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The article "Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors amongst antenatal women attending urban health centre of Rajkot City, Gujarat" is retracted by the Editor-in-Chief, due to violation of the policies and practices of International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. The article is retracted due to dispute in authorship.
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Background: Despite tremendous economic progress made through liberalization and globalization, gender preference for children remains a major issue in any society throughout the globe. The aim of the study was to determine the gender preference for children and its impact on family among study population.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out between October-2013 to December-2013 in the urban (Ratanpar) and rural (Khodu village) field practice area of C U Shah Medical College Surendranagar, Gujarat. Total 377 study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using pre designed and pre tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS.Results: Out of total study population, about 78.8% were completed their family and 21.2% had desire for child in near future. Those who had completed their family, nearly two third of them were blessed with both male and female child (62%). Among those who had desire for child (n=80), about two fifth (41.2%) wished to have male child. At parity one, 52% had desire for only male child as next child and also strong preference for male child was observed at parity two and above among those having only female children.Conclusions: Study revealed that most of the couples wish to have at least one son in the family hence perception of parents towards desired gender of child to be born must be gravitated in favor of daughters.
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Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes-are the world’s biggest killers. In developing countries, cancer is among the ten most common causes of mortality. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The most conspicuous feature of the distribution of cancers between the sexes is the male predominance of lung cancer. Prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are also much more common in males. Cancer of breast, colorectal, cervix, uteri, lung and stomach are common in females. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of various types of cancers in rural and urban community of Surendranagar district.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out among 300 rural and 300 urban families selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected and analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel have been used to generate graphs, tables, etc.Results: Study revealed that out of total study population (2053), 37 participants were having cancer. The prevalence of cancer was 1.80% in our study. Out of 37 respondents who were having cancer, majority cases were oral cancer 11 (29.73%) and 9 (24.32%) lung cancer, followed by cancer breast 5 (13.51%), cancer colorectal 5 (13.51%) and other cancers 7 (18.92%).Conclusions: Prevalence of cancer was increasing with the age. Higher number of cancer cases was found amongst older age than younger age. Significant difference was found between cancer prevalence and gender.
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Background: The life cycle dynamics of the causes and consequences of malnutrition demand a holistic and all inclusive approach to prevent and treat under-nutrition and nutritional deficiencies. In response, Government of Gujarat launched “Mission Balam Sukham” in the year 2012 which focuses on both preventive and curative aspects. Curative aspect consist of three tier approach for integrated management of malnutrition at three different levels. Nutritional rehabilitation Center is a unit in a district health facility where children with severe acute malnutrition are admitted and provided with the nutritional & therapeutic care. Methods: Analysis of data of all the children admitted to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre of Surendranagar district from June-2012 to November 2013. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS. Results: A total of 280 children were included in the study. The overall mean weight at admission was found 8.30 kg with standard deviation of 2.09 kg and the mean weight at the time of discharge was 8.97 kg with standard deviation of 2.16 kg. Average weight gain among 141 boys was 6.63 g/kg/day and among girls was found 7.60 g/kg/day. Out of total 280 children, 103 (36.79%) children had weight gain as per the standard criteria (8 gm/kg/day). Diarrhoea was found to be the associated medical condition in majority of the children. Out of total 184 children without medical complications, 97 (52.72%) children had weight gain as per the standard criteria. Conclusions: Present study reflected that Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers have been playing a key role to cope with malnutrition as demonstrated by high weight gain rate as well as high recovery rate.
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Background: Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity & mortality in children. One of the most cost effective & easy methods for child survival is immunization. In May 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched a global immunization programme known as Expanded Programme of immunization (EPI) to protect all the children of the world against 6 Vaccine Preventable Diseases by the year 2000. It was later redesignated as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) since 1985. The objectives of this study were to assess the dropout rate and primary immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months in Surendranagar city and to know the various reasons for partially or not immunizing the child. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study. Thirty clusters were selected out of a total of 282 blocks of Surendranagar using the cluster sampling method. Cluster sampling method was used for sample selection and the proforma designed by UNICEF was used as a study tool. Sample size was 210 children (7 Children from each cluster) of aged 12-23 months. The obtained data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests like Z test and X2 test. Results: Out Of the 210 surveyed children, 121(57.62%) were males and 89(42.38%) were females. Immunization card was available for 69.52% of children and fully immunized were 70.47%. Coverage was highest for BCG (95.71%) followed by OPV3 (82.85%), DPT3 (79.52%) and lowest for measles (75.23%). As far as the dropout rate is concerned, it was 21.39%, 10.21%, and 9.37% for BCG to measles, DPT1 to DPT3, and OPV1 to OPV3, respectively. Amongst the various reasons main reasons for dropout or unimmunization of children were ignorance in about 64% and lack of information regarding time, place and schedule (21%). Conclusions: Improvement should focus on reducing the dropout rate from DPT2/OPV2 to DPT3/OPV3 and improving coverage of measles and also Vitamin A.
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Introduction: Increased attention to health promotion and disease prevention are important for the appropriate care of the elderly. With the increasing life expectancy, a focus on preventive measures to decrease morbidity and improve quality of life in old age has also developed. To that end, health behavior and lifestyle have become important areas of concern over the last 20 years. Social factors lay a significant impact on the health practices. This study was therefore taken up to study the above factor and draw conclusions. Aims and objectives: 1. To study the various health practices of the elderly. 2. To find out association between the socio demographic features and the prevailing health practices. Methods: A Cross sectional analytical study was carried out. All the subjects were interviewed personally to know the details and were treated with due respect after a consent. Out of all the talukas in rural Surendranagar, Sayla was selected randomly after which Sayla village was selected in a similar manner from all the villages in the talukas. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 68±7.5. Majority of the subjects were unemployed and illiterate (58%). Social factors like Social class, staying with children and staying in joint family were significantly associated with good health practices. Conclusions: The Health practices of the elderly can be improved upon by large scale health education programmes which can be targeted on the age group. Patient compliance improvement can be achieved by explaining them about the disease and treatment protocol in detail at the time of their health visit.