ABSTRACT
Background:Worms are among the major causes of human misery and death in the world today. An important source of nutritional and energetic stress in many populations is infectious diseases, such as diarrheal disease, respiratory infections, and parasitic infections. The helminthes disease in Kashmir valley particularly the Ascariasis is mainly present in children from low socio-economic status. Kashmiri Children are most vulnerable to developing malnutrition and are likely to suffer from the effects of helminthiasis. Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between Helminthic infection and nutritional status of the Kashmiri children. Methodology: An analysis of 100 patients (both boys and girls) suffering from parasitic infestation in the age group of 2-10 years was done in the present study. On the basis of clinical presentations, physical findings the nutritional status of Kashmiri children suffering from parasitic infestation was determined. Results:The majority of the patients belong to the age group of 2-4 years, correlation between higher prevalence of parasitism and poor environment situation was observed and malnutrition is observed a major cause of the disease. Mothers of patients had low literacy rate as comparison to father. Majority of the patients had the MAC, chest circumference as well as head circumference much less than the normal. Interpretation & conclusion:Kashmirichildren suffering from parasitic infestation have a very poor nutritional status, Anorexia, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Fever, Respiratory infection;Anaemia and Dry cough were major complaints in all patients. Lack of personal hygiene, exclusive use of unboiled water, pica and field defecation increased risk of worm infestation. Helminthiasis is a common health problem among preschool children. Its association with malnutrition dictates that urgent steps need to be taken to prevent children from being infested if under –five mortality is to be reduced. This may be achieved through improvement in sanitary conditions of the environment, deworming and proper nutrition of the child.
ABSTRACT
Background:Due to rapid urbanization health status of people living in urban slums becomes a topic of priority for public health and urban health planners. Living conditions have a direct impact on public health. One of the biggest challenges that face urban planners worldwide is the proliferation of slums in urban areas and the host of health hazards that they bring along in their wake. This paper presents a health affliction and social diligence of slum women in Anand district.Aims and Objectives: To find out the status of women (in slum areas) in terms of adjustment and support system in their family. To understand the association between background personal profile of the respondents and their health condition. Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive, cross- sectional observation study conducted over a period of six months. 819 slum women within the age group of 16 years to 66 years; were selected using systematic random sampling method from the 8 slum pockets, exists on the national highway no. 8 and adjoining the railway track. Results: Majority of the respondents i.e 89% were migrants from Bihar, Orissa, U.P and M.P. Only 15% women eat together as a family, while 65% eat in last, 10% eat which was left over of children and 5% survive on snacks given at the workplace. 63% have skin problems, 44% have eye problems, 57% have dental problems. 16% have expressed conflict with husband due to alcoholism and 8% due to extra- marital sex of husband. Conclusion: Inspite of shouldering multiple responsibilities such as bread- earner, wife, mother, daughter-in-law, daughter, sister; almost all slum women have no/ little stake in the family and they are victimised to extremely poor health care.
ABSTRACT
Research Question: What is the situation of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and salt consumption in Bhavnagar district? Hypothesis: The prevalence of IDD has increased markedly as a result of medical as well as socio-economic factors. Objective: To assess the magnitude of IDD in Bhavnagar district and also assess the salt consumption patterns in the region. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary schools in rural areas. Study Tools: Clinical examination of study population for goitre, laboratory assessment of casual urine sample for urinary iodine estimation of I2 content of salt samples collected from sub-samples of study population. Participants: Study was conducted among 2,940 School children in the age group of 6-12 years were selected for study using WHO 30-cluster methodology, urine samples were collected from 15% of selected children and salt samples from 43% of sub-sample. Ethical Concern: No ethical issues were involved. Results: An overall goitre prevalence of 34.19% was observed in the region. Females had a prevalence of 32.9% and males 35.4%. The median urinary iodine excretion in the region was 11.0 μg/l (range: 29.0-190.0 μg/l). Ninty-seven percent of subjects had biochemical iodine deficiency with 73.87% having severe deficiency, 21.38% having moderate and 4.04% mild iodine deficiency. In Bhavnagar region, only 34.27% households consume powdered salt having an Iodine content of greater than 15 ppm. Conclusion: Present study showed severe goiter prevalence in primary school children in Bhavnagar district.
ABSTRACT
Research Question: What is the situation of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and salt consumption in Amreli district? Hypothesis: The prevalence of IDD has increased markedly as a result of medical as well as socio-economic factors. Objective: To assess the magnitude of IDD in Amreli district and also assess the salt consumption patterns in the region. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary schools in rural areas. Study Tools: Clinical examination of study population for goiter, laboratory assessment of casual urine sample for urinary iodine estimation of Iodine content of salt samples collected from sub-samples of study population. Participants: Study was conducted among 2,940 School children in the age group of 6-12 years were selected for study using WHO 30-cluster methodology, urine samples were collected from 15% of selected children and salt samples from 43% of sub-sample. Ethical Concern: No ethical issues were involved. Results: An overall goitre prevalence of 25.2% was observed in the region. Females had a prevalence of 25.4% and males 25.1%. The median urinary iodine excretion in the region was 120.0 μg/l (range: 29.0-190.0 μg/l). Forty-eight percent of subjects reported biochemical iodine deficiency with 5.2% having severe deficiency, 6.7% moderate and in 26.4% mild iodine deficiency. In Amreli region, only 39.29% households consume powdered salt having an Iodine content of greater than 15 ppm. Conclusion: Present study shows moderate goitre prevalence in primary school children in Amreli district.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: There is growing body of evidence that use of computers can adversely affect the visual health. Considering the rising number of computer users in India, computer-related asthenopia might take an epidemic form. In view of that, this study was undertaken to find out the magnitude of asthenopia in computer operators and its relationship with various personal and workplace factors. AIMS: To study the prevalence of asthenopia among computer operators and its association with various epidemiological factors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional study of 419 subjects who work on computer for varying period of time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred forty computer operators working in different institutes were selected randomly. Twenty-one did not participate in the study, making the nonresponse rate 4.8%. Rest of the subjects (n = 419) were asked to fill a pre-tested questionnaire, after obtaining their verbal consent. Other relevant information was obtained by personal interview and inspection of workstation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Simple proportions and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the 419 subjects studied, 194 (46.3%) suffered from asthenopia during or after work on computer. Marginally higher proportion of asthenopia was noted in females compared to males. Occurrence of asthenopia was significantly associated with age of starting use of computer, presence of refractive error, viewing distance, level of top of the computer screen with respect to eyes, use of antiglare screen and adjustment of contrast and brightness of monitor screen. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of asthenopia was noted to be quite high among computer operators, particularly in those who started its use at an early age. Individual as well as work-related factors were found to be predictive of asthenopia.