ABSTRACT
Background: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is visited by lakhs of devotees from India and abroad every year and the number is swelling every year. Since the inception of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (1986), the number of pilgrims visiting the temple has increased from 13.96 lakhs in the year 1981–1986 to 78 lakhs in 2017 and is possible only due to very efficient and pilgrim-oriented management of Shrine Board. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study the epidemiological profile of pediatric pilgrim patients coming to Community Health Centre (CHC), Katra, and thereby suggest precautions which should be taken by the pilgrims. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 1 year from August 2017 to July 2018, in the Pediatrics Section at CHC, Katra, District Reasi, Director Health Services Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India. All pilgrims up to the age of 18 years with any type of recent ailments were included in this study. The detailed sociodemographic details present history and past history were taken and complete physical examination was done. The patients were categorized on the basis of diagnosis and managed as per the protocol. If necessary, patients were referred to higher center for further evaluation and management. Results: Of total 14,400 children who came to pediatrics outpatient department of CHC, Katra, 435 were pilgrims from all over India and abroad. Majority 144 (33%) pediatric pilgrim patients were from Uttar Pradesh followed by 98 (22.5%) from Delhi. Birth to 3-year group was the most common group suffering from ailments followed by 3 years to 6 years group. The most common complaints with which these children presented were related to gastrointestinal system and respiratory system. Less common complaints included allergic rash, insect bites, injuries due to fall, abnormal body movements, and monkey bites. Conclusion: Children up to 6 years are more prone for illnesses, particularly those <3 years old.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Childhood obesity and poor lifestyle practices are emerging as major public health challenges in the Caribbean. Given the fact that a significant part of childhood is spent at school, curriculum-based interventions aimed at improving good dietary and physical activity patterns may provide a useful vehicle for mass inculcation of long-term healthy lifestyle practices. In this study, we evaluated the long-term impact of a brief curriculum based intervention on dietary behaviour, physical activity and knowledge level of primary schoolchildren. METHODS: The study was a randomized, controlled, school-based nutrition education and physical activity intervention. One hundred students each were then randomly assigned to the intervention (IVG) and non-intervention (NIVG) groups and followed-up for 18 months. Participants in the IVG group were exposed to a curriculum consisting of six one-hour modules followed by school-based activities geared at fostering healthy behaviours. Students in the non-intervention group did not receive any modules and were subject to the information available at school on a regular basis. RESULTS: In multivariate regression equations controlling for age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and baseline values, intervention was associated with lower intake of fried foods and sodas (p < 0.05) and higher knowledge scores (p < 0.01) 18 months later but not significantly associated with improved physical activity or lower BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, participants in the intervention group reported significantly lower intakes of fried foods and sodas and higher knowledge scores than participants in the control group some 18 months post-intervention independent of age, gender, BMI, ethnicity and the intakes at baseline.
OBJETIVOS: La obesidad infantil y las prácticas de estilo de vida pobre se presentan cada vez más como importantes retos para la salud pública en el Caribe. Dado el hecho de que una parte significativa de la infancia transcurre en la escuela, las intervenciones basadas en el currículo dirigidas a mejorar los patrones de actividad física y dietética, pueden proporcionar una vía útil para inculcar masivamente prácticas de estilo de vida saludable a largo plazo. En este estudio, evaluamos el impacto a largo plazo de una intervención basada en un currículo breve de la conducta dietética, la actividad física, y el nivel de conocimientos de los escolares de la escuela primaria. MÉTODOS: El estudio consistió en una intervención de la actividad física y educación sobre la nutrición de base escolar, controlada y randomizada. Cien estudiantes fueron individualmente asignados de forma aleatoria a grupos de intervención (GIV) y grupos de no intervención (GNIV), con un seguimiento de 18 meses. Los participantes en el grupo GIV fueron expuestos a un programa consistente en seis módulos de una hora, seguidos de actividades escolares orientadas a fomentar comportamientos saludables. Los chilestudiantes en el grupo de no intervención no recibieron ningún módulo y estaban sujetos a la información disponible en la escuela de forma regular. The study was a randomized, controlled, school-based nutrition education and physical activity intervention. One hundred students each were then randomly assigned to the intervention (IVG) and non-intervention (NIVG) groups and followed up for eighteen months. Participants in the (IVG) group were exposed to a curriculum consisting of six one-hour modules followed by school-based activities geared at fostering healthy behaviours. Students in the non-intervention group did not receive any modules and were subject to the information available at school on a regular basis. RESULTADOS: En las ecuaciones de regresión multivariante de edad, género, índice de masa corporal (IMC) y valores de referencia, la intervención estuvo asociada con una menor ingesta de alimentos fritos y refrescos (p < 0.05), y una mayor puntuación en cuanto a conocimientos (p < 0.01) 18 meses más tarde, pero no significativamente asociada con una mejor actividad física o un IMC más bajo. CONCLUSIONES: En este estudio, los participantes en el grupo de intervención reportaron ingestas de alimentos fritos y refrescos significativamente menores, y puntuaciones de conocimiento más altas que las de los participantes en el grupo control, unos 18 meses tras la intervención, independientemente de la edad, el género, el IMC, la etnia, y las ingestas, en relación con los valores iniciales del estudio.