ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To know the current magnitude of the occurrence of Acute Intermittent Porphyria in Kumhar community of a part of Western Rajasthan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross sectional study of rural community of Kumhars of Bikaner district of Western Rajasthan. The households of kumhar community were approached. Besides recording other information and examination details, their urine samples were subjected to Watson-Schwartz Test. RESULT: 1237 subjects out of a total of 2385 kumhar population distributed among 20 randomly selected villages of Bikaner district could be studied. The prevalence of AIP was estimated to be 1.16%. (CI=0.012 +/- 0.0005), showing higher prevalence than the earlier reported studies. The cases exhibited varied symptomatology. Overall preponderance was in favor of females (2:1) and majority of cases (38.9%) were found in the age group of 20-29 years. Average age of manifestation was 24.5 +/- 4.8 years. A follow up was also done to know the disease consequences, if any. CONCLUSIONS: The study finds higher prevalence of the disease and as such warrants a need for generating awareness among the families of cases in the specific caste group in the study area for early detection and better management of the disease.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , India/epidemiology , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Porphyria, Acute Intermittent/epidemiology , Prevalence , Residence Characteristics , Sex DistributionSubject(s)
Adult , Age Distribution , Diabetes Complications , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Hypertension/complications , India/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Sex Distribution , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
The paper contains information on infant feeding and weaning practices in the rural communities of a semi-arid district of Rajasthan. The findings have been drawn from a recent survey of 328 rural mothers. The rural women of this area are found to believe in old deep seated beliefs and customs, which in turn deprive their infants from advantages of colostrum (77% discarded colostrum) and nutritionally rich supplements, which otherwise should be supplemented to them at any cost in order to keep them healthy. The practices of prolonged breast feeding and delayed supplementation to infants are rampant in this area. Mean age at weaning (27.1 months) again not only affects the health status of mothers and their children but also leads to the undernutrition among both. The findings of the study necessitate to evolve an exhaustive educative programme dealing with various aspects of infant feeding and weaning practices, keeping in view their traditions, so that the useful practices can be encouraged and harmful ones be prohibited.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , Culture , Female , Humans , India , Milk, Human , Rural Population , WeaningABSTRACT
A total of 792 pregnant women from three hospitals of Jaipur were surveyed to assess and compare their knowledge and attitudes regarding various aspects of AIDS. Observations revealed that level of knowledge was significantly higher in pregnant women from upper income group than low income group (P < 0.05). The misconceptions regarding various aspects of AIDS viz. symptoms and signs, transmission and prevention and opinion towards the AIDS patients, indicate that there is strong need of AIDS education compaign in pregnant women too.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Desert Climate , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Income , India , Pregnancy/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Rural HealthABSTRACT
Nutritional status of 1044 school age children (6-18 yr) of salt workers in various salt manufacturing sites of Rajasthan, was assessed using anthropometry. Heights and weights of girls were observed to be better than in boys in the menarcheal age groups. Children of the present study showed reduced growth in comparison to National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS), World Health Organisation (WHO), well-to-do Indian children and Rajasthan reference values of the same age groups. The prevalence of stunted with severe wasting was 4.5 per cent in the children of salt workers. Higher prevalence of severe wasting was observed in girls than the boys (P < 0.01).
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Anthropometry , Child , Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Child Welfare , Female , Food Handling , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Nutritional Status , Sodium ChlorideABSTRACT
A total 2120 salt workers were examined in 8 camps organised at different salt sites in Rajasthan. These camps were organised to find out the morbidity conditions among salt workers and to provide preventive and curative treatment for the ailments. The majority of salt workers who attended the camps were males (79.0%) in comparison to females (21.0%). The majority of workers belonged to Scheduled Castes followed by Backward Class and Scheduled Tribes at all sites. The major morbidity disorders observed during these camps were dermatological, respiratory, musculoskeletal, gastro-intestinal and ophthalmological in both the sexes. The prevalence of hypertension was 4.3% among both sexes. The morbidity pattern in male workers was agreeing among Sujangarh and Kuchaman and after that Pokran and Didwana were agreeing with highest rank correlation, whereas in female workers it was agreeing among Nawa and Sujangarh and after that Phalodi and Pokran were agreeing with highest correlation.