ABSTRACT
Background & Aim: This study was carried out to demonstrate the efficacy and compare a dose of Granisetron with Dexamethasone and Palonosetron with Dexamethasone for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting. Aim is to study the effectiveness of palonosetron and granisetron with aims of evaluating the efficacy of palonosetron and granisetron with dexamethasone in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting and to study associated adverse effects. The study was carried out in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad with prior permission of ethical committee of the hospital. Methodology: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and compare a dose of study drugs in 60 patients of either sex and age ranging from 18 to 60 years and physical status ASA risk I or II undergoing general anaesthesia for various laparoscopic surgical procedures. Patients were divided into 2 groups(n=30), assigned to receive granisetron 1mg plus dexamethasone 8mg i.v and palonosetron 0.075mg plus dexamethasone 8mg i.v. A standard general anaesthesia technique and post operative analgesia were used throughout our study. The groups were compared with regards to the incidence of complete response, mean PONV score, mean nausea VDS scores and requirement of rescue anti emetics drug at various intervals (0-6,6-24,24-72hrs). Differences in continuous variables (age and duration of anaesthesia) across two dosage groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test which is a parametric statistical test. Differences in categorical variables (gender, presence of complete response, use of rescue anti-emetics) across two dosage groups were compared using chi square test. Differences in ordinal variables (PONV scores and 4-point verbal descriptive nausea scores) across two dosage groups were compared using non-parametric Kruskal Wallis one-way analysis of variance. Mann Whitney U test was used to conduct sub-group analyses for comparing PONV scores and 4-point verbal descriptive nausea scale scores between two given groups. McNemar's test was done to compare differences in rates of complete response in a given dosage group across different time periods of assessment. Results: Our study results shows clear superiority of palonosetron with dexamethasone as a prophylactic drug for the prevention of PONV than that of granisetron with dexamethasone. Conclusions: Due to its longer duration of action, a single dose of palonosetron with dexamethasone before induction is effective in preventing PONV for upto 72 hours and hence can be termed as a prophylactic drug for PDNV also. It’s optimal and effective dose is 0.075mg i.v. with minimal side effects.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to present major health, social and economic problems especially amongst Female Sex Workers (FSWs). Objectives : 1. To assess the knowledge of STIs among FSWs. 2. To find the prevalence of STIs among them and correlate it with various variable. Study method: A cross sectional study was carried out in the two Targeted Intervention areas working in the Ahmedabad city covering 10% of their total registered population. Results: Total 353 FWSs were covered. The mean age was 32.85+ 7.6 years. Majority was married and either illiterate or educated up to primary standards. Most common symptom of STI known to FSWs was Genital ulcer (67%) and 170 (48%) of FSWs had suffered from STI in last one year, out of them 128(75%) had taken the treatment. Eighty percent FSWs had consistently used condom in last 1 year. Risk of getting STI in 30 to 35 years age group was more than the overall risk (OR>1). The risk of STI was 7.85 times and 2.87 times more amongst the FSWs having duration of sex work < 10 years and those not using condom consistently, respectively. The difference of treatment seeking behavior with duration of sex work and knowledge of STI was highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: Knowledge of symptoms of STI was high. Although the condom use was claimed by the respondents still half of them suffered from STIs in last one year.
ABSTRACT
Background: Several factors put India in danger of experiencing rapid spread of HIV if effective prevention and control measures are not scaled up throughout the country. Aims & Objective: (1) To assess the level of basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the study population; (2) To analyze the HIV testing among them. Material and Methods: It was a cross sectional study carried out during April –May, 2010 amongst 3125 subjects of high risk groups (HRGs) comprising of IDUs (Injectable Drug Users), Female Sex workers (FSWs), MSMs (Male having Sex with Males) and Single Male Migrants (SMMs) covered by 13 Targeted Interventions (TIs) of Ahmedabad city. Ten percent of registered HRGs were assessed by systematic sampling. Data was analyzed using Epi info version 3.5.1. Results: Mean age of HRGs was 28.69 years and about half of HRGs were educated up to primary standard. More than half of them were married.85% HRGs had heard of HIV and 51% correctly knew what HIV positive means. Knowledge about AIDS was 76% and understanding of AIDS was 66% among them .About 38% HRGs knew that HIV is infectious and 72.8% knew that HIV is incurable. About 65% HRGs knew that there is no effective vaccine for HIV. About 65% HRGs had been tested ever tested and in last 6 months about 52.2% of HRGs were tested for HIV. Age and education were statistically significantly associated with the knowledge about incurability of HIV, non-existence of vaccine, and ever testing of HIV and in last six months also with disclosure of HIV positive status. Additionally age was also statistically significantly associated with infectious nature of HIV. Conclusion: Young and literate HRGs are better aware about the disease and are more concerned about their HIV status. They are also more open about disclosing their HIV/AIDS status.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Various socio demographic factors play role in sterilization operation. Materials and Methods: A record-based study was conducted in Jetalpur, rural area of Ahmedabad District. Records of all sterilization operation done between April 2010 to March 2011 were studied. Results: A total of 180 sterilization operations were performed, of which 179 (99.4%) were female sterilization and one (0.6%) was vasectomy. The mean age of females was 28.27 years and that of their husbands was 31.72 years. Total 45% of females in the study population were illiterate, whereas 17% of their husbands were illiterate and their average family size was 2.8 members. Majority of females underwent sterilization operation when the age of last living child was between 1-5 years. In 67% cases, female health worker was the motivator. Only two couples had no living male child, whereas all other couples had at least one male child in the family. There was no significant relationship between the education of the mother and the age of the last living child, but education of mother was significantly related to the total number of living children in the family. Education of the father was significantly related with the age of last living child and the total number of living children in the family. Conclusion: The study reveals that education of both parents is an important driving factor in deciding the size of family. Majority of couple decide for permanent sterilization after having at least one male child. Thus, there is a strong preference for at least one male child in the family.