Promotion of Toilet Construction and Usage in Rural Tamil Nadu: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Study

Background: Open defecation is the leading cause for malnutrition and diarrhoeal deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The negative public health impacts of open defecation could be neutralized by toilet usage. However, the usage of improved sanitation facilities is unsatisfactory in rural India. Objectives: The study was carried out to find the psycho?social barriers among households for not having toilets and for not using the owned toilets and to develop and find out the effect of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategy on toilet construction and usage. Methods: A community?based Embedded Experimental Mixed Methods study was undertaken in the four field practice villages of Urban Health Training Centre, Villupuram. For baseline and end?line surveys, 422 independent sample households who were not having or not using the toilets were selected by Simple Random Sampling. After IEC clearance, interviews and direct observation of the toilets were undertaken. Context?specific multi?faceted BCC strategy was employed through community participation. The data were analyzed in SPSS software. Chi?square test was used to determine the significance of difference and effect size was calculated to estimate the size of the difference between the baseline and end-line data. Results: Toilet ownership and utilization improved by 21.3% and 23.3% points, respectively. There was a significant reduction in households’ perceived psychosocial barriers in toilet adoption. Conclusion: Our intervention demonstrated considerable improvements in both toilet construction and usage surpassing the psycho-social barriers. Future sanitation promotion interventions should focus more on community participation and the key messages should be reinforced multiple times using different channels.

Scoping review of published research on medical education in India during the Covid-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND Medical educators in India made rapid adjustments to maintain continuity and integrity of medical education in the midst of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns regarding achievement of competence by undergraduate medical students due to inadequate clinical exposure. We explored the focus of initiatives from medical educators in India by a scoping review of published articles on developments in medical education during the pandemic to map concepts, main sources and the literature available in PubMed. METHODS We did this scoping review of published articles in PubMed database in four steps: (i) identification of research questions; (ii) identification of relevant studies; (iii) selection of studies meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, and charting of data; and (iv) collating the summary and reporting of results. Manual content analysis was done to derive frequencies of variables. RESULTS Of the 52 articles identified, 22 met the requirements. Most studies (68.2%) were published in 2020. Half of the studies were conducted among undergraduate students and the remaining among postgraduates (27.3%), faculty (18.2%) and interns (4.5%). All the studies were evaluations at Kirkpatrick level-1 (18; 81.8%) and level-2 (4; 18.2%). Most of the studies (9, 41%) focused on exploration of perspectives about online learning among students and faculty, 9 (27.3%) on teaching– learning, 4 (18.2%) on formative assessment and 3 (13.6%) on summative assessment. CONCLUSIONS Most studies were evaluations at Kirkpatrick level-1 and level-2 among undergraduate medical students with a focus on conceptual understanding.

Evaluation of palliative care training program for medical interns in a tertiary care teaching hospital, South India

Introduction: The Department of Community Medicine has been training medical interns for providing hospital-based palliative care (HBPC) and community-based palliative care (CBPC) services with an interprofessional team. This study was done to evaluate the training program on palliative care developed for medical interns. Material and Methods: It was a retro-pre type of program evaluation done among 172 interns between January 2016 and December 2017. One day program was conducted for the interns by faculty trained in palliative care, followed by placement in HBPC and CBPC program. At the end of training, self-perceived improvement in knowledge was collected on a five-point Likert scale. Certificates were issued on completion. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info (version 7.2.2.6) software. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied between pre- and post-scores. Manual content analysis was done for open-ended questions. Results: The mean age of the participants was 22.5 ± 0.8 years, with 76 (44.2%) males and 96 (55.8%) females. There was statistically significant improvement in perceived knowledge scores after attending the training. Areas of learning, values learned, and uses of learning in future career and suggestions for improving the training program were the categories obtained. Conclusion: The training program improved the self-perceived knowledge on palliative care among medical interns. The exposure to HBPC and CBPC program had a positive effect on their attitude and perceived skills for caring of chronically ill patients. Such programs can be initiated by other palliative care providing institutions for training medical interns.

A study to assess the completeness of informed consent documents for biomedical research on human participants submitted to the institutional ethics committee of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Informed consent is an essential pre-requisite for research on human participants. However, many studies have shown that informed consent documents (ICDs) are incomplete and lack many of the essential elements. The objective of the study was to assess the completeness of ICDs submitted to an institutional ethics committee (IEC) against the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ethical guidelines for biomedical research on human participants.Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. The ICDs submitted to the IEC during the period from January 2015 to December 2017 were reviewed for completeness, with the help of a checklist which is based ICMR ethical guidelines for biomedical research on human participants 2006.Results: A total of 212 ICDs were reviewed during the study period. More than 50% of the ICDs have clearly explained many of the essential elements like nature and purpose of the study (62.3%), voluntary participation (98.6%), procedures (68.9%), risks (71.2%), benefits (92.9%), alternative treatments (60.7%), maintaining confidentiality (99.1%), no loss of benefits on withdrawal from the study (87.8%) and contact details of principal investigator (99.5%). However, the other essential elements of the ICD are either not mentioned or not clearly explained.Conclusions: This study has shown that although majority of the ICDs submitted for review by the IEC have mentioned many of the essential elements, some of the elements like contact details of Chairman of IEC, future use of sample, compensation for trial related injury and provision of counseling for consent of genetics testing have not been stated.

