ABSTRACT
Background: NAFLD is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in the Western population. The studies in India have been conducted in the general population. The present study is the first in India to be conducted in the medical community. Objective: To assess the prevalence of NAFLD among nursing staff in our institute and to assess the association of NAFLD with its risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study was an institute based cross-sectional analytical study conducted among the nursing staff of our institute. A pretested interview was used to collect the participants’ demographic details and personal and medical history. This was followed by measurement of blood pressure, weight, height and, waist circumference, and blood investigation for fasting blood sugar, fasting lipid profile, serum AST, ALT, HBsAg and anti-HCV. The staff underwent ultrasound abdomen to look for presence of fatty liver. Results: About 150 nursing staffs were included with a mean age of 34.2 years. The prevalence of NAFLD was 28.7 %. Of the subjects, 54% had obesity, 40.7% had abdominal obesity, 9.3% had diabetes, 3.3% had hypertension, 46.7% had dyslipidemia and 18% had metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of NAFLD was seen to be significantly higher among subjects with these risk factors: age > 40 years, obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of NAFLD among nursing staff is higher than the national prevalence. The risk factors for NAFLD in the studied population were age > 40 years, obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Background: Correct wound management and vaccination following animal bite prerequisite for prevention of rabies. Objective: To find out knowledge and practice about the correct wound management and vaccination following animal bite among the individuals in a selected urban area of Pondicherry. Methods: This explorative study was conducted in the field practice area of a tertiary care institution in urban Pondicherry. A total of 156 individuals one each from 156 households were selected and included after obtaining verbal informed consent. Using a pretested semi structured questionnaire, we obtained information on knowledge about wound care following animal bite and vaccination against rabies, and details of animal bite to any household members anytime in the past. Results: Only 19% of the respondents could name “Rabies” as the cause of death following animal bite. All the respondents had known about immediate initiation of anti-rabies vaccine following animal bite and its free availability in government hospitals. However, only one third of the respondents were aware of immediate washing of wound with soap and water following animal bite. The last one year incidence of animal bite was found to be 0.87% (6/682). Majority of the animal bite cases belonged to Class II (58%) and, involved dogs (88%), males (79.2%) and people from low socio-economic status (96%). All the individuals with animal bites had initiated anti-rabies vaccine within 24 hours of bite, however only two third had washed their wound with soap and water immediately following animal bite. About 17% of the animal bite victims had applied oil or turmeric over the wound. Conclusions: Incorrect immediate wound care following animal bite is a concern for prevention of rabies in this area. Health education should be strengthened on certain aspects like disease causation, wound care following animal bite and before coming in contact with a health facility to this population.
ABSTRACT
Use of Insecticide-Treated Bednets (ITNs) has been shown to reduce the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases. However, the impact of ITNs depends on its community acceptance. We studied the ITN usage and factors infl uencing it, following the distribution of one ITN to each family in an urban area of Puducherry. Around 93.6% of the 157 respondents surveyed were aware of mosquito-borne diseases. Coils and vaporizers were used in 91.1% of the families. Around two-fi fths (41.3%) of the 116 families who received the ITNs used it regularly with another 5.1% using it irregularly. Majority of the users (85%) reported reduced mosquito bites and pleasant sleep after use. Small size of ITNs was the most common reason for non-use (46.3%). Families not using normal bed nets at the time of distribution of ITNs were unlikely to use ITNs at present (odds ratio = 5.22, P < 0.001). Therefore, ITN size should be increased and distribution in urban settings should accompany behavior change communication.