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Background: Maternal nutrition is one of the most important health and welfare problems among women in developing countries. Only limited research has been conducted on the prevalence and determinants of maternal nutritional status in Maharashtra. Particularly, data on the nutritional status of pregnant women are lacking. The aim of this was to assess prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among pregnant women attending antenatal care center.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted during September to December, 2018. Randomly selected 303 pregnant women were included in the study. Nutritional status was estimated using mid-upper-arm circumference. Data on potential determinants of undernutrition were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using logistic regression. p<0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant.Results: Overall prevalence of under-nutrition among study participants was 21.8%. Using a logistic regression model, factors significantly associated with the under nutrition were rural residence (AOR=0.675; 95%CI 0.307-1.485), having less than three years duration of marriage (AOR=6.650;95%CI 2.268-19.501), living with joint family (AOR=4.128;95%CI 1.606-10.611), no utilization of family planning methods (AOR=0.319; 95%CI 0.131-0.775), less no. of ANC visit (AOR=3.253; 95%CI 1.342-7.888) and having less frequency of meal (AOR=0.319 (0.149-0.683). Remaining all factors like religion, education, occupation, family size, gravida, parity, consumption of iron and calcium tablet, getting USG done, anti-tetanus vaccination, support from family and husband were not found as significant risk factors for undernutrition.Conclusions: Integrated approach is must to combat malnutrition among pregnant women.
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Introduction: Water borne and communicable diseases:Gastrointestinal disorders, particularly dysentery, diarrhoeaand parasitic infections are very common among tribalregions of Maharashtra, leading to marked morbidity andmalnutrition. The present study was a epidemiologicalsurveillance in the vicinity of Sardar Sarovar HealthProjects and its impact of health and morbidity status of thepopulation.Material and methods: It was a cross sectional, analyticalstudy. The study was conducted in Nandurbar districtMaharashtra. The affected villages by Narmada Sarovar waterkept under active surveillance during study period by the healthstaff and selected local leaders from villages.Results: There were total 872 cases of malnutrition reportedwithin two year. Out of this 85% were from >1 yrs of age groupand 15% were from below one year of age group. Out of 872cases of malnutrition 44% were Male and 56% were females.Majority of malnutrition Cases were from >1 yrs of age groupas compared to the below one years of age group, this data issubjected to statistical analysis the difference is found statisticallynot significant.Conclusions: Strengthening of the existing health servicesand existing infrastructure in the affected and rehabilitatedarea and active involvement of local leaders with someincentives (Pada worker, ASHA). NGOs and CBOs in diseasessurveillance system.
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Background: Diarrhoeal diseases represent a major health problem in developing countries. Conservative estimates place the global death toll from diarrhoeal diseases at about two million deaths per year (1.7 - 2.5 million deaths), ranking third among all cases of infectious disease death worldwide. The prime purpose of an outbreak investigation is to control the outbreak, limit its spread to other areas and assess how preventive strategies could be further strengthened to reduce or eliminate the risk of such outbreak in future. Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study of epidemic occurred in Khetiya village, Dist Barwani (MP), population of 67,500 during 17 October 2016 to 17 November 2016. All the cases reported within last one week around the market place village in Khetiya, presenting with symptoms and signs of AGE (as per standard case definition of IDSP) and willing to participate in the investigation. Results: Males were 56.96%, & female cases were 43.03%. Majority of the study subjects lied between 20-40 years. The mean age was 30.15±5 years. Majority of the cases belonged to lower middle class SES (38%). 87% population was tribal, 48% cases were labourers, 42% were farmers and 10% were others. Conclusions: Males were 56.96%, & female cases were 43.03%. Majority of the study subjects lied between 20-40 years. The mean age was 30.15±5 years. Majority of the cases belonged to lower middle class SES (38%). 87% population was tribal, 48% cases were labourers, 42% were farmers and 10% were others.
