ABSTRACT
Background: Anemia is a condition where the red blood cells and their capacity to carry oxygen is not adequate to meet the physiological needs. In pregnancy iron demand is high and loss of appetite can adversely affect this condition. So, guidelines to combat anemia has provisions to provide iron in the form of iron folic acid tablets to pregnant women during antenatal and postnatal care. But compliance is still low among pregnant women who needs attention.Methods: This study included 192 postnatal mothers in Cheluvamba hospital, Mysore. Details about socio-demographic factors and number of tablets taken during antenatal period were collected using proforma. Pregnant women who had taken less than hundred tablets during antenatal period were considered non-compliant.Results: The overall compliance to iron folic tablets was 71%. The factors which were independently associated with non-compliance are nuclear family, less number of antenatal visit, tablets from private source, and anemia in current pregnancy. The reasons for non-compliance among the pregnant women who were non-compliant were inadequate counselling by health care worker followed by side effects, cost of tablets, ignorance and fear of side effects.Conclusions: Family support, adequate counselling and continuous supply of tablets free of cost would increase the compliance to tablets among pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
The study evaluates the possible gastro protective of combination therapy of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa using three different gastric ulcer models. Gastric Ulcers in SD rats were induced by Indomethacin (25mg/kg), Pyrolus ligation model and stress-induced Ulcer. Various parameters like free acidity and total acidity, ulcer index, ulcer score, pepsin and mucin content, anti oxidant parameters like super oxide dismtase and catalase were evaluated. Omeprazole (2mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. Boerhaavia diffusa was administered at two dose levels, 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s Multiple Comparision test. P<0.05 was considerable statistically significant.Oral administration of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaevia diffusa at 200 and 400 mg/kg produced significant (p<0.01 & p<0.001) decrease in acidity, ulcer index and severity of ulceration in the pylorus ligation model as well as protection against stress and Indomethacin induced ulcerations compared to control. It also shows significant (p<0.001) decrease pepsin content and significant (p<0.001) increase in mucin content compared to control pylorus ligation model. In Indomethacin induced model combination therapy at high level shows significant increase (p<0.001) in antioxidant parameters like SOD and catalase compared to control. The anti ulcer effects of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa at both the dose levels were significantly higher than that of omeprazole alone. Combination therapy was found to be an effective anti ulcerogenic agent, minimizing any possible side effects. The result of the study suggests that combination therapy causes an inhibitory effect on release of gastric hydro chloric acid and protects gastric mucosal damage.