Orientation of medical undergraduates to community nutrition.

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing and diet is an important risk factor for it. This is less recognized in the medical curriculum and even though it is there, it is presented unsystematically. Objective: We studied theresponse to an ‘innovative method of teaching nutrition’ to the undergraduates and assessed their perspective of the facilitating and hindering elements. Methodology: The nutrition model was applied to semester iv students at our institute. A session planning guide was drawn initially and short group interactive sessions were given including briefing, demonstrations and field visits followed by diet calculation and inference about the consumption of the concerned family. Feedback was taken from students and analysis was performed. Results: The majority of the responses were, learning the basics of Interviewing (72%), problem based assessment of Balanced diet (53%), social determinants of nutritional diseases (60%). The facilitating points stated were development of interviewing skills, community orientation, reasoning abilities, planning balanced diet for one-self etc. and still more of practical sessions were suggested to be included in the guide. Conclusion: Our method of teaching nutrition was well accepted by students. They understood the key concepts and could apply them to problems based on social scenarios.

Institutionalizing district level infant death review: an experience from southern India.

Background: An Infant Death Review (IDR) programme was developed and implemented in two districts of Karnataka. Objective: We explored the processes that led to the development of the IDR programme with a view to improving the existing pilot programme and to ensuring its sustainability. Methods: A sequential mixed-methods design was followed in which quantitative data collection (secondary data) was followed by qualitative data collection (in-depth interviews). Quantitative data were entered using EpiInfo (version 3.5.1) software and qualitative data were analysed manually. Results: Apart from ascertaining the cause of infant deaths, the IDR Committee discusses social, economic, behavioural and health system issues that potentially contribute to the deaths. As a result of the IDR programme, key actors perceived an improvement in infant death reporting at district level, the development of a rapport with the local community, and elaboration of a feedback system for corrective actions. This has led to improved health care during pregnancy. Conclusions: We found that involvement of the different stakeholders in planning and implementing the IDR programme offered a platform for collective learning and action. Impediments to the success of the programme need to be addressed by corrective actions at all levels for its future sustainability.

Health-promoting school initiative in Ashram schools of Wardha district.

Background. We studied the effect of a health-promoting school-based intervention for disadvantaged children in the residential Ashram schools of rural Wardha, Maharashtra. Methods. At baseline, 1287 children in 10 Ashram schools were examined using a locally adapted Global Schoolbased Student Health Survey questionnaire. The haemoglobin level of all children was estimated using the haemoglobin colour scale. Body mass index and physical activity score for each child were calculated. The intervention was carried out through school health committees. After 1 year, 1226 children were examined using the same questionnaire. Results. There was significant improvement in personal hygiene and reduction in hygiene-related morbidity among the children. The median haemoglobin level of the children increased from 10.7 g/dl to 11.4 g/dl. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of children with body mass index that was normal for age (5th–85th percentile) from 32.2% to 38.5%. Conclusion. The need-based participatory health-promoting school initiative for disadvantaged children in Ashram schools led to an improvement in their personal hygiene and health.

Portfolio based approach for teaching Community Medicine among medical undergraduates and assessment of their learning in a medical college in rural India.

Objective: The study was undertaken to explore what and how first year medical undergraduates could learn about Community Medicine using a portfolio-based learning approach during the period of Social Service Camp in the village Pulai. Methods: Study participants were 65 first year medical undergraduates participating in Social Service Camp in the village Pulai, during 10 - 24 October 2008. The first step was to set Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time bound (SMART) learning goals focused on Community Medicine. These learning goals were to be achieved during the fifteen days and within the existing curriculum, using existing resources and opportunities. The portfolio based records of students who accomplished their learning objectives were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results: Of 65 students, 41 (63.1%) completed and reflected on their portfolios. Methods adopted for learning were; interaction with community based groups (48.8%), interaction with allotted family members (43.9%), lectures series, role plays and demonstrations (36.6%), interactions with village level healthcare providers (31.7%) and journal exercises (26.8%). The portfolio based exercises were useful to 30 (46.2%) students to understand the social, economic and health problems of the villagers and their life style. Twenty four (36.9%) students said that it improved their communication skills. This exercise helped 11 (16.9%) students to explore weaknesses such as poor communication skills, poor knowledge of local language, inability to adjust in new environment. Conclusion: The Social Service Camp in the village Pulai offered opportunities for portfolio based leaning to medical undergraduates. The students learned about the major topics of primary health care through self-directed learning. Key words: Social Service Camp, community based teaching.

