomedical waste management, record keeping, and delivery of all four key messages need to be strengthened during Mamta Divas. Strengthening of other child health care services such as growth monitoring, Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses, and referral services is required in urban areas
Readiness to quit addiction! A study among patients attending tertiary care hospital in Western India
No full textBackground
Tobacco use has been an important public health problem in India. Tobacco cessation is considered a cost effective intervention in controlling the tobacco epidemic in terms of preventable morbidity and mortality. Readiness to quit is one of the key steps in the process towards tobacco cessation. However, it is important to know the addiction pattern in the particular region so as to initiate de-addiction initiatives. So the current study was carried out with an objective to find the addiction habits and readiness to quit addiction among patients visiting GMERS Gotri General Hospital, a tertiary care hospital attached to Medical College in Gujarat, India.
Methods
All the patients at the registration desk of the hospital were randomly selected during May 2015. A total of 626 patients having any form of addiction were enrolled in this cross sectional study after taking written informed consent. They were interviewed in vernacular language using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. After counseling them for quitting tobacco use, their readiness to quit was enquired and those willing were referred to de-addiction clinic in Psychiatry department. Data was entered and analysed using Epi Info Software.
Results
Out of 626 addictive patients registered, 97% were males, 50.8% in the middle age group and 59.3% from rural areas. The most common form of addiction was tobacco chewing (66.4%) followed by smoking (32.7%) and alcohol (19.4%). Among them 428 (68.4%) showed readiness to quit. Out of those ready to quit 198 (46.2%) were actually registered at the de-addiction clinic.
Conclusions
Majority of patients were ready to quit addiction, so there is a need to have an ongoing program for awareness among patients about the de-addiction services already available within the hospital to improve quit rate. An awareness kiosk at the outpatient department can be explored in further studies
Implementing packet filtering of Software Defined Networks using Mininet and POX
No full textThis research paper investigates security components of the POX controller and describes an additional component, developed by the author, that provides enhanced filtering functionality
Solid-solution Zn(O,S) thin films: Potential alternative buffer layer for Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells
No full textSynthesis and characterization of spray deposited CZTS thin films for photo-electrochemical application
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