A cross sectional overview of digital eye strain: a growing health concern in this digital age in central India (Madhya Pradesh)

Background: The physical discomfort and collection of symptoms after digital screen use for longer than two hours at a time is referred by the Vision Council as digital eye strain (DES). Common symptoms of DES are eyestrain, headache, blurred vision, dry eyes and pain in neck and shoulders. This study aims to know about the prevalence; factors associated with and awareness about preventive measures for DES among college students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 2 months in 2017 among randomly selected 200 college students of 20 to 30 years of age in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire.Results: Mean age of participants was 22.5 years; of which 58% were females. Of the respondents, 89.5% (179 students) reported experiencing DES. Average distance from digital screen, brightness level of digital device, use of digital device before going to sleep and awareness about appropriate distance of digital screen from eyes had statistically significant association with having digital eye strain. 98% of respondents were unaware of the term DES while >60% did not have knowledge about the harmful blue light emitted by digital devices, protective use of digital screen filters, appropriate distance of viewing digital screen and the 20-20-20 rule of taking breaks in between screen time.Conclusions: Since digital device use is a necessary evil; better ergonomic practices to avoid DES should be adopted. Opportunistic health promotion and patient education undertaken by ophthalmologists on an OPD basis is one solution.

A study of the nature and causes of domestic violence among the attendees of a domestic violence counseling center of a tertiary level hospital of a city of central India.

Background: Domestic violence against women is widely recognized as important public health problem, owing to its substantial consequences for women’s physical, mental and reproductive health. This study tried to assess the frequency and patterns of domestic violence against women experienced by attendees of Domestic Violence counselling centre Department of Psychiatry, MY Hospital, Indore. Aims & Objective: To study the nature and causes of domestic violence. Material and Methods: Cross sectional study using a pre designed pre tested semi structured questionnaire was carried out and the data were analyzed using MS excel. Results: Most common type of domestic violence faced is physical (80%) followed by mental (8%), social (8%) and sexual (4%). Monetary issues (26%) and alcoholism (22%) are the two most important causes of domestic violence, other causes being extra marital affair (6%), Family conflicts (6%) and dowry (6%). 64% victims were either illiterate or primary pass; 34% were skilled workers; 56% victims had their per capita income between ` 980 and 2935; 76% had their modified Kuppuswami score between 5-10. 56% victims face domestic violence daily. Conclusion: Monetary problems, alcoholism, illiteracy, extramarital affairs and dowry are the major causes of domestic violence. The victims most commonly face physical violence by their partners daily. There is an urgent need of more and more domestic violence counselling centers throughout the country.