ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Scrub typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi presents as acute undifferentiated fever and can be confused with other infectious causes of fever. We studied scrub typhus as part of a study on hospital-based surveillance of zoonotic and vector-borne zoonotic diseases at a tertiary care hospital located in the Wardha district, Maharashtra, India. We report here descriptive epidemiology and climatic factors affecting scrub typhus. Methods: Patients of any age and sex with fever of ?5 days were enrolled for this study. Data on sociodemographic variables were collected by personal interviews. Blood samples were tested by IgM ELISA to diagnose scrub typhus. Confirmation of scrub typhus was done by indirect immunofluorescence assay for IgM (IgM IFA). The climatic determinants were determined using time-series Poisson regression analysis. Results: It was found that 15.9 per cent of the study participants were positive for scrub typhus by IgM ELISA and IgM IFA, both. Positivity was maximum (23.0%) in 41-60 yr of age and more females were affected than males (16.6 vs. 15.5%). Farmworkers were affected more (23.6%) than non-farm workers (12.9%). The disease positivity was found to be high in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons (22.9 and 19.4%) than in summer and winter. Interpretation & conclusions: There were three hot spots of scrub typhus in urban areas of Wardha district. Rainfall and relative humidity in the previous month were the significant determinants of the disease
ABSTRACT
Background: The objective of the study was to study the association between exposure to early childhood development (ECD) interventions and responsive feeding and nutritional status among 6-35 months’ children.Methods: The present analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 360 children from a primary health centre (PHC) area under the ECD project and 360 children from comparison PHC area. The anthropometric measurement and responsive feeding was assessed and compared among 6-35 months’ children.Results: There was significant difference in mean scores of ECD activity (p=0.001) and responsive feeding (p<0.001) in ECD area as to comparison area. In the ECD program area, the proportion of children who were malnourished (33.3%) were less as compared to control area (53.9%).Conclusions: The present study shows ECD interventions at community level delivered through frontline workers resulted in improved responsive feeding practices better nutritional outcomes for children.
ABSTRACT
Background: Young people, more than any other age group, have been adversely affected by globalization, violence, advances in information and communication technology and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge and epidemiological determinants related to HIV-AIDS among the youth in the urban slum. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Malvani slum area of Mumbai among 540 youth between 15 to 24 years of age. Two stage systematic random sampling method was used with individual household being the sampling unit. Results: Almost everybody had heard of HIV/AIDS. 21.5% participants had comprehensive knowledge about HIV AIDS. There were many misconceptions about how HIV-AIDS can spread. 57% thought that HIV-AIDS could spread by kissing, 22.7% said that HIV-AIDS could spread by sharing belongings. 36.8% thought that HIV- AIDS could spread through urine while 62.6% thought HIV- AIDS to be spread by saliva. 23.9% said that withdrawing penis before ejaculation could prevent HIV-AIDS and that there was no need to use condoms in that case. The predictors for comprehensive knowledge of HIV-AIDS in study participants were religion, education and per capita income. Conclusion: Although almost everybody had heard of HIV/AIDS, only around 21% had correct and comprehensive knowledge about HIV-AIDS. This reflects a massive gap that needs to be bridged, as awareness becomes the first step for initiating the behavior change process.