ABSTRACT
Background: Yoga and meditation hold promise as a non-pharmacological management of hypertension as they have shown to lower blood pressure. This study aimed at (1) assessing the awareness about benefits of yoga and meditation in hypertension among patients and finding its socio-demographic correlates, (2) estimating the practice of yoga and meditation in hypertensives, its pattern and impact on blood pressure control.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 hypertensive patients. Statistical association was tested with chi square and independent t tests.Results: It was observed that only 9% respondents were aware of the benefits of yoga and meditation in hypertension while 12.8% practised the same. On probing it was found that these 3.8% practised yoga and meditation only because their physician had advised them to do so without even knowing their benefits. This points out the importance of physician advice which can be even more effective if pros and cons are properly explained. People who were aware of the benefits were 51.9 times more likely to practise them (p<0.001). Highly significant association was observed between awareness regarding lifestyle modifications like yoga and meditation and gender, socioeconomic status, education and locality (urban non-slum/urban slum/rural).Conclusions: The complementary use of non-pharmacological treatment or lifestyle modifications like yoga and meditation can go a long way to lower blood pressure and such options need to be provided by the health care providers and the gap in awareness elicited in our study needs to be addressed.
ABSTRACT
Background: India contributes to 25% of the over 6.9 million under-five deaths occurring worldwide every year with nearly half of them in neonatal period .This study is related indirectly with the causes of U5MR (e.g. Neonatal sepsis, prematurity-LBW) through focusing on service utilization related to perinatal events & incorrect practices of essential Newborn care (e.g. initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breastfeeding). Objectives: (1) Assess utilization of child health services related to perinatal events (2) Assess incorrect practices related to perinatal events (3) Assess effect of demographic variables on service utilization and association of these variables with practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 400 children (12 to 59 months) was done using multistage sampling technique in Jamnagar district. 120 children were selected from urban and 280 from rural areas as urban: rural ratio is 3:7 in India. Results: 93.55% children having umbilical infection. Birth weights were taken in majority of children (95.75%), 15.83% of those weighed were having low birth weight (LBW). Application on umbilical cord after birth was seen in 10.25% & prelacteal feed in about 1/3rd children. Breastfeeding immediately or within 4 hours after birth was seen in 3/4th, exclusive breastfeeding in 2/3rd children. Conclusions: Children having umbilical infection were treated indicating better utilization of curative services. Taking of birth weights in majority of children indicating good functioning of healthcare professionals but some of those weighed were having low birth weight (LBW) indicating underutilization of preventive-antenatal services indirectly affecting child health. Incorrect practices like application on umbilical cord after birth and prelacteal feed were seen in children. Recommended practices like breastfeeding immediately or within 4 hours after birth, exclusive breastfeeding were seen in children. Colostrum giving was more prevalent and low birth weight was less prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas which indicated better health care utilization in rural areas.