ABSTRACT
Introduction: Epidemiological data related to maternal mortality is valuable in each setup to design interventional programs to reduce the ratio favorably. This study was done to evaluate the maternal mortality rate in our hospital GGH GUNTUR from January 2020 to December 2021, to assess the epidemiological aspects and causes of maternal mortality, and to suggest recommendations for improvement. Objectives: 1. To estimate the maternal mortality rate in GGH Guntur 2. To identify the causes associated with maternal mortality 3. To identify epidemiological risk factors for maternal mortality 4. To recommend ideas for reducing MMR to prevent maternal deaths. Methods: This is a 2-year retrospective study conducted in our hospital, GGH Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. All data presented were collected from hospital records and the causes were assessed, some of the epidemiological risk factors were identified, and maternal mortality rates were calculated. A total of 165 maternal deaths occurred. Most maternal deathsResults: occurred in the age group of 20–24 years, primi women (53.33%), women from rural areas (75.15%), and unbooked patients (95.15%). Direct causes accounted for 52.27% of maternal deaths, 28.48% of maternal deaths were due to indirect causes and 17.57% of maternal deaths were due to non-obstetric causes ( 89.65 % were due to covid-19) Conclusion: Better reporting of maternal deaths and implementation of evidence-based, focused strategies, along with effective monitoring of maternal health, emphasizes the need for regulation of the private sector and encourages further public-private partnerships and policies, as well as a robust political will and enhanced management capacity for improving maternal health, particularly in an unprecedented health crisis such as Covid-19. As a considerable number of the recorded deaths are preventable, there is substantial room for advancement.
ABSTRACT
Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease for which the pathogenesis is complex and not fully understood; autoimmunity has been suggested as a causative factor. World health organization (WHO) has classified OLP as a potentially malignant lesion. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible key enzyme that generates prostanoids which play a critical role in inflammation, immunopathology; also considered as a malignant potential marker. Aims: The present study was conducted to analyze and compare epithelial COX-2 expression in OLP clinical subtypes and normal oral mucosa to evaluate its role in the pathophysiology of the disease process. Methods: This retrospective immunohistochemistry (IHC) study was performed on tissue sections of 30 OLP and 10 normal oral mucosae for COX-2 expression. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive and comparative statistical methods were done using 'one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), 't' and Chi-square tests. Results: All the OLP showed epithelial COX-2 expression; strong expression was noted in 80% of the OLP while normal oral mucosa sections showed no expression. Cox-2 expression was significantly higher in erosive lichen planus compared to reticular lichen planus. Conclusions: Strong expression of COX-2 in OLP suggested its important role in pathogenesis. Although COX-2 has been connected to malignant development and autoimmunity, as the malignant development in OLP is quite rare, this study suggests that increased levels of COX-2 seen here may support an autoimmune cause of the disease process.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To examine the relationship between academic stress and depression among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at higher secondary schools in Tamil Nadu. 1120 adolescents were included in the study after screening by MINI-kid tool. Modified Educatonal Stress Scale for Adolescents was administered to all children. Results: Adolescents who had academic stress were at 2.4 times (95% CI=0.9-2.4) (P<0.001) higher risk of depression than adolescents without academic stress. Conclusions: Adolescents with severe academic stress need to be identified early as interventions to reduce academic stress is likely to affect the occurrence and severity of depression.