Knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraceptive pills among tertiary level students in Trinidad: a cross-sectional survey / Conocimientos, actitudes y práctica de las píldoras anticonceptivas de emergencia entre estudiantes de nivel terciario en Trinidad: un estudio transversal

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the general knowledge, attitude and practice of Emergency Contraceptive pills (ECs) among tertiary level students in Trinidad. METHOD: A 32-item questionnaire was constructed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of EC. There were 76 medical and 160 non-medical students who volunteered to fill-up the questionnaire. This survey was conducted by graduate students under supervision of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, UWI, St Augustine. RESULTS: Eighty-four per cent of the students were less than 25 years of age, 64% were Christians and 92% were single. Sixty-three per cent were female and there were more females in the non-medical group than the medical students group but the numbers were not significant. Eighty-one per cent used condoms as the main type ofcontraception. Only 63% had heard of ECs before and only 9% had heard of ECs from medical sources. Among the factors that related to attitude towards EC, only two factors were significant. Sixty-two per cent of students felt that increased EC use would increase promiscuity (p = 0.013) but 59% also felt that ECs should be made more easily available (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The general level of their knowledge about ECs was poor. The general attitude of students towards ECs was positive. This study will help policy-makers by providing evidence-based knowledge to promote EC use among university students.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar de manera general los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en relación con las píldoras anticonceptivas de emergencia (PAE) entre estudiantes de nivel terciario en Trinidad. MÉTODO: Se diseñó una encuesta de 32 puntos con el propósito de evaluar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de la anticoncepción de emergencia (AE). Hubo 76 estudiantes de medicina y 160 de otras carreras que se ofrecieron voluntariamente para responder la encuesta. RESULTADOS: El 84 por ciento de los estudiantes tenían menos de 25 años de edad, el 64% eran cristianos, y el 92% eran solteros. El 63 por ciento eran hembras y había más hembras en el grupo de estudiantes no médicos que en el grupo de estudiantes de medicina, pero las cifras no fueron significativas. El 81 por ciento usaban condones como tipo principal de contracepción. Solamente un 63% había oído de las PAEs y sólo el 9% había oído de las PAEs a partir de fuentes médicas. Entre los factores relacionados con las actitudes hacia las PAEs, sólo dos factores fueron significativos. El 62 por ciento de los estudiantes sentían que un aumento en el uso de la AE equivaldría a un aumento de la promiscuidad (p = 0.013), pero el 59% también tenía la percepción de que las PAEs debían estar más fácilmente al alcance de todos (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIÓN: En términos generales, el nivel de los conocimientos de los estudiantes sobre las PAEs fue en términos generales pobre, Su actitud general hacia las PAEs fue positiva. Este estudio ayudará a quienes tienen a su cargo el trazar políticas, brindándole conocimientos basados en evidencias, a promover el uso de PAEs entre los estudiantes universitarios.

Hydroxyurea appears beneficial in patients with beta-thalassaemia major and intermedia.

Patients with severe inherited β-globin chain disorders may have milder illness if they produce high levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Hydroxyurea (HU) has been shown to enhance HbF levels in patients with sickle cell disease and may be useful in β-thalassemias. We administered HU to 13 patients with β-thalassemia intermedia or major, including 6 splenectomized patients. The patients received escalating doses (10 to 25 mg/kg/d) of HU for around 2 years (median: 21 months, range: 8 - 55 months). Eleven patients responded with an increase in the pre-transfusion HbF levels, from a base line median of 8.0% (2.5 - 61.3%) to 28.0% (6.6 - 49.2%) and 40.7% (4.8 - 72.3%) at 3 months and 18 months post-HU, respectively. A concomitant increment in median hemoglobin levels was noted at 1, 3 and 18 months of HU therapy. Six of 7 transfusion-dependent patients who had an increment of HbF (one with β-thalassemia major) also had reduced transfusion requirement over the 2-year period of HU therapy. Response to HU was also shown by a reduction in spleen size. Apart from oral ulcers that resolved upon dose reduction of HU, no significant toxicity was noted. We conclude that increased HbF production in β-thalassemia patients, with an improvement in erythropoiesis, can be achieved using HU with minimal toxicity.

