ABSTRACT
Introduction: Program Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) are important components of any program and are critical to sound strategic planning. NCDs are the leading causes of Morbidity and mortality. This research was aimed as evaluation of NPCDCS in Gandhinagar district. Method: Data were collected in form of reports and records from all centers (NCD cell, NCD cell clinic, CHC clinics) under NPCDCS in Gandhinagar district. Secondary data analysis was conducted for the financial year of 2015-2016. Results: At district level NCD cell, all the sanctioned post were filled. However, overall in the district 60.7% posts were vacant. Infrastructure at all levels of NPCDCS were adequately present. In financial year of 2015-16, total of 257 screening camps were organized. Total of 90399 people were screened during the camps and in OPD. Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in Gandhinagar district in year 2015-16 were 9.9% and 9.1% respectively as per NPCDCS programme. Compliance among hypertensive patients was 72% and among diabetic was 70%. Conclusion: Human resources are adequately available at district level, but they are grossly lacking at sub-district level, which is the reason for poor outreach activities and OPD activities at sub- district level. NPCDCS program must ensure that benefit to the diagnosed patients should be available close to their home and also to ensure minimum drop out of put on treatment.
ABSTRACT
Background: India’s Smoke-Free Law (SFL) was implemented in 2004 and reinforced on 2nd October 2008. This research attempts to understand the knowledge and opinion of hospitality venue (HV) managers about second-hand smoke (SHS) and SFL as well as self-reported compliance with SFL in two Indian states. Methods: A survey was conducted among 804 randomly sampled HVs from project STEPS (Strengthening of tobacco control efforts through innovative partnerships and strategies) in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, India. Four hundred and three HVs from two districts in Gujarat and 401 HVs from six districts in Andhra Pradesh were selected. The owner, manager or supervisor of each HV was interviewed using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Association of opinion scales with respondents’ background characteristics was assessed through the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Results: Out of the 403 respondents in Gujarat and 401 in Andhra Pradesh, 56.1% and 84.3% had knowledge about SFL respectively. Compliance of HVs with SFL was 21.8% in Gujarat and 31.2% in Andhra Pradesh as reported by the managers. Knowledge about SHS was noted among 39.7% of respondents in Gujarat and 25.4% in Andhra Pradesh. Bivariate results indicated that more educated HV managers showed higher support for smoke-free public places (P < 0.001) and were more concerned about the health effects of SHS exposure (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Complete self-reported compliance with, and knowledge of SFL as well as SHS was not found in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The education level of HV managers is an important determinant to ensure compliance with SFL in public places.
ABSTRACT
Background: There is an enormous health burden caused by the co-prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco use in India. This intervention study was undertaken in district Vadodara, Gujarat, India to promote tobacco cessation by integrating 'brief advice' for tobacco cessation in TB patients who were tobacco users and registered for treatment under TB control programme, based on the tested strategies advocated by World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union). Materials and Methods: Brief advice for tobacco cessation based on five A's, advocated by the WHO and the UNION was incorporated into the on-going TB Control programme in India in the year 2010. The tools were developed for education, training and capturing data. All the registered TB patients receiving directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) who used tobacco in any form were offered brief advice during routine interaction for treatment. Results: A total of 46.3% of TB patients, predominantly males (89.6% males and 10.3% females) were current users of tobacco; 39.1% used smokeless tobacco, 35.9% were smokers and 25% were dual users, that is, smoked as well as used smokeless tobacco. At the end of treatment, of the 67.3% patients who were offered brief advice, quit tobacco use, 18.2% re-lapsed while 14.5% were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: A significant numbers of TB patients use tobacco with adverse impact on TB control programmes. Our study shows that it is feasible to introduce 'brief advice' strategy as a cost effective intervention for tobacco cessation among TB patients with careful monitoring.