Assessment of death registration coverage and its delays in district Faridkot: an urban rural comparison

Background: Death registration has been made compulsory under the RBD Act 1969 as it acts as a back bone for planning services and formulates policies. According to CRS 2013, at national level, 70.9% of deaths were registered which is far from magic figure of 100% despite of concerted efforts of government. So this study was conducted to assess the coverage of death registration and its delays. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over a period of one year where 332 households(166 each from urban and rural area reporting deaths in last two years were included in study after taking informed written consent. Relevant information was collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire by house to house survey. Coverage was calculated with possession of death certificate. Data was compiled and analyzed using EpiInfo07 (CDC, Atlanta, USA). Results: Out of 332 deaths, 245 (74%) out of which only140 (57%) possessed the death certificate. The main cause of death was cardiac diseases. Maximum coverage was seen in the age group 41-60 years. Delay in registration was seen in 48% with significantly higher proportion in rural area (59%) than in urban area (40%). Reasons for delay were time constraints, lack of knowledge and financial constraints. Socio demographic variables like religion, caste, type of family, family size and SES were not found to be associated with delay. Conclusions: The coverage of death registration was comparatively higher than national data and delay was observed in about half of the death registration coverage

Socio-demographic co-relates of depression among housewives in rural area of district Ludhiana

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in general practice. It is much more common among women than men, with female/male ratio roughly 2:1. In today’s hectic life, stress is increasing in housewives. Very few data is available on depression among housewives in India. So the present study is aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and study its epidemiological co-relates among housewives aged 18-59 years in rural area of district Ludhiana. Objectives were to assess depression among housewives aged 18-59 years in a rural area and determine the association of depression with socio-demographic co-relates. Methods: This study is a community based cross-sectional study carried out in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. 300 subjects were selected by systematic random sampling. Assessment of depression among the housewives was done by using Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9). Results: In the present study, 43% of the subjects were found to have depression. Mean age of subjects with depression was found to be 42.4 (±10.3) years. There was an increasing trend of depression among housewives with increasing age (p=0.000). Inverse relationship was found between level of education and depression (p=0.000). Lower socio-economic status was found to be associated with higher rates of depression (p=0.039). Conclusions: Depression was seen to be on higher side among housewives in rural area of Ludhiana. Housewives should be educated about warning signs and symptoms of depression and motivated to avail the primary health care services.

Evaluation of role of topical 0.2% Glyceryl trinitrate ointment and topical 2% Diltiazem ointment in healing of anal fissure.

Backround: The patho-physiology of anal fissure is thought to be related to trauma to the anoderm from any cause. A tear in the anoderm causes acute pain, which results in spasm of the internal anal sphincter and decreased blood supply to the anoderm. Aim: To comparative evaluation of topical 0.2% Glyceryl trinitrate ointment and topical 2% Diltiazem ointment in anal fissure and to evaluate the role of topical 0.2% Glyceryl trinitrate ointment and topical 2% Diltiazem ointment in healing of anal fissure as compared to prevalent conservative treatment i.e. topical anaesthetics Material and methods: The study was conducted on the patients of anal fissure reported in outpatient department of General Surgery at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot including 60 patients which randomized in 3 groups, group A, group B and group C. the data was statistically analyzed using the SPSS version 16. Results: Improvement in constipation after 8 weeks of treatment were 85%, 85% and 80% in Group A, B and C respectively and p value was non-significant (0.887). Improvement in bleeding after 8 weeks of treatment were 90%, 90% and 85% in Group A, B and C respectively and p value was non- significant (0.851). Healing was 78.57%, 92.31% and 46.15% in Group A, B and C respectively Conclusion: Topical 2% Diltiazem and 0.2% Glyceryl trinitrate ointment are equally effective in healing of chronic anal fissure. However, early pain improvement and fewer side effect profile of Topical 2% Diltiazem ointment; this study suggests it as first line treatment of chronic anal fissure.

Visual outcome in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.

Background: Penetrating keratoplasty is the surgical removal of diseased cornea with replacement by full thickness corneal donor tissue. The aim of the study was to know the visual outcome in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. Methods: Thirty patients were selected from department of ophthalmology, Guru Gobind Singh medical college & hospital, Faridkot for penetrating keratoplasty. Results: Visual acuity of 6/12 was seen in 1 case, 6/18 in 4 cases, 6/36 in 5 cases, 6/60 in 5 cases, 3/60 in 4 cases, hand movements in 4 cases, PL+PR+ in 2 cases and no perception of light in 2 cases. Final vision at 6 months of follow up was >6/60 in 10 cases (33.33%). 5 cases (16.67%) had vision between 6/60-4/60. 13 cases (43.33%) had vision of 3/60 or less. While in 2 cases (6.67%) there was no vision at the end of follow up. Conclusion: Penetrating keratoplasty helps patients in regaining vision which makes them able to move independently. Although in our study visual outcome of more than 3/60 was present in only 50% cases.

A study of morbidity and mortality profile of 500 road traffic accident cases in Malwa region of Punjab.

Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) are increasing in an alarming ways. Globally, nearly 1.2 million people killed in RTA during the year 2002. Developing and underdeveloped countries accounted for 80% of these deaths. Aim: The aim of the study was to know the morbidity and mortality profile of 500 road trafic accident cases in malwa region of punjab. Material and methods: Total 500 road traffic accident cases admitted at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab from May 2013 to December 2013 were selected for the study. Results: The age wise distribution of victims showed that 157 (31.4%) occurred in 21-30 years age group, 215 (43%) victims reached the health facility within one hour and the 242 (48.4%) victims stayed in the hospital for the duration of 1-7 days. Conclusion: When enquired about the probable cause of accident most of the victims complained about the poor lighting condition on the roads at night time. The other major cause was alcohol or influence of others intoxication on the victim or the driver of the hitting vehicle.