ABSTRACT
Background: Open defecation is the practice where people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to defecate. The health hazards due open air defecation are soil and water pollution, contamination of foods and propagation of flies which results in the spread of diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysenteries, diarrheas, hookworm diseases, ascariasis, viral hepatitis and other intestinal infections.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Singanodi village. 122 houses were selected for interview. One member from each household, preferably the head of the family was interviewed. The questionnaire included the socio-demographic features, practices about sanitary latrine usage and awareness about the diseases due to open air defecation. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS vs 20.Results: In the study the prevalence of open air defecation was found to be 63.1%. Majority of the study participants (52.5%) had sanitary latrines in their houses. 15.6% of the household practices open air defecation in spite of having toilets in their homes. Significant association was found between education and overcrowding with open air defecation.Conclusions: The study reinforces the importance of creating awareness about the importance of sanitary latrines and involvement of Government, NGO and communities is essential to stop open air defecation practices.
ABSTRACT
Background: Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan entails abstinence from food, water, smoking and drugs from dawn to sunset. In Islamic religious rule fasting during Ramadan is not mandatory if there is any contraindication such as illness, old age, pregnancy, etc. Many studies have shown that most Muslim women choose to fast during pregnancy because of a sense of religious duty, familial support, positive views on fasting and difficulty in completing the missed fasts at another time.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 124 pregnant Muslim women attending urban health centre for antenatal care during the month of Ramadan at Davanagere city. Data was entered in the Microsoft Excel and presented in the form of frequencies.Results: In this study majority of pregnant women believed that fasting during pregnancy is harmful to mother as well as child. Overall, 80.6% of pregnant women did not observed fasting during pregnancy.Conclusions: In this study majority of the pregnant women did not observed fasting during the month of Ramadan. Health education should be given to all pregnant women and family members regarding adverse effect of fasting on mother and child health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ischemic heart disease is a multifactorial disease. Various behavioural risk factors like smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and alcohol are known to be important risk factors for IHD.Methods: A case control study was conducted at Kerebilachi village, Davanagere. 40 known cases of Ischemic heart diseases and 80 controls were studied. The association of various risk factors with IHD was assessed. Data was entered in the Microsoft excel and analysed using SPSS v20.Results: Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, physical inactivity and obesity were important risk factors considered in this study. Significant association was observed with smoking (OR 6.15, CI: 2.646 -14.289.), diabetes (OR 5.28, CI: 1.80-18.54), hypertension (OR.35, CI: 0.12-1.01) and obesity (OR 0.74, CI: 1.06—8.23).Conclusions: This study reinforces the importance of risk factors which are modifiable and preventable.