ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: HIV counselling and testing services are a key entry point to prevention of HIV infection, and to treatment and care of people who are infected with HIV. In Gujarat at present 308 ICTC are functioning out of them 19 are functioning in Bhavnagar District. ICTC team training produce skilled personnel who can identify their client problems, are well informed and can provide high quality HIV related services so the objective of this study is to study knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS & Counselling amongst staff of ICTC running in Bhavnagar District. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among participant of ICTC team Training during April 2011-May 2011. Results: The knowledge of participant regarding HIV/AIDS and Counselling aspects improved significantly after intervention. Interpretation & Conclusion: The informative & educable intervention definitely has a positive effect on awareness levels which would eventually encourage expansion of knowledge & help in improve the skill of counselling and positive attitude towards the client coming at different ICTC centre and increase the service utilization by client so this type of inductive training for newly appointed health care workers and refresher training for health workers, who employed longer than one year should be organized on regular basis for effectively utilization of ICTC.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study various determinants of hypertension in faculties of various colleges in Bhavnagar city. Method: The present study was conducted among faculties of various colleges in Bhavnagar city. Total 407 faculties were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of hypertension was done according to JNC VII criteria. Result: We found 27.5% prevalence of hypertension among the faculties. Non modifiable determinants of hypertension like age, gender and family history of hypertension were significantly associated with hypertension. Modifiable determinants of hypertension like smoking, extra salt intake, sedentary life style, co existence of diabetes mellitus and Obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) were significantly associated with hypertension. Conclusion: Hypertension is a major health problem and both non modifiable and modifiable determinants affect hypertension.
ABSTRACT
Research Question: What is the situation of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and salt consumption in Bhavnagar district? Hypothesis: The prevalence of IDD has increased markedly as a result of medical as well as socio-economic factors. Objective: To assess the magnitude of IDD in Bhavnagar district and also assess the salt consumption patterns in the region. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary schools in rural areas. Study Tools: Clinical examination of study population for goitre, laboratory assessment of casual urine sample for urinary iodine estimation of I2 content of salt samples collected from sub-samples of study population. Participants: Study was conducted among 2,940 School children in the age group of 6-12 years were selected for study using WHO 30-cluster methodology, urine samples were collected from 15% of selected children and salt samples from 43% of sub-sample. Ethical Concern: No ethical issues were involved. Results: An overall goitre prevalence of 34.19% was observed in the region. Females had a prevalence of 32.9% and males 35.4%. The median urinary iodine excretion in the region was 11.0 μg/l (range: 29.0-190.0 μg/l). Ninty-seven percent of subjects had biochemical iodine deficiency with 73.87% having severe deficiency, 21.38% having moderate and 4.04% mild iodine deficiency. In Bhavnagar region, only 34.27% households consume powdered salt having an Iodine content of greater than 15 ppm. Conclusion: Present study showed severe goiter prevalence in primary school children in Bhavnagar district.