ABSTRACT
Background: The urban average of childhood immunization coverage rates are partial against children living in slums and mask the disparity within the urban poor. The objective of study was to measure the age appropriate immunization as per India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP) schedule, explore determinants of coverage and reasons for incomplete immunization in urban slums of New Delhi.Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out in selected urban slums of West and South East districts of New Delhi. WHO’s coverage cluster survey sampling methodology was used. Three hundred mothers of under five children were selected. Age appropriate immunization status of the children was recorded on physical examination of the vaccination card.Results: Fifty eight percent (56% West; 60% South East district) of sample population was age appropriately immunized. The odds of age appropriate immunization were higher for institutional delivery (OR 10.5, 95% CI 4.27-23.6) and among third born children (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.04-3.30). The odds were equal for people from Delhi or migrated from different state (OR: 1.015, 95% CI: 0.62-1.64). Most common reason for incomplete immunization were obstacles (72.8%) and lack of information (23.2%).Conclusions: There was a consistent drop in coverage among vaccines with more than one dose and by the subsequent dose of vaccine. The difference in coverage estimates among studies emphasise the need for identifying the key reasons of incomplete immunization and finding area specific solutions to improve coverage.
ABSTRACT
Background: Physical inactivity has been identified as one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Several studies have established the fact that shift working is associated with various non communicable diseases. Studies assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice towards physical activity amongst shift workers is almost non-existence even though it has been established that mediators like knowledge and attitude affect healthy behaviour and adoption of health improving behaviour. Thus this study aims to assess the knowledge-attitude-practice of physical activity among shift workers in Gurugram city which is the centre of various BPO/KPO companies in India.Methods: The present study is an organization based cross sectional study. Interviewer administered questionnaire were used to capture information on physical activity. Information on knowledge and attitude was collected using a piloted and pretested questionnaire. Practice of physical activity was collected using global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ). Descriptive and linear regression analyses were performed using Ms-Excel and STATA (13).Results: Our study found that nearly fifty percent of the study participants were physically inactive and only 18% of the study participants knew recommended minimum weekly intensity of physical activity. Physical activity was found to be significantly associated with overall knowledge score (p<0.01).Conclusions: Knowledge regarding physical activity among the study participants was not adequate as reflected in their physical activity practice, hence knowledge and awareness towards physical activity should be enhanced to prevent non communicable diseases amongst the shift workers.
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Background: A Quality Assurance model was rolled out in Bihar, India. It had two components: external and internal monitoring and giving feedback for action. The parameters included infrastructure and policy, equipment maintenance, stock supply and aseptic measures. Methods: The performance and gradation into good/average/poor was measured based on the scores translated from the data collected after giving appropriate weights. Result: 12%, 63%, and 25% units were categorized as good, average and poor based on infrastructure. For equipment, 68% of units performed poorly; for stock maintenance 64% and 35% of NBCCs fell under good and average categories respectively; most (54%) NBCCs had average scores for aseptic measures; 30% fell in the poor category. Conclusions: Involvement of government in monitoring and feedback mechanism, establishing a system of data collection at the grass root level and analysis at the state level were the positive outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tribal communities are “at risk” of undernutrition due to geographical isolation and suboptimal utilization of health services. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status of Sahariya tribes of Madhya Pradesh (MP), India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in villages inhabited by Sahariya tribal community (specifi cally women in reproductive age group and children under 5 years) in three districts of MP. Dietary surveys, anthropometric and biochemical assessments were carried out and descriptive statistics on the socio-economic and nutritional profi le were reported. Association between household (HH) food security and nutritional status of children was carried out using the logistic regression. Strength of effects were summarized by odd’s ratio. Results: Chronic energy defi ciency and anemia was observed in 42.4% and 90.1% of women respectively. Underweight, stunting and wasting among under fi ve children were 59.1%, 57.3% and 27.7% respectively. Low food security was found in 90% of HHs and the odds of children being underweight and stunted when belonging to HHs with low and very low food security was found to be signifi cant (P = 0.01 and 0.04 respectively). Calorie, fat, vitamin A, ribofl avin, vitamin C and folic acid intake among women was lower than recommended dietary allowance. Infant and young child feeding practices were suboptimal. Awareness on nutritional disorders and utilization of nutrition and health services was poor. Conclusion: A high prevalence of undernutrition and dietary defi ciency exists among Sahariyas. System strengthening, community empowerment and nutrition education may play a pivotal role in addressing this.