ABSTRACT
Background: Traffic police play a very significant role in controlling traffic system. The job of traffic police personnel is a tough job, which has a direct influence on their life. The aim of the present study was to assess prevalence of morbidities, use of personal protective equipment viz., mask, oxygen therapy and pressure stocking amongst Mumbai traffic police and study association of some job related factors with their present health profile.Methods: Record based study was conducted by analyzing 1959 health record forms filled by the traffic police of Mumbai. Frequency, percentages, Chi-square test and unpaired t test were calculated.Results: The mean age of traffic police was 46.87±7.95 years. The duration of years in traffic branch ranged from 6 months to 18 years. Prevalence of stress, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, eye, skin, and ear morbidities were 26%, 20.9%, 14.2%, 10.2%, 3.6%, 3.3% respectively. In traffic police officers, prevalence of hypertension (28.3% v/s 19.8%), diabetes mellitus (23.6% v/s 12.8%), ear morbidities (5.5% v/s 2.9%) and stress (31.1% v/s 25.3%) were significantly high as compared to traffic policemen (p value <0.05). There was significant association of prevalence of respiratory morbidities, ear morbidities with current work placement (p value <0.05). There was significant relation of duration in police service and stress, eye morbidities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and respiratory morbidities. Proportion of traffic police using mask, oxygen therapy and pressure stockings were 60.2%, 21.5% and 15.8% respectively.Conclusions: Morbidities amongst traffic police is high. Use of personal protective equipment is very low. Worksite Prevention Program should be planned to reduce health problems amongst traffic police.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) share similar risk factors. Since OA may increase the risk of CVD through several mechanisms, this study was taken up to find the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in patients with OA knee. We also assessed the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during August 2018 to January 2019 in an Orthopaedic Out-patient Department of a tertiary care hospital in a metropolitan city. Sample size was 384. Patients above the age of 45 years who were radiologically diagnosed to be OA knee grade 2 and above were included. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Lipid profile and blood sugar were done. Perceived stress scale-10 was used for calculating stress level.Results: Physical inactivity was the most prevalent risk factor (79.68%) followed by tobacco consumption (69.27%), obesity (64.84%), unhealthy diet (56.77%), positive family history (48.43%), dyslipidaemia (48.17%), diabetes (38.54%), hypertension (27.60%), smoking, mental stress and excessive alcohol intake. Prevalence of CVDs like heart failure, heart attack, stroke and other cerebral atherosclerotic conditions were 5.98%. Prevalence among male and female was 6.16% and 5.88% respectively.Conclusions: Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are common in patients of Osteoarthritis Knee. Physical inactivity is the most common risk factor followed by tobacco consumption, obesity and unhealthy diet. Prevalence of CVDs were 5.98%.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Preventing unintended pregnancies among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is one of the strategies of WHO for preventing parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT). Given the limitation of only condom use, the objective of this study was to improve use of dual contraceptive methods among HIV infected women. Methods: An experimental study among HIV positive women was conducted at two tertiary care level hospitals in Mumbai. Linking HIV with family planning services was the focus of intervention at one site and standard level of care was maintained at the control site. At each site, 150 HIV+ve women attending counselling and testing centres, who did not intend to get pregnant in the next one year and were eligible to use dual methods, were enrolled and followed up to one year. Results: At the end of one year, 60 per cent women in the intervention group reached Family Planning Centres compared to eight per cent in the control group. There was three times more acceptance and continuation of use of dual methods along with increase in consistent use of condoms and less number of unplanned pregnancies in the intervention group than the control group. Interpretation & conclusions: The study findings demonstrate that linking HIV and family planning services may facilitate the uptake of dual methods of contraception without reducing consistent condom use among HIV infected women. The PPTCT programmes need to focus on the component of Prong 2 of PPTCT which aims to prevent unintended pregnancies among HIV positive women.