A comparison of the pattern of liver involvement in dengue hemorrhagic fever with classic dengue fever.

The impact of dengue on liver function was studied on fifty serologically confirmed dengue cases admitted to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM). Twenty-five of these patients had classic dengue fever (DF) and 25 had grade 1 or 2 dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). There were more (60%) DHF patients with hepatomegaly compared to DF (40%) but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the liver profile showed that liver dysfunction was commoner in DHF compared to DF, indicating that the degree of liver impairment may be related to the severity of DHF. Hyperbilirubinemia was noted in 3 (12%) DHF and 2 (8%) DF patients. The mean (range) serum bilirubin was higher in DHF [14.2(5-50) micromol/l] compared to DF [10.9(5-30) micromol/l)] (p > 0.05). Elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were observed more frequently in DHF (20 and 12 patients respectively) compared to DF (16 and 8 patients respectively). Nine (36%) DHF and 6 (24%) DF patients had concomitant elevation of ALT and ALP levels. The mean (range) serum ALT levels were 109.3(23-325) U/l in DHF and 90.8(13-352) U/l in DF (p > 0.05). The mean (range) serum ALP levels were 102.2(15-319) U/l in DHF and 93.3(34-258) U/l in DF (p > 0.05). The ALT and ALP levels were significantly higher in DHF patients with spontaneous bleeding than those without bleeding (p < 0.05) None of the patients developed fulminant hepatitis. The immunoregulatory cells, which include the T (CD3), B (CD 19), CD4, CD8, CD5 and natural killer (NK) cells were significantly lower in DHF compared to DF patients (p < 0.05). However, the reduction in these cell counts did not correlate with the liver dysfunction seen in DHF patients. In conclusion, hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction were commoner in DHF compared to DF.

Effect of Allium Cepa on blood Glucose levels of normal and Alloxan treated Diabetic rabbits

The aquous solution of dried powder of the Allium cepa was administered in doses of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight to normal and alloxan treated diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and 2,4,6 and 8 hours after the administration of the solution. The solution exerted a significant [P< 0.05] hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and diabetic rabbits. In normal rabbits, oral administration of 150 and 200 mg/kg doses caused decrease in blood glucose levels at 2,4,6 and 8 hours, while maximum decrease was at 6 hours. In the alloxan treated diabetic rabbits, 200 mg/kg dose only could produce significant decrease at 4,6 and 8 hours while maximum decrease was at 6 hours. The doses used did not show acute toxicity or behavioral changes. It may be concluded that the plant contains one or more hypolglycaemic principles which can reduce the blood glucose in normal rabbits and in those with alloxan induced diabetes

Pharmacological screening of some indigenous plants for anti-diabetic activity

This study deals with the effects of alcoholic extracts of seven indigenous plants on blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and 2,4,6 and 8 hours after the administration of a single 500 mg / kg oral dose. The extracts of six plants had no significant [P> 0.1] hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The extract of one plant i.e. Momordica Charantia, however, exerted a significant [P < 0.05] hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. From this study this may be concluded that Momordica charantia can be effective in the control of diabetes mellitus

Effects of acacia arabica and caralluma edulis on blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits

The powdered seeds of Acacia arabica and roots of Caralluma edulis were administered in doses of 2, 3 and 4 gm/kg body-weight to normal and ailoxan-diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after the administration of plant suspension. The powdered seeds of Acacia arabica exerted a significant [P <0.05] hypoglycemic effect in normal rabbits. The hypoglycemic effect was not significant [P >0.01] in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The powdered roots of Caraliuma edulis did not produce any significant [P >0.01] hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The doses used did not show any acute toxicity and behavioural changes. From this study it may be concluded that the powdered seeds of Acacia arabica act by initiating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells of normal rabbits. Moreover, Carallunria edulis did not show any hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as in diabetic rabbit