ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID‑19 pandemic was postulated to affect the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and their nutritional status. This study was planned to assess IYCF practices and nutritional status of infant and young children residing in slum areas and their association with selected background characteristics. Materials and Methods: Acommunity‑based, cross‑sectional study was conducted in slums of Kolkata Municipal Corporation among 161 mother–child dyads from October to December 2020. After obtaining informed consent, mothers were interviewed to collect information about their socioeconomic status, hardship faced during pandemic, and IYCF practices of their children using indicators proposed by the World Health Organization and Government of India. Weight and height were measured using the standard operating protocol. The proportion was used to express descriptive statistics. Binary logistic regression models were used for calculating the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) using PSPP (v 1.20). Results: Only 64 (39.8%) children received age‑appropriate feeding; 73 (45.3%) had single/multiple anthropometric failure(s). Reduction of family income was reported by 142 (88.2%) respondents. Children aged 6–8 months (AOR = 17.08, 6.43–45.42) were more likely to not have appropriate feeding. Association of female gender (AOR = 2.00, 1.01–4.00), maternal education less than middle class (AOR = 2.58, 1.22–5.46), and lack of appropriate feeding (AOR = 2.57, 1.08–6.12) were statistically significant with the presence of anthropometric failure. Conclusions: The study revealed a dismal scenario of child feeding and nutritional status of young children in the urban slums of Kolkata. Pandemic and imposed restrictions hit the families hard by reducing income and increasing food‑related costs.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the essential components for maintaining health is having proper and adequate nutrition. The absence of this might affect majorly the physical domain of health, especially in under‑five children as it is the age of development. The present study was conducted among the tribal under‑five children in a tribal predominant block, Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum District of West Bengal to find out their nutritional status, along with the estimation of prevalence of anemia among them; and the association, if any, between the nutritional status of the study population with their demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental characteristics. Materials and Methods: This community‑based cross‑sectional study was conducted among 378 tribal under‑five children residing in 21 villages of Mohammad Bazar Block during September 2018–August 2020 using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique. A predesigned, pretested schedule was used to collect necessary information regarding background characteristics. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) and biochemical estimation (hemoglobin level in blood) were done to evaluate nutritional status. Ethical permission was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee, Burdwan Medical College. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20. Results: The present study showed that 31.0% of under‑five children were underweight, 16.6% severely underweight, 31.5% stunted, 17.2% severely stunted, 21.7% wasted, and 7.7% severely wasted. Nearly one‑third of the study participants were suffering from anemia and most of them (91.5%) had mild anemia. As per LQAS, none of the villages had acceptable nutritional status as far as the weight for age and height for age was concerned. Conclusions:This research unveiled that the undernutrition in various forms still persists among the tribal under‑five children. Rigorous implementation of various schemes, missions, and programs by both state and Central Government are the need of the hour to overcome this downhearted situation
ABSTRACT
Background: Due to their occupation, health workers are always at-risk of developing life-threatening infections. “Standard precautions” acts as a protective barrier against this. There is a lack of information about awareness on standard precaution among auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), the frontline health personnel working at Sub-centres. The aim of the study was to assess the current awareness on Standard precautions among ANMs.Methods: This descriptive study with cross-sectional design was conducted at sub centre level of Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision, Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. In this study, conducted between September-November 2017, three blocks were chosen from the seven blocks in the subdivision through simple random sampling. All ANMs working in these blocks were approached and data were collected on background characteristics and knowledge on key elements of Standard precautions using a pre-tested and pre-designed self-administered questionnaire. Items assessing standard precaution were scored one (for correct response) and zero (for incorrect/missed response). Maximum possible score was fourteen and minimum was zero. Statistical analysis used association of acceptability of knowledge with background characteristics were assessed using bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression.Results: Median (IQR) of the score obtained was 10 (9, 12). Out of total 138 subjects, 64.5% had acceptable knowledge (score ≥10) regarding standard precautions. Participants’ age had a statistically significant association with acceptable knowledge in the bivariate analysis; however, in the final model, only training status of the participants remained significant [AOR-0.304 (0.098-0.938)].Conclusions: It emphasized the importance of regular training on Standard precautions for ANMs.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Safe immunization is one of the prerequisites for successful routine immunization program. Awareness on various components of immunization safety among frontline health workers determines their practice. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess knowledge of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) regarding various components of immunization safety and to determine association of their knowledge with some background characteristics (if any). Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at four community development blocks of Sadar North sub-division of Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal between June - September, 2017. All the 189 ANMs working in 107 sub-centres of these four blocks were interviewed for knowledge on various components of immunization safety with a pre- designed, structured, self-administered questionnaire. Results: Only 68 (36%) ANMs had adequate knowledge (score ≥ 33) combining all components on immunization safety. Chi-square test revealed that knowledge of ANM had statistically significant association with education level (p = 0.00) and last training status (p = 0.00). Education and last training status remained significant in binary logistic regression. Conclusion: Despite being trained, knowledge among ANMs regarding various components of immunization safety in the study area was still not satisfactory. Further emphasis on training and supportive supervision by local and district health authority is the need of the hour.