ABSTRACT
Background: Poor sanitation facilities are root cause of many health problems of people residing in slums. The present study estimates the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI) and identifies factors associated with an increased risk of UTI among women.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 616 women aged between 18 to 60 years residing in 33 slums across four cities in Maharashtra, India. Data related to individual characteristics of women, housing condition, access to sanitation facilities, behaviors adopted by the women that could lead to UTI and an episode of symptomatic UTI in the previous one month were recorded through structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find out risk factors for UTI among women.Results: The prevalence of UTI was found to be 19.6%. The prevalence was higher among young women aged upto 30 years (23.2%). In absence of individual toilet, women had adopted certain behaviors such as urine holding (21.3%), modify dinner to avoid toilet use at night (26.6%) and avoid intake of liquids (10.7%) to reduce frequency of visits to toilet. All these behaviors were significantly associated with UTI. Multiple logistic regression indicated that UTI was strongly and independently associated with age (OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.47), no access to bathroom (OR=2.21, 95%CI: 1.08, 4.49) and avoid intake of liquids (OR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.53, 4.75) (p<0.05).Conclusions:Behavior modifications by women to adjust with restricted use of place of urination may affect their health and increase the likelihood of developing UTI. Younger women are more at risk of developing UTI.
ABSTRACT
Commentators suggest that there is an erosion of trust in the relations between different actors in the health system in India. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study of the situation of providers in an urban setting in western India, the nature of their relations in terms of trust and what influences these relations. The data on relationships of trust were collected through interviews and focus group discussions with key informants, including public and private providers, regulators, managers and societal actors, such as patients/citizens, politicians and the media.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The poorest people are vulnerable to Tuberculosis because of the living and working conditions but they plunge deeper into poverty as a consequence of this disease. AIMS: The present study focuses on the socio-demographic characteristics of patients of TB with specific reference to prevalence of TB and health care seeking behaviour of men and women. METHODS: The data for the study comes from nation-wide National Family Health Survey -2, conducted in 1998-99. Paper looks at the relationship of reporting TB infection and seeking treatment for men and women by various socio-economic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regressions are applied to find the significant factors explaining reporting of TB and treatment-seeking. RESULTS: In the entire sample 1735 males and 1266 females are reported to suffer from TB. Reporting of TB is significantly (p=0.000) more among males having charecteristics with lower standard of living, scheduled tribes from rural area and illiterate population. It increases with age. Significant difference (p=0.002) is observed between urban and rural female's treatment seeking for TB. In case of females as age increases, treatment seeking goes down (p=0.007). Treatment seeking for currently married women is less frequent than that of all other women. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from economic status and living conditions, place of residence (urban / rural) and ethnic identity made people more vulnerable in terms of reporting the disease and access to treatment.