Knowledge, Awareness and Health Seeking Behaviour among Hepatitis patients attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi

Introduction: People living with Chronic Viral Hepatitis in India often lack awareness about risk factors and prevention. Objective: Objective of this article is to assess the health seeking behaviour of viral hepatitis infected patients attending super specialty hospital in Delhi. Methods: Total 389 patients attending a super specialty hospital in Delhi were interviewed. Results: The first point of contact for the treatment of hepatitis was a private practitioner (71%). Before coming to ILBS, 77.4% visited a private practitioner, followed by (42.7%) Govt. facilities (PHC/CHC/DH/Medical College), 12% visited a AYUSH doctor, about 10% visited either a Vaidya or a Hakim. About 40% believed that HBV is curable and 36.2% respondents thought that HCV is curable. Our findings show that 7.2% respondents have been vaccinated for HBV infection in the past, 20.8% respondents have screened their families for Hepatitis B infections. Conclusion: Need to create awareness about myths, further screening of HBV and HCV infection, early diagnosis and treatment.

Effect of salinity on lipid profile of Cyprinus carpio reared in inland saline water

Aim: The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of different salinity levels on gonadal tissue and serum biochemical parameters of Cyprinus carpio reared in inland saline groundwater to standardize the optimal salinity level for better maturation and seed production.Methodology: A 90 days experiment was conducted in non-drainable rectangular earthen ponds (n= 8) to study the effects of different salinity (0, 5, 10 and 15 ppt) levels on distribution of lipid class profile in Cyprinus carpio reared in inland saline groundwater. Gonads and serum were collected on 15 days interval and lipid classes, cholesterol, phospholipid and triacylglycerol were analyzed by using extracted total lipid. Results: The concentration of different forms of lipids were significantly influenced by salinity and their concentration increased with development of maturity stages but lowest level was recorded at ovulation or spermiation stages. It was observed that significantly (p < 0.05) highest level of all lipids was found at 0 and 5 ppt compared to 10 and 15 ppt salinity. Interpretation: The present study revealed that various lipid class fatty acids varied according to salinity and maturity stages of C. carpio in inland saline groundwater. Further, it also indicated that C. carpio has a tendency to adapt, survive, tolerate and reproduce in inland saline environment salinity ranging from 0-15 ppt and was found optimal at 5 ppt based on the reproductive ability

Prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in India through service integration: lessons from Mysore District, Karnataka.

Meeting the needs of HIV‑positive pregnant women and their offspring is critical to India’s political and financial commitment to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. This review of the strategy to prevent vertical transmission of HIV in Mysore district, Karnataka, highlights the need to integrate prevention of parent‑to‑child transmission (PPTCT) and reproductive and child health (RCH) services. All key officials who were involved in the integration of services at the state and district levels were interviewed by use of semistructured protocols. Policy documents and guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society were reviewed, as were records and official orders issued by the office of District Health and Family Welfare Officer and District HIV/AIDS Programme Office, Mysore. Routine data were also collected from all health facilities. This review found that 4.5 years of PPTCT‑RCH integration resulted not only in a rise in antenatal registrations but also in almost all pregnant women counselled during antenatal care undergoing HIV tests. Based on the findings, we propose recommendations for successful replication of this strategy. Integration of PPTCT services with RCH should take place at all levels − policy, administration, facility and community. The increased demand for HIV counselling and testing resulting from service integration must be met by skilled human resources, sufficient facilities and adequate funds at the facility level.

A comparative study of the health record cards in primary schools of Delhi.

A comparative study was undertaken to understand the various measures required to strengthen and improve the health record cards (HRC) of various schools that subsequently help in improving the medical examination of children. By using a multi stage stratified random sampling method, 24 schools from Delhi, eight each from three broad categories of (i) corporation schools, (ii) other government schools, (iii) private schools were included in the study. The study finding revealed that in most of the government schools the health record cards were properly developed and structured as per the recommendations of various committee, though they are always in short supply.

Cost of infant feeding in exclusive and partially breastfed infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs incurred on infant feeding between the mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants and those who introduced supplements up to 6 months of age. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow up. SETTING: Urban slums of south Delhi. METHODS: One hundred normal mother infant pairs fulfilling the prelaid criteria were recruited at the time of birth and followed up for determining the feeding practices. The cost of feeding was estimated at prevalent market prices in terms of food supplement and medical treatment of infant and additional nutritional intake of mothers. The differences in costs in exclusively and partially breastfed groups were analyzed at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of age. RESULTS: There was a sharp decline of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months. The mean cost of infant feeding was Rs. 204/- per month in partially breastfed as compared to Rs. 106/- in exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age. The increased cost was largely attributable to supplementary food and the cost of feeding bottles. (83% of mothers used bottles). CONCLUSIONS: The mean cost of infant feeding is substantially higher in partially breastfed children.

Orthopaedic industrial injuries.

A study of 600 consecutive cases of industrial injuries, who came from power using mechanised industries at Jaipur was undertaken to determine the incidence, pattern and causes of industrial injuries. The study revealed that there were fewer injuries in the 18 to 25 years age group than in those over the age of 36. Most of the injuries involved the upper limbs (66.2%), of which nearly 41% resulted from entrapment of hands in machines and were serious. This reflected the lack of adequate safety measures where it is most required.