ABSTRACT
Background: According to WHO, Passive smoking/ Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) carries serious risk especially for children & those chronically exposed. Objectives: To know the pattern of smoking, proportion of household passive smokers, subjective and health effects amongst passive smokers. Methods: The present study is a cross sectional study carried out in Shankar Bhuvan na Chhapara slum area of the Ahmedabad by using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. A house to house survey was carried out to collect the information as per the format. Those households which were having at least one active tobacco smoker in any form, were included in study and all members of such households were surveyed.Results: Total 118 houses out of 250 total houses had at least one smoker in them and were covered in the survey. Total population surveyed was 683 out of which 131 were smokers and 552 were non-smokers. The ratio of active versus passive smokers in the survey population was 1: 4.21. The mean age of smokers was 45.24+12.97 years whereas mean age of passive smokers was 20.13+14.44 years. The mean active smokers per family were 1.11 and passive smokers per family were 4.72. Firewood and kerosene were the most common fuels and majority of houses had no separate cooking area. Bidi was most commonly smoked stuff. Majority were chronic smokers and smoking on average 20.16+14.28 items per day. Amongst the subjective feelings unpleasant smell was present in 74% of respondents on acute exposure to tobacco smoke and coughing was the most common immediate symptom experienced by the passive smokers. Sixty nine percent children of less than 5 years of age had history of repeated Acute Respiratory Tract Infections as per mothers. Conclusions: Women and children are the victims of the exposure to ETS and indoor air pollution due to use of Bio-mass fuel and substandard housing add to this problem. Over and above that the immediate adverse subjective feelings amongst passive smokers are un-noticed and not given importance. All these are bared by the passive smokers constantly multiple times a day and may affect their mental health. The damage to physical health is a well known fact.
ABSTRACT
Background: Data on eye diseases among non-schooling children is very rare. Considering the fact those 19 million visually impaired children, 12 million children are due to refractive errors while 1.4 million are irreversibly blind for the rest of their lives. Early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity among children is important. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of ocular morbidity among urban-slums, non-schooling children of age 0-15 years. Methods: A cross sectional community based study was carried out in five slum areas of urban health training center, Asarwa, adopted by Dept. of Community Medicine to cover non-schooling children of below 15 years of age, from November 2010 to December 2010. Information was collected on a pretested semi structured proforma. An ophthalmologist from Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) did visual acuity and detailed ophthalmic examination. Data was analyzed with appropriate statistical tests like simple proportions and chi-square (x2) test. Result: Total 391 (14.2%) children in urban –slums community, who were not going to school, were included. Prevalence of ocular morbidity was 21.2%, Trachoma 4.9%, vitamin A deficiency 3.6 %, conjunctivitis 3.3%, refractive errors 3.3% squint 2.5% & color blindness 1.0%. Overall prevalence of ocular morbidity in government hospital and non-schoolings did not show any statistical significant difference. Conclusion: A high prevalence of ocular morbidity among non-schooling children was observed. School health services should be further expanded as child health check-up for the benefit of non-schooling children as well.
ABSTRACT
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is the single most important child survival intervention, the Eleventh Five Year Plan will concentrate on promoting optimal breastfeeding practices among women at home and in health facilities .The present study was, therefore, conducted to assess the use of Commercial Formula and breast Feeding among the rural & urban community of Ahmedabad district.Material and Method: This study was carried out in Urban and Rural communities of Ahmedabad District. Grade I PEM was seen in 138 (45.5%) Grade II in 126 (41.59%) & Grade III in 12 (03.96%) children. In the present study showed that out of total 603 children were studied in the age group of 0-24 months. Result and Discussion: In study group 19.16 % were from 0-6 months while 43.64% of children were of 7-12 months of age. 287 (95.66%) mother said that breast-feeding started immediately after birth. 234 (78.00%) mother said that commercial weaning food are not more nutritious than breast milk. While for rural areas, Almost 262(86.46%) mother had correct knowledge that breast feeding is given up to 4-5 month of age. 293 (96.70%) mother said that breast-feeding started immediately after birth. The difference of the feeding practice of urban rural area was found statically significant. These finding of our study were compared with the findings of District Level Household Survey-3(DLHS3) which shows significant improvement in the immunization in both urban & rural areas.