ABSTRACT
Background: Rapid, unplanned, and unsustainable patterns of urban development can result in many emerging environmental and health hazards. One of the important public health problems of urban environment is regular exposure to dust and pollutants and consequence of such exposure in the form of changes in the pulmonary function. Being the immediate environment, indoor pollution poses a higher risk to human health than the ambient environment. Realistic personal exposure assessment gives the actual idea about the exposure status. Objectives: This study determined the household principal environmental exposures (Dust, SO2 , NO2 , and total volatile organic compound) among urban slum dwellers and assessment of the respiratory function to determine any possible relationship between those exposures and outcomes. The study also described the knowledge, attitude, and practice of these urban slum people regarding air pollution and its effect. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 442 urban slum people residing in the slums of the Kolkata Municipal area. Household environmental exposures were collected by standardized methods and outcome was observed by conducting a pulmonary function test. Finally, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding air pollution were carried out with the help of a questionnaire-based survey. Results and Discussion: Almost all the pollutants exposure was associated with impairment of lung function. Younger age and female gender were statistically associated protective factors for the development of any lung disease. Those who had an overall good awareness regarding the means and effects of air pollution were found to be protected from developing lung disease. Using exhaust ventilation, relocation to inner side of slums, using personal protective measures, and adequate pollution awareness can help the slum citizens to overcome the problem.
ABSTRACT
Background: The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) was launched in 2013 to screen and manage birth defects, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays including disabilities in Indian children, with the help of designated mobile health teams and grassroot workers across the country. Objectives: Performance of the RBSK program in three selected blocks of a health district of a large Indian state (West Bengal) was assessed. Methods: The performance assessment was based on input, process, and output performances, using checklists based on RBSK operational guidelines. Results: While some essential evaluation tools were available in required numbers at the block level, many were unavailable. There were deficiencies in the number of health staff appointed. Although most screening camps were conducted as per microplan, some were not. Anthropometric measurements were not done in some camps; Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials were not used adequately. Issues with fund management were also noted. The intervention rate at higher centers (District Early Intervention Centre) was low with regard to the children referred for management. Involvement of grassroot workers such as ASHA was also found to be lacking. Conclusion: Frequent orientation training of medical officers and staff is needed along with the efforts to strengthen the referral system and the patient tracking system. Sensitizing the children and their guardians regarding the importance of the relevant health issues is also needed with the help of the proper implementation of IEC services.
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast feeding is of utmost importance for optimal child growth. This study aims to determine the knowledge on breast feeding among the mothers of under five children and to find out the association between the proportion of exclusive breast feeding and the incidence of diarrhoeal disease.Methods: An institution based cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among ninety (90) mothers of under five children who attended the immunization clinic of a tertiary care hospital with the help of a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured schedule. Mothers were selected by systematic random sampling and interview done after obtaining written consent.Results: The mean age of the respondent mothers were 25.78 years. Among them 77.8% were staying in the nuclear family with the mean education up to 8th standard, 94.4% of home maker. The mean education of fathers was 9th standard with majority (77.8%) occupied either in service or in other occupation. Average no of children per family was 1.3. Majority of mothers’ younger children (66.7%) were male. Majority (66.7%) mothers had heard the term colostrum and 88.3% knew that colostrum has anti-infective property and nutritionally superior. Sixty (66.67%) mothers had exclusively breast fed their children. Out of not exclusively breastfed children 36.67% experienced diarrhoea.Conclusions: Though majority mothers knew about breastfeeding, yet the proportion not having proper knowledge was high. The statistical analysis showed exclusive breast feeding to be highly protective against developing diarrhoeal episodes. In order to generate better breastfeeding practices, addressing the knowledge gap is needed.