A cross sectional study on self-medication practices among a selected rural community of Hooghly district, West Bengal

Background: Medicines are often used incorrectly; around 50% of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, while 50% of patients fail to take their medicines appropriately (WHO 2002). Self-medication is an important concern worldwide and WHO has laid emphasis on correctly investigating and controlling it. Self-medication practices have dramatically increased in the last few decades, especially in developing countries like India. Therefore, the present study was planned to assess the prevalence of self-medication for during acute illness episodes and factors associated among a rural community.Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted from February to March, 2017 in Anandnagar village, Singur block. All the 900 households in village were included in the study. Data regarding pattern of self-medication were collected by using pretested structured schedule from head of the family or next available adult member. Data were analysed by using Microsoft Excel 2016.Results: Amongst 900 household’s data could be collected from 864 households. Majority respondents were housewives in age group 40-60 years and primary educated. 50.7% respondents reported having acute illness among family members in past 3 months, 48.5% amongst them reported using self-medication. Cough (56.6%), fever (20.3%) and pain (11.2%) were the conditions for which self-medication was used. Nearby medicine shop was the source of self-medication among 59.3% respondents. 2.3% reported using old prescriptions.Conclusions:Half of the communities having acute illness were using self-medication. Uncontrolled use of medicines needs to be addressed as it brings potential health hazards, drug resistance and misuse.

Personal vis-a-vis social responsibility for disparities in health status: An issue of justice.

Health inequities are disparities which can be avoided through rational actions on the part of policymakers. Such inequalities are unnecessary and unjust and may exist between and within nations, societies, and population groups. Social determinants such as wealth, income, occupation, education, gender, and racial/ethnic groups are the principal drivers of this inequality since they determine the health risks and preventive behaviors, access to, and affordability of health care. Within this framework, there is a debate on assigning a personal responsibility factor over and above societal responsibility to issues of ill health. One school of philosophy argues that when individuals are worse-off than others for no fault of their own, it is unjust, as opposed to health disparities that arise due to avoidable personal choices such as smoking and drug addiction for which there should (can) be a personal responsibility. Opposing thoughts have pointed out that the relative socioeconomic position of an individual dictates how his/her life may progress from education to working conditions and aging, susceptibility to diseases and infirmity, and the consequences thereof. The existence of a social gradient in health outcomes across populations throughout the world is a testimony to this truth. It has been emphasized that assuming personal responsibility for health in public policy-making can only have a peripheral place. Instead, the concept of individual responsibility should be promoted as a positive concept of enabling people to gain control over the determinants of health through conscious, informed, and healthy choices.

Health promotion for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases: Unfinished agenda.

The magnitude of Non Communicable diseases demands urgent attention. Common, preventable risk factors underlie most NCDs. These include behavioural risk factors and metabolic risk factors. The prevalence of these, varies between income groups and differs with gender. Majority of events occur in individuals with modest elevations of multiple risks rather than with significant elevation of a single risk factor. The need of the hour is to adopt a process which addresses the upstream determinants through enabling people, to increase control over their health and its determinants, thereby promoting and sustaining good health The answer lies in Health Promotion which involves changing behaviour at multiple levels. In order to change, there is need to understand and apply the models which have been widely used to empower people to make healthy choices. These include the Health Belief, Self-Efficacy, Social Learning and Self-empowerment models.Changing behaviour, however, is a process, not an event. Different strategies are most effective at different Stages of Change. The contextual determinants of health and health behaviouralso significantly influence the risks of NCDs.Till date, there has been limited focus on these issues. We urgently, need aclose look at policies and their impact on health. With increasing burden of NCDs, the Health Sector will face strain on services delivery and budgets. Special policies and programs are necessary for the disadvantaged poor to address their differential vulnerabilities and risks. The unfinished agenda of NCD prevention and control needs to be addressed urgently with an integrated comprehensive framework of Health Promotion

A medico-social appraisal of commercial sex workers in a metropolitan city from eastern India.

This cross-sectional study of 146 commercial sex workers (CSWs) selected by stratified sampling, in a red light area of Kolkata, showed that 25.3% were teenagers and 37.0% were forced into the profession due to poverty. White discharge was present in 42.5% of the CSWs. Only 65.1% had the proper knowledge of the causes of disease, but 49.3% preferred to go to "quacks" for treatment, while 42.5% preferred traditional medicine. Knowledge of the prevention of sexually transmitted infections by condom use was correct in 44.2% of the CSWs, but 17.8% used condoms regularly. One fourth of the CSWs having 5 or more clients per day used condoms regularly.

Effectiveness of tobacco cessation intervention programs.

A study was conducted in selected districts of Bihar to evaluate the effectiveness of Intensive vs. Minimal, Community centered vs. Clinic/Camp centered and Mass/Group vs. Individual targeted intervention programs for cessation of tobacco use. Relevant Qualitative and Quantitative data was collected and analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. Results revealed high (>50%) pre-intervention prevalence of tobacco use and oral diseases related to tobacco usage and no community initiative towards control of tobacco use. Post intervention data revealed 4% quitting, 3% dose reduction and 2% reduction in usage of multiple types of tobacco. The study demonstrated that community centered mass approaches with minimal sustained intervention was more effective than clinic centered, intensive, individual approach.