Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among jail inmates

Background: There are about 1387 prisons in the country with an authorized accommodation of 356,561; however, the total number of jail inmates is 418536 indicating severe overcrowding in prisons. Prison population is an underserved section of the society. Often their health problems are neglected. They carry a much greater burden of illness than other members of the society; they harbour diseases that are determined both by the environment out of which they come and by the prison in which they live. Therefore, present study was conducted with the aim of studying the mental health status of persons from a section of our society, who were condemned by law and are behind the high walls.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on 400 convicted inmates in district jail, Rohtak, Haryana over the period of one and half years. Data was collected by interview method using DASS-21 scale and analysed by SPSS 20.0 and Chi square test was applied for results.Results: The prevalence of depression came out to be 18.5%, anxiety came out to be 8% and stress was found to be prevalent in 8% of the convicted inmates confined in jail which was much higher in comparison to general population.Conclusions: As the prevalence of depression, stress and anxiety was found much higher in convicts than the general population, there should be a timely screening, diagnosis and appropriate intervention to combat the mental health problems.

Diabetes mellitus and its socio-demographic determinants: a population-based study from a rural block of Haryana, India

Background: Diabetes is growing alarmingly in India which is a home to more than 65.1 million people with this disease and this number would increase to 80 million by the year 2030. The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major threat to clinical management, economic growth and social wellbeing of patients. Studying socio epidemiology of diabetes among adults would help in decreasing the manifestation and severity of this NCD, so this study was conducted with the aim to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its associated socio-demographic factors.Methods: The present study was conducted in rural block of district Rohtak over a period of one year among 1000 study participants aged 15-64years. Fasting blood sugar was measured to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus.Results: Overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 9.2%. It was highest among 55-64years age group (26%), those engaged in service (11.6%), illiterates and upper middle SES (14.3%).Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes was high in the study population. A holistic approach targeting both individual and social factors is required to tackle this high prevalence.

Socio-demographic correlates of unmet need for family planning among rural women of Haryana, India

Background: The continuously growing population not only hampers the socio-economic development but the health of mothers and newborns. Progress made in improving social development in addition to strengthening the ongoing family planning programme will contribute towards the future pace of fertility and decline in unmet need. Objective of present study to assess the unmet need for family planning and role of socio-demographic factors among rural women.Methods: The present study was community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural area of Haryana from September 2015 to August 2016 among 500 currently married women (18-49 years).Results: The unmet need for family planning was 19.2% (4.8% spacing and 14.4% limiting). Education, occupation and SES were significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. The commonest reason for not using contraception among those with unmet need was fear of side-effects (37.5%) followed by in-laws disapproval (21.9%).Conclusions: The unmet need for family planning was high. Women education and empowerment by protecting their health, wellbeing and rights, including their reproductive rights would prove to be beneficial.

Reproductive risk factors associated with breast carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital of north India: A case-control study.

Context: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In India and other developing countries, breast carcinoma ranks second only to cervical carcinoma among women. But the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise and may become number one cancer in females in near future. Aims: (1) To find out the magnitude of reproductive risk factors of carcinoma breast among the study subjects; and (2) to find out the association of reproductive risk factors with breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The study was done in the wards of General Surgery and Oncosurgery from August 2009-July 2010 in a tertiary care institute. A total of 128 histopathologically confirmed cases of breast cancer those came in this duration were considered. Equal controls were selected by simple random sampling by lottery method. The controls were matched for age with a range of ± 2 years. The subjects were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Written informed consent was taken from study subjects before starting the interview. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test, odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, and t test. Results: The age group of the cases was 25-78 years, whereas that of the controls was 24-79 years. The difference among cases and controls regarding age at marriage, age at menarche, age at menopause, age at first pregnancy, and number of children was statistically significant. Continuous variables of the study population were analyzed by independent t tests, in which age at menarche and age at first pregnancy were found statistically significant. Conclusions: Information, education, and communication activities regarding risk factors and breast self-examination should be imparted to the women to create awareness about this fatal disease.

Study of STD pattern and its associated risk factors--a hospital study.

This study was conducted to know the STD prevalence and its associated risk factors among patients attending STD clinic of Govt using cross sectional hospital based data collected on 255 patients visited STD clinic during Jan. 2005- Dec.2005. Results suggested that highest prevalence found was of Herpes genitalis (31.8%), followed by Venereal warts (25.1%), Gonorrhoea (11.0%), Syphilis (10.6%). The most commonly associated risk factor found to be multiple sexual partners followed by factor as visit to prostitutes. Since most diseases are of social nature, IEC activities to improve the awareness in the community about STDs and about risk factors associated with them should bring behaviour related risk taking among people spreading STDs in the community.

Empowering young girls for health and development.

Yuvati Vikas Kendra (YVK) model of empowering young girls in the age bracket of 7-19 years could raise the level of awareness and generate self-esteem and self-confidence in over 50% of young girls over a period of six months of operation. The YVK model was utilised by 37-55% of enrolled girls in different age brackets; thus these centres functioned well below their installed capacity. Functional inter-sectoral linkages have to be developed for better impact and better coverage. Data based information from other models of empowerment such as schools, non-formal system of education and Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, is called for to choose different alternatives for our country, as no uniform system can succeed in this vast country. Diversified modes and approaches for empowerment of young girls are needed.