ABSTRACT
Background: Health care seeking for sexually transmitted infection is frequently inadequate, particularly among female sex workers because of the low levels of awareness regarding sexual health. Correct diagnosis and treatment with health information are essential components of sexually transmitted infection (STI) services. Objective was to study demographic profile and to assess their health seeking behavior for STI and prevention services.Methods: Study was done in urban slum in Mumbai. It was cross sectional study conducted from May 2018 to December 2018.Results: The median age of women was 26 years. Majority belong to lower socio economic class, 39.4% women admitted that they took alcohol on occasions while 22% had sex with alcohol intake, 41% women were using condom during sexual activity. Only 14.5% women completed treatment who had past history of STI.Conclusions: Ensuring timely complete treatment of STI/RTI among women with high risk behavior is priority to prevent spread among general population.
ABSTRACT
Background: Substance use is a major public health challenge because it is engulfing the younger generation with serious health, social and economic concern. Unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking and illicit drug use often begin during adolescence. The study was undertaken with objectives of assessing the prevalence of substance use and its determinants among students of Industrial Training Institute (ITI).Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in all students of the institute to find out prevalence of substance use and its determinants. Data was collected in a predesigned and pretested proforma by oral questionnaire method and was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests of significance.Results: Prevalence of substance use was 18%. There was no significant association of substance use with age, education, caste or residence of the student but it was significantly associated with type of family (p=0.02) and literacy of mother and father (p=0.04 and p=0.01). Tobacco was most commonly used substance and most common factor determining substance use was addiction in family members. All the participants were aware about cancer as a health hazard of substance use but awareness about other health hazards was low.Conclusions: Several factors can act as determinants of substance use including type of family, education of parents, peer pressure and addiction in family members. Role of family and society should be identified and practiced for prevention and control of this substance use.
ABSTRACT
Background: Sudden illness, injury or animal bites can often be serious unless proper care is administered promptly. First aid is immediate attention to one suffering from illness or injury. Everyone should be able to give effective assistance until an injured person can receive professional medical care. This study was undertaken with objectives of assessing the baseline knowledge among students of industrial training institute (ITI) about common health emergencies, their appropriate first aid measures and to conduct training on first aid through lecture and demonstration as well as to assess effectiveness of training on their knowledge about first aid.Methods: An Interventional study. Baseline and post-test assessment of knowledge scores was carried out after a week and 16 weeks of training sessions on first aid of all students in the institute. Data analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests of significance.Results: Baseline knowledge about first aid in injuries and bites was higher among students than their knowledge about burns and other emergencies. Rural students and students of scheduled caste and tribe had low baseline knowledge (p=0.015 and p=0.025 respectively). Training on first aid significantly improved knowledge about all health emergencies among all students as evident from post-test scores at first week and 16 weeks (p<0.05). Gain in knowledge was significantly higher among rural students.Conclusions: Students had low baseline knowledge about first aid measures. Sessions combining knowledge and skills have brought about significant improvement in the knowledge of participants irrespective of their age, caste or urban-rural background.