ABSTRACT
The role of hostels in the educational advancement of backward classes is long recognized. In closed homes like hostels, the morbid conditions especially infectious diseases like skin diseases and respiratory diseases tend to rapidly spread among others and become difficult to control. There is increased nutritional demand in this age group because of pubertal changes. It has been found that several school children especially from socially backward sections of the community suffer from nutritional health problems as well as other physical health problems. We wanted to evaluate the morbidity pattern among boys residing in social welfare hostels.METHODSThis is a cross sectional, analytical study to determine the morbidity pattern among boys residing in social welfare hostels. This present study was conducted from August 2013 to July 2014 among boys residing in three welfare hostels, one each for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes in Tirupati town.RESULTSThe common prevalent morbid conditions found were skin disorders (46.4%), nutritional disorders (43.1%), eye diseases (29.0%), respiratory diseases (15.3%) gastrointestinal diseases (13.6%), ENT diseases (9.5%,), musculoskeletal conditions (1.0%), and other diseases (5.7%).CONCLUSIONSHealth education and increasing the nutritional supplements improve the health of children with regard to personal hygiene and common diseases. Provision of necessary materials like soaps, oils etc., under supervision of hostel staff will go a long way in controlling these infections.
ABSTRACT
Background: The National Urban Diabetes Survey in India (2010) has reported an age standardized prevalence of diabetes to be 12.1%. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is known to vary with lifestyle factors. Aims and objectives: The present study was conducted to find the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adults and its association with certain life style factors like current smoking, alcohol intake, saturated fat intake and physical exercise. Material and methods: This present study was cross sectional and analytical study carried out in 900 adults in the age group of 30 years and above during June 2014 to December 2014. A random blood sugar test was conducted among the selected study subjects and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was estimated using the cut off level of 180 mg% Those subjects who were already known to be diabetics with or without treatment were also classified as diabetics. The findings were analyzed using Epi-info software 7 version (CDC, Atlanta, USA). Results: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the present study was found to be 12.4%. Significantly higher proportion of current smoking was found in diabetics (17.0%) than in non-diabtics (6.1%). Current alcohol intake was significantly higher in diabetics than in non-diabtics (8.0% vs 2.4%); current saturated fat (ghee) intake was similar in diabetics and non diabtics (5.4% and 5.5% respectively). Paradoxically higher proportion of physical exercise was found in diabetics (15.2%) than in non-diabetics (5.1%). Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus showed significant association current smoking and current alcohol intake.
ABSTRACT
The sub-centers (SCs) are under constant criticism for their inability to deliver quality services due to the nonavailability of adequate infrastructure, manpower and supply of drugs.A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh to assess the availability of physical infrastructure and manpower in the SCs. A total of 34 SCs were selected by multistage and stratified random sampling technique. The data was statistically analyzed by using Microsoft Excel. The deficiency in the availability of health workers male and female were found to be 67.7% and 27.5%, respectively. The residential facility for health workers was available only in 26.4% SCs. Only 20.6% of SCs had stethoscope and B.P apparatus. The physical infrastructure and manpower availability at the SCs needs considerable improvement as per the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS). Facilities to conduct the normal delivery and 24-hours emergency referral services need to be addressed at the earliest.