ABSTRACT
Background: Menstrual cycle is a regular coordinated physiological change in non-pregnant women. The variation of hormonal concentrations during different phases of the menstrual cycle has a profound influence on autonomic and metabolic activities. The present study was designed to assess the cardiovascular sympathetic functions during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy eumenorrheic females.Methods: Fifty females in the age group of 18-25 years were selected for the study. Non-invasive cardiovascular sympathetic function tests were performed during different phases of the menstrual cycle using RMS Polyrite D.Results: Results were analyzed using paired ‘t’ test. Resting blood pressure, blood pressure response to isometric handgrip test and cold pressor test were statistically significant higher (p-value <0.05), in the secretory phase as compared to menstrual and proliferative phase. Blood pressure response to orthostatic test was statistically significant between the proliferative and secretory phase and between menstrual and secretory phase (p-value <0.05).Conclusion: Our study shows that sympathetic activity is highest during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and lowest in the proliferative phase as compared to the menstrual phase. This higher sympathetic activity may be correlated with higher estrogen and progesterone levels during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The study also emphasizes the complex relationship between ovarian hormones and autonomic regulatory systems.
ABSTRACT
Background: India is currently in need of large number of public health specialists to combat the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. But it was seen that medical students are less interested in a career as a public health specialists. This study aimed to assess the preferences of subjects for future specialization among medical students and to understand their attitude towards Community Medicine as a future career. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 200 MBBS students selected by stratified random sampling at Agartala Govt. Medical College of Tripura during April to May 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25.0). Results: Medicine was the most preferred subject (35%) for specialization followed by obstetrics and gynecology (16%) and surgery (15%). About 4% of the participants opted Community Medicine for future specialization. Lack of personal satisfaction, lack of future career prospective and lack of opportunity to earn name and money ranked top most cause for not choosing Community Medicine as a career. Conclusions: Preference of Community Medicine for future specialization was very limited among medical students. Interest on Community Medicine as a career among MBBS students can be improved by proper counseling and modification of curriculum.
ABSTRACT
Background: Consecutive decline in sex ratio of our country signals an impending crisis. Gender preference of women may have a role in determining sex ratio. Aims & Objective: To study the gender preference and the factors affecting gender preference of mothers. Material and Methods: A hospital based study was conducted during August – September 2013 among 390 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Agartala Government Medical College using a pretested semi-structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, χ2 test and logistic regression were used. Results: 40.8% had son preference, 29.7% preferred daughter and the rest had no particular preference regarding the outcome of their current pregnancy. Significantly higher son preference was observed among the rural, illiterate and nullipara or women having no male child (68.24%, 58.33% and 68.24% respectively, p < 0.05). Higher son preference was also observed among housewives (58.00%), primigravida (54.61%) and women from joint families (61.18%), though it was not significant. Preference for son was higher in both the presumed situation of having either one or multiple children. Reasons for son preference were ‘better security in old age’ 39.1%; ‘generation continuation’ 31.1%; ‘status symbol’ 18.8%; and ‘better earning’ 11.1%. Reasons for daughter preference were, ‘daughters are more trust worthy’55.1%; ‘daughters help in household work’ 19.67%; ‘daughters are laxmi of family’ 15% and non-specific reasons 10.23%. Conclusion: Improving social security at old age, facilities favouring girl children and steps for elimination of dowry from the society may help in improving the preference for girl children leading to a balanced population.