ABSTRACT
Background: ‘WASH’ is an acronym that stands for water, sanitation and hygiene and several interrelated public health issues that are of particular interest to international development and is the focus of SDP goal-6. WASH in schools aims to improve the health and learning performance of School-aged children and by extension that of their families, by reducing the incidence of water and sanitation related diseases. The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and practices regarding WASH among school children.Methods: A descriptive design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted at Zilla parishath Higher Secondary school with 150 participants selected using purposive sampling technique. Knowledge and practices of WASH were assessed using a structured questionnaire and checklist respectively.Results: The results showed that majority of them 125 (83.33%) had inadequate knowledge and 25 (16.6%) had a moderately adequate knowledge, while 21 (14%) were found to have adequate practices, 81 (54%) had a moderately adequate practices and 48 (32%) were found to have inadequate practices. It was found that there was no significant association between the knowledge and the selected demographic variables and a negative correlation was found between knowledge and practices.Conclusions: The findings revealed that, most of the school children had inadequate knowledge and a moderately adequate practice which indicates a need to impart knowledge and motivate the children regarding WASH to maximize the health and educational outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: Recent evidence incidence that low level of lead exposure, previously thought to be safe, have adverse effects on neurobehavioural and cognitive development of the child. Aim: This study was a clinical study composed of children who were likely to be at higher risk for lead exposure. To correlate Blood lead levels with the clinical profile, developmental and behavioral profile and bio-chemical parameters of these children. Materials and methods: Patients attending Niloufer hospital, Hyderabad were evaluated for pica were considered to be at risk for inorganic lead poisoning and Children who working at petrol bunks were at risk of Organic Lead poisoning Results: Children of lower socio-economic state of classes of 3 and 4 and those living poor housing conditions are associated with high blood lead levels than children of higher and those in good housing conditions. Pica children had significantly higher blood levels, more behaviour problems and lower hemoglobin levels than controls. Pica particularly for multiple (mud, plaster, coal) and duration of habit for more than 6 months are associated with high blood lead levels. Children working in petrol bunks for more than 1 year showed a high Blood Pb levels and low hemoglobin levels than those working for less than 1 year and controls. Children of petrol bunk group, showed more behavioural problem and significant organic impairment and low intelligence than controls. Children of petrol bunk group, similar to pica group showed a high Blood Lead levels. Conclusion: Present study suggests that oral ingestion in an important route of inorganic poisoning in children with pica, where inhalation through respiratory passages and absorption through intact skin is an important route of organic lead poisoning in children working in petrol bunks or automobile garages-by virtue of their occupation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Young age at pregnancy carries significant risk for the mother and baby, adding to the burden of maternal and child mortality. Aims & Objective: (1) To study the socio-demographic factors influencing adolescent pregnancy; (2) To take an account of the awareness among women about the right age for child-bearing. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based study was undertaken during September to December 2013 among mothers attending the antenatal clinic, in Mc Gann Hospital, Shimoga. The study group comprised of 214 mothers aged 15–18 years. Data was collected about the socio-demographic variables, tabulated on Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed using EpiInfo application. Results: All women were married. The mean age at marriage was 17.4 years, and mean interval between marriage and conception was 1 year. All were primigravids. 185 (86%) women were 18 years old and 29 (14%) were 17 years old. 15 (7%) women were married at 16 years, 92 (43%) at 17 years and 107 (50%) at 18 years. Non-consanguineous marriages were 122 (57%), while 92 (43%) were consanguineous. 172 (80%) women were Hindu, 34 (16%) were Muslim and 8 (4%) were Christian. 107 (51%) women belonged to socio-economic Class V, 22 (10%) to Class IV, and 37 (18%), 24 (11%) and 21 (10%) to classes III, II and I respectively. 75 (35%) women discontinued education after 10th standard and 100 (47%) before 10th standard. 39 (18%) studied up to the Pre-University course. Reasons cited were marriage by 41 (19%), poverty by 62 (29%) and 111 (52%) for disinterest. Among the husbands, 4 (2%) had never been to a school, 131 (61%) studied up to 9th standard, 60 (28%) quit after 10th standard and 19 (9%) studied beyond 10th standard, which included 4 graduates. 77 (36%) women were of first birth order of their mothers, while 80 (37%) of birth order 2. Anemia was detected in 128 (60%), 7 had bronchial asthma and 3 had congenital cardiac valve diseases. 17-19 years was the common age at pregnancy in the community and families of 188 (88%) women. 26 (12%) women said that the common age at first pregnancy was above 20 years in their community. 60 (28%) were forced into wedlock. 17 (8%) admitted were facing domestic pressure. 167 (78%) preferred to have the first child delivered before 19 years, 26 (12%) said after 20 years of age and 21 (10%) after 22 years. 126 (59%) women said early pregnancy is good, 56 (26%) took the opposite stand and 31 (15%) women were indifferent. 205 (96%) women were aware about contraception, but practice was zero. None had received sex education. Conclusion: Observations throw light on the fact that knowledge about the risks involved in adolescent pregnancy is lacking among the adolescent mothers. Contraception is not being practised. Also, the average educated and adequately aware women, were falling preys to poverty, traditions and domestic pressure, when it came to deciding the right age for child-bearing.