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Background: Medical equipments are necessary to effectively monitor, treat and support the care of patients by doctors in the management of their medical conditions. Proper maintenance affects the performance and safety of equipment. As equipments are part of health care provision in hospital, it is necessary to have well planned and managed equipment maintenance system in the organization. Aim: The study revealed the medical equipment maintenance system in Physiology Department of tertiary care government teaching institute. Material and methods: A retrospective observational study, during February to June 2014 of fifty two equipments costing more than 10,000 rupees was done for their maintenance system in the department. Information about equipment was collected by onsite inspection and departmental equipment records in structured proforma. Results: In the study, 45 mechanical and 7 electrical equipments costing less than 100,000 rupees were evaluated. It was found that 94.2% equipments did not have any service contract. From time of installation in the department it was found that most equipment i.e. 53.8% had crossed the life period of 15 years. Maximum i.e 85.7% electrical equipments had crossed their average life period. There was no proper maintenance of logbook and non availability of the user manual by the side of 84.6% of the equipments in department. Service history in worksheet of all 52 instruments was not recorded, post warranty maintenance in all equipments was by local personals only which was needed in 90.4% equipments. Out of equipments needing the maintenance and repair, it was corrective type in 98.2% times and reactive type in 1.8% times. There was no special training of the technicians about the maintenance of equipments. 73.1% equipments were working while 21.2% were awaiting repair. The procedure of ‘maintenance request" was noted in log book for all equipments. 3 of the equipment were having the long down time period above 5 years. Non functional equipment with long down time period was due to non availability of the spare parts in 21.2% equipment and vendor was not responding for maintenance in 5.7% equipment Conclusion: There was need of proper equipment maintenance system in department. The long down time period of equipment was due to old technology, non-availability of parts and non-responding vendors.
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Background and objectives: Biomedical waste has been a growing concern due to increased awareness in public regarding HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and exposure to other potential infectious diseases. Good BMW disposal practices lead to reduction in medical expenditure, unsightly scenes at various disposal bins and dumping sites. Improper biomedical waste management practices and indiscriminate disposal of hospital waste causes spread of illness leading to financial burden to society. The money saved by reduction in hospital acquired infections is much more than spent on control of hospital acquired infections. Therefore it is necessary to educate the staff, patients and community about the management of the infectious waste. The present study was designed to assess the awareness regarding biomedical waste in health care workers at a tertiary care Government hospital, Dhule (Maharashtra). Methods: Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College and Hospital is a 545 bedded tertiary care teaching Government hospital situated in rural area of Maharashtra at Dhule where per day approximately 90 Kg biomedical waste is generated .The present cross-sectional study was conducted during 1st August 2011 to 30th September 2011. Knowledge and practices about BMW was assessed among 153 health care workers (81 nursing staff, 35 laboratory technicians and 37 sweepers) handling BMW in the tertiary care Government hospital at Dhule. Results: It was found that only 70.6% of the health care workers were aware of biomedical waste management and 50.3 % had undergone training. 72.5 % of the health care workers were aware of 3 color coded bags used for collection of BMW. In the study only 41.8% of the workers were vaccinated against shepatitis B and 81.7% had received tetanus toxoid vaccine. Conclusion: For proper handling and disposal of BMW, all health care providers must undergo regular training in BMW management.
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Background: Haemoglobin concentration provides information about the status of anaemia in the population. Haemoglobin estimation is the routine and frequently performed screening haematological test of laboratory services. The Type of methods used and sites of collection of blood samples has found to make differences in haemoglobin concentration. The methods used in routine measurement are needed to be adjusted to obtain comparability with the haemiglobincyanide method. So the present study was undertaken with a objective to test the reliability of Sahli’s method in estimation of haemoglobin concentration and standardizing it in district hospital laboratory of Dhule in Maharashtra. Material & Methodology: Haemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) in blood is compared in 173 apparently healthy medical college students within 18 to 23 years age. Results from Sahli’s method were compared to Haemiglobincyanide (HiCN) method within capillary and venous blood of same subjects. Results: Sahli’s method has lower values than Haemiglobincyanide method with mean difference of 0.62gms/dl(95%CI; 0.51 to 0.73, p<0.01) in capillary blood and 1.1gms/dl(95%CI; 0.92 to 1.26, p<0.01) in venous blood. By Sahli’s method’s ability to diagnose anaemia has sensitivity of 83.7% & 90% and specificity of 63.2% & 60.2% in capillary & venous blood respectively. Sahli’s method has significant (p<0.01) positive correlation coefficient in capillary blood & venous blood. Variability of haemoglobin concentration in Sahli’s method is less in capillary blood then venous blood in caparison to HiCN method. Interpretation & conclusion: Sahli’s method had lower values of haemoglobin in capillary and venous blood compared to HiCN method. Haemoglobin concentration was lower in capillary blood than venous blood by both methods. For Accuracy of Sahli’s method the correction factor should be considered to ensure comparability of results with the reference method.