ABSTRACT
Background: Childhood obesity is a risk factor for subsequent development of diabetes mellitus, hypertension etc. Rural children show lower levels of obesity and higher rates of malnutrion. Objectives: Study seeks to access the prevalence of obesity and overweight among higher secondary students in rural Kerala).Methods: 1577 students were selected from schools picked randomly in and around vadavukode block in Ernakulam district, Kerala, of which 761 from private and 816 from government and aided school. Their height, weight and BMI was recorded and plotted in WHO growth charts to assess stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity.Results: No difference was found among the government and private schools. The finding from the data tally with the results from other parts of rural India with overweight and obese children (around 10%). The study found 44% children were found to be undernourished. Malnutrition was noted in both private and public schools possible highlighting knowledge deficit on Nutrition may be the cause of malnutrition. Only 47% students were in the normal range.Conclusions: Rural Kerala is afflicted with a serious problem of undernutrition and lower levels of obesity. There was striking prelidiction for obesity was noted among stunted children in the study highlighting the complex nature of the nutrition problem in India where malnutrition and obesity coexist and cause double burden of diseases. The solution is to encourage the message of healthy living, equally to the over nourished and the undernourished, where balanced diet and exercise as a way of life is encouraged.
ABSTRACT
Background: Case scenario based learning offers an interactive approach in medical education. It can be either as case based or problem based. objectives of' This study compared the effectiveness of Case scenario based learning (CBL) over didactic lectures (DL) among final year part II M.B.B.S students. It also compared the student's perception between the two methods.Methods: This interventional study was done in the Department of Pediatrics, Al- Azhar Medical College, Kerala for a period of two months. The participants(n=120) were divided into two groups- A and B who had respectively attended three sessions of CBL and DL on Pediatric infectious diseases. A test was conducted at the end of each session and after 2 weeks in the form of SAQs. A questionnaire was given to the participants about their perception. The data was analysed in SPSS 16 using unpaired t test and Mann- Whitney U test.Results: The mean exam scores for immediate tests were 26.04'1.9 and 19.47'2.8 for Batch A and Batch B respectively. The mean exam scores for the test conducted after two weeks showed significant result with 24.0'2.56 and 18.58'4.03 for Batch A and B respectively. Comparison of student's perception on Likert's scale about the teaching method yielded significant difference for CBL over DL with p<0.001.Conclusions: Case scenario based learning is an innovative method which is sure to invoke more interest and academic excellence in medical students.