ABSTRACT
Blindness is one of the major public health problems in India. Visual rehabilitation by corneal transplantation remains a major treatment option in those who are already blind due to corneal diseases. To combat with shortage of corneal donation in India, spreading awareness among masses regarding eye donation becomes important. Objectives: (1) To determine the awareness regarding eye donation amongst adults (>20 years) in an urban re-settlement colony of Delhi. (2) To assess their willingness to pledge for eye donation. (3) To determine the factors influencing their decision for eye donation. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study, conducted in the urban health centre attached to a medical college of Delhi between October to December 2013. Systematic random sampling was used and every alternate adult patient >20 yrs attending the UHC was recruited. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS by a single investigator. Results: Majority (84.4%) had heard of eye donation. Only 21.2% were aware about contraindications for donating eyes. A little over quarter (27.6%) had heard of eye bank facility. When asked whether the retrieved eye can be stored before transplantation, majority (59.2%) didn’t know. More than half (54%) didn’t know which part of eye is removed. Mass media was major source of information in three forth respondents (74.9%). 45.5% were willing to pledge their eyes, a similar proportion was not willing (44.1%), five (2.4%) had already pledged and 17 (8.1%) were yet undecided to pledge. Conclusion: While majority of participants had heard of eye donation, but their knowledge regarding certain aspects of eye donation was found to be poor.
ABSTRACT
National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 report was recently released for health-related data. This review compares the child healthindicators across NFHS-3 and NFHS-4 with a background of existing health programs catering to child health. Reports of NFHS-4 andNFHS-3, along with ministry reports and existing literature were reviewed to understand the current status of child health. Child healthindicators were compared between the two rounds of NFHS and among Empowered Action Group states of India. National Health Policy2017 and National Health Programs related to child health were also analyzed. There has been an improvement in almost all child healthindicators from NFHS-3 to NFHS-4. The infant mortality rate has reduced to 41 per 1000 live births. The immunization rate is 62%, andhas almost doubled in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Despite existence of many health programs, there isstill a substantial lack of achievement in most of the indicators.a
ABSTRACT
Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in India. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), started in 1997, involved medical colleges in the control of TB on a high priority. We assessed whether patients with TB referred from a tertiary care hospital in Delhi reached the desired peripheral health institution and had their treatment initiated. Methods. This descriptive, retrospective study was done at a tertiary care hospital and included all patients with a diagnosis of TB (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) who were seen at the referral centre during the year 2011. Data were collected from various records of the referral centre and analysed for availability of feedback of the referred patients. Information regarding their registration and initiation of treatment was also collected. Postcards were used for the first time to trace referrals in patients with TB. Results. The majority (94%) of patients with TB seen in the referral centre at a tertiary care facility were referred to a peripheral health institution nearest to their place of residence. Feedback on referral was received from these institutions for 79.4% of patients from the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi and for 47.4% of patients from outside the NCR of Delhi. Conclusion. We found that a majority of patients with TB were referred and the registration and initiation of treatment could be traced in >75% of patients.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Community Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , India , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Postal Service , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies , Tertiary Care Centers/statistics & numerical data , Tuberculosis/therapy , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/therapy , Young AdultABSTRACT
The national family health survey-3 (NFHS-3) reports of declining fertility rate while increasing prevalence of anemia in women and children, since NFHS-2 in 1998-99. The proportion of anemic, stunted and wasted children has also increased since the previous two rounds. NFHS trends show that the status of mother's and child's health indicators is continuing to deteriorate in spite of the many government-run targeted programs, e.g. integrated child development scheme (ICDS), Midday meal program. The only good sign in the findings is the favorable trend in fertility indicators and infant mortality rate. A review of the findings of NFHS surveys, the current government policies and programs targeted upon the improving of health status of women and children in India and of the published scientific literature was conducted. The aim of the review was to understand the health situation of women and children in India and to suggest measures to bring about positive changes in the health status of this population. The analysis suggests that the findings of these successive surveys are not being utilized for the necessary corrective measures. The authors argue that although the NFHS is a useful exercise, in the wake of decentralized planning, the country needs more detailed data focusing on the districts. Synchronization of the ICDS and national rural health mission (NRHM), along with entrusting the responsibility of conducting NFHS to the planning commission, is the other possible solution to tackle the problems of rising anemia and malnutrition in the country.