ABSTRACT
Background: India is endemic for rabies accounting for 36% of the world death. Low awareness of the need to seek health care after a dog bite claims the lives of more than 55,000 people each year, mostly Asia and Arica. The objective of the study was to estimate the level of knowledge about rabies among adult population in urban area and also to find out the factors associated with level of knowledge. Methods: The cross sectional study was carried out among 200 adult population of Agartala Municipal Corporation area for a period of one month and study subjects were selected by using multistage sampling technique. A predesigned, pretested, structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Chi-square and Fisher's exact was used to find out the factors associated with level of knowledge and p value <0.5 considered as a significant. Results: The present study showed that mean age of the respondents was 45.23±14.7 years. Among them 54.5% were female, 32% home maker and 39% had completed graduation. Out of 200 respondents, 167 respondents were heard about the term ‘Rabies’ i.e., 83.5% and 33 respondent’s i.e., 16.5% never heard about the term ‘Rabies’ but only 20.5% subjects knew correctly that rabies was caused by virus. In our study, adequate knowledge on rabies was found 40% and only one factor i.e., literacy (p=0.002) was found significantly associated with level of knowledge. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that still there is need to be increase adequate level of knowledge about rabies among adult residents in urban area.
ABSTRACT
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed children during their first months of life, having important benefits for them and their mothers. Despite of all benefits, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is quite low and information on influencing factors is limited especially from slum settlements. Objectives was to estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and to find out the factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in an urban slum, West Tripura.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 lactating mothers for a period of six months in an urban slum using structured interview schedule. Eligible mothers were selected by sample random sampling technique. Data has been analyzed by SPSS statistical software version 17.Results: Majority (43%) of the mothers was aged between 21-25 years and 89% were non working mothers. Among the participants, 55.5% were Hindu by religion, 60% belonged to nuclear family and 43.5% had studied up to primary level. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding rate among the study mothers were 60.5%. Only parity, place of delivery and number of antenatal check up were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) rate still needs to improve. Community level interventions like awareness programmes on exclusive breastfeeding, health education and behavior change communication among the target group is essential to improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate especially in slum settlements.
ABSTRACT
Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is found to be positively co-related with the increased prevalence of elevated blood pressure among younger individuals. The present study was designed to find out the prevalence of pre-hypertension and its relationship with BMI among the medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during June - July 2013 among 306 medical students of Agartala government medical college, chosen by stratified random sampling. Results: Prevalence of pre-hypertension, hypertension and optimum BP were found to be 45%, 4% and 51% respectively. Mean BMI was found to be 21.68 ± 3.55, 80% of the students had ideal waist hip ratio, 19% were underweight, 61 % had normal weight, 18 % were overweight, and 2% were found to be obese. Pre-hypertension was significantly more prevalent among the senior medical students (χ2 = 4.933, P = 0.026), males (χ2 = 10.826, P = 0.001) and those who had family history of hypertension (χ2 = 4.228, P = 0.039). Pre-hypertension was significantly higher among the obese medical students (χ2 = 6.941, P = 0.008). Logistic regression analysis revealed that medical students had 12.8% more chance of having pre-hypertension with one unit increase in their BMI. Conclusion: Prevalence of pre-hypertension among medical students is high and BMI is found to be significantly associated with pre-hypertension. Hence it can be used as an effective tool for predicting pre-hypertension and development of hypertension among medicos later on.
ABSTRACT
Background: Consecutive decline in sex ratio of our country signals an impending crisis. Gender preference of women may have a role in determining sex ratio. Aims & Objective: To study the gender preference and the factors affecting gender preference of mothers. Material and Methods: A hospital based study was conducted during August – September 2013 among 390 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Agartala Government Medical College using a pretested semi-structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, χ2 test and logistic regression were used. Results: 40.8% had son preference, 29.7% preferred daughter and the rest had no particular preference regarding the outcome of their current pregnancy. Significantly higher son preference was observed among the rural, illiterate and nullipara or women having no male child (68.24%, 58.33% and 68.24% respectively, p < 0.05). Higher son preference was also observed among housewives (58.00%), primigravida (54.61%) and women from joint families (61.18%), though it was not significant. Preference for son was higher in both the presumed situation of having either one or multiple children. Reasons for son preference were ‘better security in old age’ 39.1%; ‘generation continuation’ 31.1%; ‘status symbol’ 18.8%; and ‘better earning’ 11.1%. Reasons for daughter preference were, ‘daughters are more trust worthy’55.1%; ‘daughters help in household work’ 19.67%; ‘daughters are laxmi of family’ 15% and non-specific reasons 10.23%. Conclusion: Improving social security at old age, facilities favouring girl children and steps for elimination of dowry from the society may help in improving the preference for girl children leading to a balanced population.