Health expenditure and care seeking on acute child morbidities in peri-urban wardha: A prospective study.

Objective. To find out health expenditure in public and private sector consultations for common childhood (under 5) morbidities and to compare the clinical practices and the duration of illness for morbidities treated by public and private doctors. Methods. The present prospective study over 12 months period was undertaken in the field practice area of a urban health centre in rural India. We could interview mothers of 202 enlisted children at monthly interval for one year. At each visits, mothers were asked to recall any morbidity for the child in the past four weeks, date of onset of symptoms and relief, source of treatment and recorded both direct and indirect expenditure. The data was entered and analyzed by using Epi_info 6.04 software package. Results. Overall, there were 625 episodes of respiratory infection, out of which 377 (60.3%) were treated by private doctors, 158 (25.3%) were treated by government doctors and remaining 90 (14.4%) were treated at home. Significantly more episodes treated in government health facilities i.e., 12 (5.7%) were recommended or done laboratory test where only 13 (2.3%) consultations with private doctors were advised or done laboratory tests (p=0.015). Notably, 145 (25.5%) and 17 (8.1%) episodes treated by private doctors and government doctors respectively received injections (p=0.001). Average total expenditure on treatment of child morbidity was 189 INR (10% of total household income). Families with less monthly income (<1500) had significantly more expenditure (16.1%) on treatment of morbidities than those families who had higher (>1500) monthly income. Conclusions. About 10% of total household income was spent on the treatment of acute child morbidities. Private providers are preferred for the treatment of acute illnesses where both direct and indirect cost of treatment was high. Household with lower monthly income had to spend more on treatment of their sick children. Hence, while devising PPP and health care financing strategies for urban poor should emphasize to reduce health expenditure.

Awareness and health care seeking for newborn danger signs amongmothers in Peri-Urban Wardha.

Objective. To find out awareness of mothers about newborn danger signs and their health care seeking behavior for sick newborns in the peri urban field practice area of Urban Health Centre in Wardha. Methods. Triangulated study of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (mapping, pair-wise ranking exercise) methods were undertaken. 72 identified mothers of children (0-11 months) in social mapping exercise were interviewed by trained social workers using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire and by paying house to house visits. The structured questionnaire covered information on newborn danger signs, health care seeking and socio-demographic information. The data was analyzed by using Epi_info software package. A pair-wise ranking exercise for assessment of preferred health care facility for sick newborn was undertaken with the group of purposively selected mothers. Results. Out of 72 mothers, 29 (40.3%), 16 (22.2%) and 10 (13.9%) identified difficulty in breathing, poor sucking and lethargy/unconsciousness as newborn danger signs respectively. Only 7(9.7%) and 2 (2.8%) identified convulsion and hypothermia as newborn danger signs respectively. About 27 (37.5%) babies were sick during newborn period. About 11(15.3%) and 8 (11.1%) were reported to have poor sucking and difficulty in breathing respectively. All sick newborns with danger signs were taken to the doctor and only two mothers consulted faith healer for treatment. Conclusion. Considering the poor awareness of mothers regarding newborn danger signs, there is need for raising awareness building which required for early recognition and prompt treatment. Apart from strengthening government health facilities, the capacity of intermediate non government health care providers should be developed for newborn care.

A community based approach to improve health care seeking for newborn danger signs in rural wardha, India.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effect of community mobilization and health education effort on health care seeking behavior of families with sick newborns, and to explore the rationale behind the changed health care seeking behaviors of mothers in a rural Indian community. METHODS: In the present community based participatory intervention, a triangulated research design of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (Focus group discussions, FGDs) method was undertaken for needs assessment in year 2004. In community mobilization, women's self help groups; Kishori Panchayat (KP, forum of adolescent girls), Kisan Vikas Manch (Farmers' club) and Village Coordination Committees (VCC) were formed in the study area. The trained social worker facilitated VCCs to develop village health plans to act upon their priority maternal and child health issues. The pregnant women and group members were given health education. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was used to monitor awareness regarding newborn danger signs among pregnant women. In year 2007, a triangulation of quantitative survey and a qualitative study (free list and pile sort exercise) was undertaken to find out changes in health care seeking behaviors of mothers. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in mothers' knowledge regarding newborn danger signs. About half of the mothers got information from CLICS doot (female community health worker). The monitoring over three years period showed encouraging trend in level of awareness among pregnant women. After three years, the proportion of mothers giving no treatment/home remedy for newborn danger signs declined significantly. However, there was significant improvement in mothers' health care seeking from private health care providers for sick newborns. CONCLUSION: The present approach improved mothers' knowledge regarding newborn danger signs and improved their health care seeking behavior for newborn danger signs at community level. Due to lack of faith in government health services, women preferred to seek care from private providers.