ABSTRACT
Background: Recently there is growing concern about stress during undergraduate’s medical training. Undue stress may cause adverse health consequences and lowered academic performance. Objective of the study was to know perceived level of stress and its causes among undergraduate medical students.Methods: A cross sectional survey, using self-structured questionnaire, was conducted among 65 third year medical students. Questionnaires were related to socio-demographic profile, perceived stress scale [PSS] and 32 item list of stressors (grouped as health related, academic and psycho-social). Student’s responses were recorded on five point Likert scale.Results: Mean PSS score was 25.53±5.55 and was significantly higher for females. Psycho-social stressors occurred most frequently, followed by the academic causes.Conclusions: Medical undergraduates face high level of stress and the causes may be varied. They need more interaction, counselling and support from faculty to relieve their stress.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Nutritional anaemia is a worldwide problem, withthe highest prevalence in developing countries. In India, 20-40% of maternal deaths are due to anaemia. 55 % of Indianadolescent girls are anaemic and the prevalence of anaemia inwomen of reproductive age is 53.1% and 56% of adolescentgirls and 46.8 % of the women aged 15-49 years are anaemicin Rajasthan and the prevalence was slightly higher in ruralthan urban areas.Objective: To study association between epidemiologicaldeterminants and anaemia prevalence among 10-49 year agegroup females of rural Bikaner.Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study, A totalof 600 women were selected for study by systematic randomsampling. Inclusion criteria included informed verbal consentand no critical or chronic illness.Results: Most (92.50%) of the study population was anaemic.Mean haemoglobin value among anaemic and non-anaemicfemales was 8.65±1.23 g/dl & 11.24±1.21 g/dl respectively.About 2/3rd (69.55%) of the anaemic study population hadmoderate anaemia. Only 2.50 % of the anaemic studypopulation had severe anaemia.Conclusion: Anaemia is a major public health problem amongadolescent and reproductive age females in rural area and agegroups, type of family, age at marriage, age at first child,pattern of menstrual cycle, medical history of study populationand signs and symptoms were associated with anaemia inadolescent and reproductive age females.
ABSTRACT
The increased risk of the transmission of HIV is known to be associated with the presence of STIs and despite the presence of the National STI Control Program in India the number of people with STIs remains high. More than 1 million people acquire a STI every day. The true prevalence of STIs can never be known because of inadequate reporting due to secrecy and stigma associated with them and most of them are not even notifiable. Objectives: (1) To study socio-demographic factors of patient's attending STI clinic (2) To assess knowledge of patients about STI/HIV. (3) To assess protective practices of patients towards STIs. Material and Methods: This cross sectional was conducted in STI clinic, PBM hospital, Bikaner from Dec 2014- Jan 2016 using pre-tested and pre-structured questionnaire. The study variables were analyzed using Epi-Info7 software with application of Mean, Proportion and OR, Chi-square. Results: Out of 97 patients 83.5% knew about STIs. 79.4% reported having knowledge about symptoms of STIs and most common symptom reported was itching over genitals and discharge (85.5%). Statistically significant difference was present between male and female patient's knowledge about premarital sex as a factor for acquisition of STIs. 79.3% were using condoms to protect from STIs. The difference was statistically significant between knowledge and practice regarding condom use (χ2 = 6.544, df=1, p=0.01). Statistically significant difference was present between male and female patients practice regarding regular visit to STI clinic. Conclusion: Knowledge of patients regarding protective practices is not matching with their protective behavior.