ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.