Factors associated with open air defecation in a rural field practice area of a medical college: a cross sectional study

Background: Open defecation is the practice where people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to defecate. The health hazards due open air defecation are soil and water pollution, contamination of foods and propagation of flies which results in the spread of diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysenteries, diarrheas, hookworm diseases, ascariasis, viral hepatitis and other intestinal infections.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Singanodi village. 122 houses were selected for interview. One member from each household, preferably the head of the family was interviewed. The questionnaire included the socio-demographic features, practices about sanitary latrine usage and awareness about the diseases due to open air defecation. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS vs 20.Results: In the study the prevalence of open air defecation was found to be 63.1%. Majority of the study participants (52.5%) had sanitary latrines in their houses. 15.6% of the household practices open air defecation in spite of having toilets in their homes. Significant association was found between education and overcrowding with open air defecation.Conclusions: The study reinforces the importance of creating awareness about the importance of sanitary latrines and involvement of Government, NGO and communities is essential to stop open air defecation practices.

Study on depression among elderly people in an urban slum of Raichur

Background: Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression. With an ageing population, depression among the elderly is likely to increase in the coming years, with higher prevalence among the elderly people than that in the general adult population. This study was intended to know the prevalence of depression and factors associated with depression among elderly people. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of Navodaya Medical College, Raichur. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the elderly person, after taking verbal consent. Depression was assessed using geriatric depression scale (short version). The study duration was from 1st September 2018 – 31st December, 2018 with 360 sample size. Results: Out of 360 elderly people, the prevalence of depression was found to be 31.4 %. The prevalence of depression was more in females 31.9% (63 out of 197). Significant association of depression was noted with age, socio-economic status, marital status, type of family, education and occupation with p<0.05. Conclusions: Around 1/3rd of the study participants were found to be suffering from depression. Depression was significantly associated with age, illiteracy, nuclear family, dependent on family members. Family support to the elderly population may prevent depression.

Obesity And Its Prevalence Among School Going Adolescents

Background: The obesity is defined as a non communicable medical condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue, creating an enormous socioeconomic and public health burden. Nutritional status of the Indian population varies significantly across the region. Certain regions are associated with extremely high rates of childhood under nutrition, where as others have a high prevalence of childhood over nutrition. Evaluation of obesity in children is important as it provides an opportunity to identify the problem and prevent disease progression into adulthood. Childhood obesity is associated with several risk factors for later heart disease and chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus etc. The present study is conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school going adolescent children. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study is carried out in Madre and Sindkhed area near Solapur among school children’s between 10-16 years age group, during the period of June 2017. List of children is prepared according to their age and sex from the selected schools. From this list, total 647 children were selected for study by systematic random sampling method. Anthropometric data (BMI) was analyzed using CDC growth charts. Data was analyzed using SPSS, BMI (CDC) calculator, CI calculator and OR calculator Results: Overall Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 4.45% and 1.27% respectively. Which is more significant in the age group if 13- 16 years (4.9% & 1.4%), and with individuals who were good with socioeconomically status (16.51% & 5.50). In both gender the prevalence of overweight and obesity was more or less same, but girls tend to be slightly overweight & obese than boys (I.e. 1.01% & 0.93%). Conclusion: The study revealed that obesity is an important public health issue not only in the adults but also most prevailed disease among children’s of rural habitat. Factors such as, food habits (preference to non-vegetarian / fried food, aerated drinks), lifestyle and a family history of Type-2 diabetes mellitus are significantly associated with the development of obesity