ABSTRACT
Background: Fruits and vegetables are important components of the human diet since they provide essential nutrients that are required for most of the reactions occurring in the body. However, indiscriminate and overuse of pesticides damage agriculture and environment, but the pesticide residues on food products affect the health. Aim and Objective: The present study aimed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) among the farmers of Belagavi taluka, regarding the pesticide use and to determine pesticide residues in commonly used vegetables. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study included a total of 200 farmers selected randomly from 4 divisions of Belagavi taluka. Questionnaire was developed to assess the KAP. Fresh tomatoes and chilies were used as samples, fine homogenized sample (200 g) was extracted with ethyl acetate and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Most of them were aware of the precautions to be taken during pesticide use. However, not all armers followed the measures. Maximum of them used pesticides (n=150), followed recommended method (n=130) and concentration (n=152). Pesticide residues found in chili and tomato samples exceeded the maximum residue limit. Conclusion: Chlorpyrifos and ethion in tomato sample, and chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in chillies sample were the pesticide residues. Protective measures followed by the farmers was poor. Therefore, the knowledge of the farmers should be upgraded and, camps should be conducted periodically to monitor pesticide residues and health of the farmers.
ABSTRACT
Introduction:Sub Centre(SC) is the peripheral unit of the existing health care delivery system under the allopathic system of medicine in India. These basically provide preventive, promotive and the curativeservices and are facilitated by Female Health Workers (ANM) and Male Health Workers (MHW). They are the integral part of health care delivery system. Also, key to achieve a goal of health for all and to promote the community people for their overall development. Methods:A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2011 to February 2013 in all 9 sub centers of Kinaye PHCof Belgaum district, all 14 maternal health care workers were selected and 272 beneficiaries were selected from catchments area of these sub-centers were interviewed by administering structured, pretested interview schedule. Data were analyzed by SPSS (20 Version).Results:Study revealed that (85%) of the workers had correct knowledge but could not transform it into practice completely. This is due to multiple problems that encounter such as include lack of equipments(85.71%), transport facilities (77.78%), delay in decision-makingby community to seek care (77.78%), lack of supportive supervision (>20%). Besides these, they were lacking in career development opportunities. There are no promotional avenues and low remuneration and benefits. The acceptanceof service provided through sub centers was satisfactory (>90%) among beneficiaries and ANMs (98%) were most accepted than MHW. Beneficiaries faced many problems to access services such as lack of need based services (60%), poor attention by health service provider towards the need of consumers (5.2%) and difficulty in reaching to sub health post (21%).Conclusion:The regular supply of necessary equipments and medicines needs to be ensured at the sub centre and frequent in-service trainings and career development opportunities to be given to health workers to maintain the enthusiasm and devotion towards the profession. Also there is a need to provide skill development opportunities and ensure the convenience of service at all sub centers and communication between health workers and beneficiaries to be emphasized
ABSTRACT
Background: To decrease morbidity and mortality in under-5 children and also to improve their growth and development, integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness (IMNCI) strategy was adopted in India in 2005.Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of medical officers regarding IMNCI in five talukas of Belagavi district.Materials and Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted on 50 medical officers who have undergone IMNCI training. Participants were selected across five talukas of Belagavi district by convenience sampling. Ethical clearance was obtained. Data were collected from each participant using a pretested questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. All the questions were based on IMNCI guidelines. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.Results: Median score of knowledge was 13.2% of medical officers had inadequate knowledge, 54% had moderate knowledge, and 22% had adequate knowledge.Conclusion: The overall knowledge score of medical officers regarding IMNCI was good, but periodic refresher training workshops should be conducted to reaffirm and update the existing knowledge.
ABSTRACT
Malnutrition is a silent emergency. The prevalence of malnourished children in India is 43% which is nearly 2 fold higher than that of Sub-Saharan Africa. Malnutrition results from imbalance between the body’s needs and the intake of nutrients. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of pre-school children (3-5 yrs) residing in the catchment area of Ram Nagar Urban Health Center.This study was undertaken in the urban slum area of Ramnagar UHC. Using formula n= 4pq/d2the calculated sample size was 275. The sample was selected by Simple Random Sampling. A pre-designed and pilot tested questionnaire was developed. Ethical clearance and informed consent was obtained. It was seen that nearly one third of the children were under weight, wasted and stunted. One third was also categorized as malnourished by MUAC criteria. The mean ±SD age of pre-school children was 47.63 10.42 months, the mean ±SD weight of pre-school children was 12.98 1.14 kg and the mean ±SD height of pre-school children was 98.49 2.86 cm. There was an immediate need for nutritional intervention by the government sectors to improve the nutritional status of the children. The running of ICDS program must be evaluated to know its effectiveness and efficiency.