ABSTRACT
Background: Iodine deficiency disorders are recognized as major public health problem in India and the simplest, most effective and inexpensive preventive method is the consumption of Iodized salt. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of goitre among children aged 6 to 12 years in rural areas of Koppal district, to determine various factors associated with goiter among children, to estimate the level of urinary iodine excretion among urine samples collected from children and to estimate the level of iodine content among salt samples collected in the study setting.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for a duration of 6 months from June 2018 to November 2018 in rural areas of Koppal district among 3047 school children aged 6 to 12 years selected by cluster sampling technique. Goiter was detected and graded using standard techniques and the collected salt and urine samples were sent to MRHRU, Sirwar, Raichur for analysis. Data was collected using pretested and semistructured questionnaire and was analyzed using WHO Epi info software version 3.5.4.Results: The prevalence of goitre among school children in Koppal district was 442 (14.5%) and it was found to be significantly associated with age and source of drinking water. Majority i.e., 65.96% of urine samples had iodine content less than 100 µg/l and majority i.e., 79.15% of salt samples had iodine content less than 15 PPM.Conclusions: Goiter is mild public health problem in Koppal district with majority of urine samples excreting iodine below optimum levels and majority of salt samples being inadequately iodized.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco is a major risk factor for a number of diseases affecting all age groups. One person dies every six seconds due to tobacco use and up to half of current users will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. Government of India has enacted cigarette and other tobacco products act (COTPA) in the year 2003 to control tobacco use. The objective of study was to estimate the level of compliance to selected sections (4 to 9) of COTPA (cigarette and other tobacco products – prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) act, 2003 in Koppal district, Karnataka.Methods: The present study was a cross sectional study conducted as an independent evaluation of COTPA act 2003 in Koppal district as per National Tobacco Control Program guidelines. Cluster sampling technique was used for sample selection and sample consisted of 158 public places, 102 educational institutional, 87 shops/ sell points and 60 tobacco products. Data entry and analysis was done using microsoft office excel 2013.Results: The prevalence of compliance to section 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7, 8 and 9 of COTPA act 2003 in Koppal district were 80.3%, 96.5%, 98.9%, 64.8%, 53.3%, 63.3% and 50% respectively.Conclusions: Compliance level was poor especially in relation to display of health warnings on tobacco products which needs to be tackled through strict enforcement of the existing laws.
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy in general and most common cancer among women in both the developed and developing countries. Its incidence is on the raise due to increased life expectancy of people, increased urbanization and adoption of unhealthy lifestyles. An awareness of brest cancer and its presentation is essential among women for detection at an early stage and timely treatment for better prognosis. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices towards breast cancer among female students in the study setting.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted for duration of 3 months from July 2018 to September 2018 among female students at a degree college in Koppal city, Karnataka. A total of 396 students were included and data was collected using a pre tested and semi structured questionnaire after taking an informed consent. Data thus obtained was entered and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2013.Results: More than 80% of study participants had heard about breast cancer in the present study but their knowledge on its various aspects was limited. More than half were positive in their attitude believing that they are not at risk of breast cancer and were willing to practice breast self-examination (BSE) in future but only 5.28% of them admitted to have done BSE in the past. Most common source of information about disease was school in the present study.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated KAP gap among graduate female students which needs to be tackled through proper educational interventions.
ABSTRACT
Background: Immunization prevents approximately 4 lakh under-five deaths from vaccine preventable diseases in India. Immunization is a proven cost-effective and relatively inexpensive public health intervention for improving child survival. Under the national immunization program infants are immunized against 7 vaccine preventable disease namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, tuberculosis and measles. In India, inequity in the coverage of immunization persists within and between states, emphasizing the continuing need of coverage assessment surveys with a focus on quality of the health service. Aims & Objective: (1) To assess the primary immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months; and (2) To know the reasons for partially or not immunizing the child. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study. The method was adapted from WHO 30 cluster sampling, a two stage sampling technique involving a random selection of clusters based on probability proportional to size and then a random selection of households in the selected clusters. Mothers of the children were interviewed using a pretested and semi- structured questionnaire. Results: Out Of the 210 surveyed children, 104 (49.5%) were males and 106 (50.5%) were females. Coverage was highest for BCG (100%) followed by DPT1 (99.5%), DPT3 (95.7%) and lowest for Measles (93.8%). As far as the dropout rate is concerned, it was 3.83% for both DPT1 to DPT3, 3.38% for OPV1 to OPV3, 4.83% for HEP1 to HEP3 and 6.19% for both BCG to measles and 5.74% for DPT1 to Measles. Amongst the various reasons main reasons for dropout or non-immunization of children were the lack of awareness about the need for immunization in 38.70% and unawareness of the need to return for 2nd or 3rd doses in 25.58%. Conclusion: Improvement should focus on reducing the dropout rate from DPT1/OPV1/HepB1 to DPT3/OPV3/HepB3 and improving coverage of measles and also Vitamin A.