ABSTRACT
Background: The increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) urges continuous survey of risk factors in different population groups. Objectives: The study was conducted to assess the prevalence and determinants of behavioral and biological risk factors of NCDs, in rural tribal population. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015, in rural Siliguri, among 172 tribal people aged 25–64 years selected by multistage cluster random sampling using WHO-STEPS instrument. Study participants were interviewed for sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors, and biological measurements were taken. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the determinants of risk factors. Results: Among the study participants, the prevalence of current tobacco use and alcohol use were 69.8% and 40.7%, respectively; 96.5% consumed unhealthy diet and 2.9% were physically inactive. The prevalence of abdominal obesity and overweight were 26.2% and 12.2%, respectively. Odds of tobacco use were significantly raised among men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 47.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.1, 203.9]) and increased age of the participants. Men showed higher odds of alcohol consumption (AOR: 13.4 [95% CI 4.6, 38.9]). Odds of abdominal obesity were higher among older participants, whereas lower odds were found among men (AOR: 95% CI 0.11 [0.0, 0.5]) compared to women. Conclusions: Most of the behavioral and biological risk factors of NCDs were quite high among tribal population of rural Siliguri except physical inactivity. Increasing awareness about NCDs through locally accepted and culturally appropriate strategies need to be implemented in the study area.
ABSTRACT
Background: Even though India was the first country to launch family planning programme, population growth rate of India is still higher. Males are often the dominant decision makers of the family. Many studies regarding contraception has been done on females but the same is lacking on males. Aims & Objectives: The aim was to assess the level of awareness and practices about the contraceptive methods and factors associated with awareness and use among the married males in slums of Phulwarisharif block of Patna. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 married males aged 18 to 60 years over a period of 3 months in slums of Phulwarisharif, Patna. Data were collected by interview of study subjects using predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were applied using SPSS software. Results: Among 212 married males 91.5 % have heard of at least one contraceptive method, while only 42.45% have ever used any contraceptive method. The major source of knowledge among 194 aware participants were friends and family members (78.9%). Age, duration of marriage, number of children and position in the family were associated with level of awareness. Conclusion: Despite of high awareness about contraceptives low utilization and limited knowledge was observed among the married male participants.
ABSTRACT
The effect of homeopathic medicine on biological and physical system is directly related to its potency [1]. However, from physico-chemical point of view it is difficult to explain this effect at such high dilution, as then the existence of even trace amount of particle is questionable. It has been reported that during the process of potentization, a large amount of mechanical energy gets transferred to the medium due to succussion [2]. This energy in all probability reduces the size of the drug aggregates. The drug then penetrates easily through the membrane barrier, and thereby gives rise to enhanced activity of the medicine. It has been experimentally proved by us and supported by others that indeed a reduction of size of the aggregates takes place with increase in potency [3]. Using five different homeopathic medicines, their sizes at three different potencies have been estimated and a general mathematical expression relating the size of the particle (Y) and the corresponding potency (X) has been derived as follows Y = a X -n. (AU)