ABSTRACT
Background: The UN General Assembly declared 2011-2020 as the "Decade of Action for Road Safety” with the goal to stabilize and reduce the increasing trend in road traffic fatalities. The objective of the study was to assess awareness and practices on road safety among adolescent school children and to determine any factors associated with awareness and practices on road safety with selected socio-demographic variable.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2306 adolescent school students studying in classes VIII-XII in various schools selected by random sampling technique in two districts of Manipur during June 2018. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Based on the percentile, awareness level of the students was grouped into good, average and poor. Descriptive statistics like mean, SD and analytical statistics such as Chi-squared test were used. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: The mean (SD) age of the 2306 students was 15.29±1.4 year. Majority of the students belongs to late adolescents. Only 10% of the students have good awareness level on road safety. Majority of the students’ drives two wheelers (96.7%), does not possess driving license (89.1%) and around two-fifths used mobile phone while driving. Around 30% of the students were ever exposed to road traffic accident. Statistically significant association was found between late adolescents, boys, higher class, increase in parent’s educational level with good awareness level.Conclusions: Few students have good awareness level on road safety measures. Therefore, awareness campaigns regarding road traffic safety should be included in the compulsory training program of schools.
ABSTRACT
Background: The child rearing practices differ in communities, depending on their social customs, traditional beliefs and prejudices. Understanding these practices is important for the successful delivery of health messages and services. The present study was conducted in a rural setting to determine the child rearing practices as well as to determine its association with relevant socio-demographic factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 369 mothers residing in Kshetrigao area under Kshetrigao Urban Health Centre, Porompat, Imphal East. A pre-tested interview schedule developed by the investigator was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics like mean, percentage and proportion as well as chi-square and t-test were used for data analysis.Results: Majority (79%) of the mothers breast-fed their newborn within 6 hours after birth. Almost half (46%) of the mothers gave pre-lacteal feeds to their newborn. Majority of the mothers (57%) did not practice exclusive breastfeeding. About 90% of the children were completely immunized for age. Mothers who got married before the age of 20 years, being Muslim and who had caesarean section were significantly less likely to practice exclusive breast feeding (p value of 0.025, 0.012 and 0.000 respectively). Children whose mother belongs to Muslim religion, lower educational status, lower family income and who delivered at home were significantly less likely to be completely immunized (p value of 0.001, 0.003, 0.014 and 0.003 respectively).Conclusions: Giving pre-lacteal feed and not practicing exclusive breast-feeding were very common among the studied population.
ABSTRACT
Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus causing viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia with an estimated 68,000 clinical cases every year. Due to the occurrence of recent outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in the state, this study was taken up to determine the level of knowledge and preventive practices of mosquito borne diseases and also to determine the factors associated with the level of knowledge. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study done among the adults (18 years & above) living in selected villages in Imphal East District from 11 th August 2016 to 7 th September 2016. Villages were sampled randomly using probability proportionate to size. Oral questionnaire was developed to collect information through interview schedule. Questions related to knowledge were given scores and summated (0-12). Results: Around half (48.1%) of the respondents could name two mosquito borne diseases correctly whereas only 0.4% of them could name four diseases correctly. Seventy five percent knew about involvement of any domestic animals in the transmission of JE. The participants came to know of mosquito borne disease from mostly radio (68.3%) and some from internet/social media (4%). Maximum responded use of mosquito coil as personal protective measures. Respondents have no knowledge about larvicidal fish/oil to control the breeding place of mosquitoes. Conclusion: Males, Christians, students and salaried govt employee have higher level of knowledge of mosquito borne disease. Higher the level of literacy more is the level of knowledge about mosquito borne disease.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess the knowledge of, and attitudes to, medical ethics among doctors in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur. It also looked at the association between levels of knowledge and selected variables. A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to all doctors working in RIMS, Imphal between September and October 2007. 315 of 440 (71.6%) doctors contacted, responded. 62.2% of respondents (196) were below 35 years of age. 22.5% (71) were faculty members . 98.7% (311) had heard of the Code of Medical Ethics but only 188 (59.7%) had read it, even in part. 69.2% (218) felt that the undergraduate curriculum on medical ethics was not adequate. 10.5% (33) could describe what medical professionalism meant. Knowledge of medical ethics was higher among those who were over 35 years of age, those who graduated before 1999 and those having higher educational qualifications. The doctors in this survey lacked adequate and detailed knowledge on the code of ethics, though most of them had read it once. There is a need to sensitise doctors on medical ethics and professionalism.