ABSTRACT
Background: Men in the 25–54 year age group form the major workforce in developing countries like India. The rising trend of hypertension in this age group is a growing matter of concern. Objectives: This study analyzed secondary data analysis from the National Family Health Survey‑4. Methods: Men in the 25–54 age group (n = 76,410) from 640 districts of the country were included in the study. State and district‑wise trends in hypertension in men along with selected individual lifestyle characteristics were displayed using a geographic information system. Results: The prevalence of hypertension among men in the age group of 25–54 was found to be 35.6% for the entire country. In urban India, the prevalence of hypertension was 38.4% (uncorrected ‑ 40.2%) compared with 33.8% (uncorrected ‑ 34.9%) in rural India. Among the 27,973 hypertensives, 6984 (25%) were the known hypertensives prior to the survey. Out of these only 2403 (34.4%) were taking medicines. The prevalence of tobacco use in any form among the men in this age group was 45.7% (uncorrected ‑ 49%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the study highlights the burden of hypertension in men in the prime age group along with the alarming burden of tobacco consumption and recommends public health and policy interventions targeting both hypertension and tobacco control. It requires urgent attention and specialized strategies in tiding over this epidemic brewing in the workforce of the country
ABSTRACT
We report an outbreak of acute viral hepatitis among children in a flood rescue camp at Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand State, India. In May 2013, there was a disastrous natural calamity, The Himalayan Tsunami in Himalayan and Sub‑Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. More than 5700 people were feared dead, and thousands were sheltered in different rescue camps. A linkage was hypothesised between the infected individuals and the common water sources feared of being contaminated faecally. Aetiological agent of the present outbreak was HAV that is emerging in an outbreak form in India, emphasizing a definite need for formulating mandatory vaccination and proper control strategies. The report exemplifies the basic problems encountered after a natural calamity.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women in India. There is thus a need to identify unexplored risk factors such as occupational exposure to tobacco dust to justify its increasing trend so as to recommend suitable preventive measures. AIMS: The aim was to study the association between occupational exposure to tobacco dust with development of carcinoma cervix. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Case‑control study done in two tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore. METHODOLOGY: 239 histologically confirmed new cases of cervical cancer and the equivalent number of age‑matched controls from 2011 to 2012 were interviewed about occupational history of beedi rolling and related factors. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi‑square test, unpaired t‑test, logistic regression. RESULTS: Exposure rate to tobacco dust following beedi rolling was 63 (26.4%) among cases and 38 (15.9%) among controls (P = 0.005, odds ratio [OR] =1.893). The latent period from occupational exposure of tobacco dust subsequent to beedi rolling and development of cervical cancer was found to be 26.5 ± 8.5 years. Adjusted OR of beedi rolling with development of cervical cancer was found to be 1.913 (P = 0.005) after controlling the confounding effect of tobacco usage and was 1.618 (P = 0.225) after controlling the effects of all confounders. Three‑quarters of beedi rollers were working in conditions of inadequate ventilation and hardy anybody used face mask during work. About a quarter of participants underwent voluntary screening for cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to tobacco dust was found to be associated with risk of developing cervical cancer. Measures to promote awareness, timely screening of this disease along with the improvement in working conditions is required for improving the health status of beedi rollers and to minimize the incidence of carcinoma cervix in the community.