ABSTRACT
Background: The appropriate amount of weight gain during pregnancy has been a topic of interest and debate over a century. A low body mass index (BMI) and suboptimal weight gain during pregnancy are long recognised risk factors for delivery of infants too small for gestational age.Methods: The present study was observational prospective study conducted among primigravidae in two groups with sample size 197 in tertiary care hospital antenatal clinic and 97 in urban health centre antenatal clinic for the period of 1year and 6 months.Results: In tertiary care hospital average weight gain was 10.04 kg with 33 (16.75%) women gained less than or equal to 8 kg weight gain, 148 (75.13%) gained weight in range of 8.1 to 16 kg while 16 (8.12) gained more than 15 kg weight during pregnancy while In urban health centre average weight gain was 8.96 kg with 46 (47.42%) women gained less than or equal to 8 kg weight gain, 45 (46.39%) gained weight in range of 8.1 to 16 kg while 6 (6.19%) gained more than 16 kg weight during pregnancy. Women with lower BMI found to gain lesser weight compared to normal body mass women.Conclusions: Presence of low BMI was an add on social risk factor which may adversely impact the weight gain in the mother and expected child.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Diverse Factors influence medical student’s choice of eventual careers. Community Medicine is one of the specialities taken up at various hospitals by a number of doctors. This study was planned to review the career opportunities taken by doctors who passed MD Community Medicine or Diploma in Public Health from a premier teaching college located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Results: 163 students were enrolled since 2009 off which 53 were currently pursuing either MD/DPH course. Data was collected for this study in the months of September 2017 to November 2017. The career profile were grouped as Academics in MCGM, Academics in State government colleges, Public health in MCGM, state, centre, etc. Most pursued current careers were Speciality Medical Officer (bond post) in MCGM colleges (16), Academic positions in State government colleges (16), public health positions in Maharashtra state government (13) and public health in MCGM (11). Very few candidates were currently working in international or national institutions. Conclusion: This study shows that Academics and Public Health still are the major career prospects for doctors who have done MD/DPH. It could be seen that very few opted for other career options like Preventive Oncology, Health Management or Research institutes. This study recommends better maintenance of records of alumni for future contacts and career counselling for post graduate students.
ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria is a global health problem causing impact on Health and socio economic development of country. Mumbai city with high density population is endemic region with unstable malaria transmission. Surveillance data of malaria cases in tertiary care hospital indicated the need for strategic plan for community based effective interventions. This highlights sharing information, strengthening community partnerships and a structured plan for malaria control in addition to the regular surveillance activities of public health department. Methods: 2 city zonal areas (wards) having high prevalence of malaria cases and deaths in the previous year were identified as study units. One of the 2 wards was designated as control unit where no interventions (were executed by the investigator). In study area activities were implemented in three phases. 1) Preparatory - baseline epidemiological survey, enlistment of risk factors. 2) Interventional - enlistment and elimination of breeding places, mobilizing supportive community participation, team building with PSM department faculty, public health department staff, general practitioners, youth club members and the co-operative societies. 3) Evaluation - compliance of housing societies, analysis of indicators& comparison of prevalence with previous year. Results: In study area no deaths are reported in 2010. 12 deaths in 2010 in control area. Also number of malaria cases in 2010 in study area were drastically reduced as compared to 2009. Conclusions: Malaria control is essentially a multidimensional event dependant on active community participation. Malaria control cannot be achieved in isolation by singular efforts of the Public Health Department alone. A community based multipronged approach is necessary for malaria control in urban area.
ABSTRACT
This study compares the implementation of community-based monitoring (CBM) in 45 primary health centers (PHCs) in the pilot phase in Maharashtra with the equal number of randomly selected PHCs not implementing CBM (non- CBM) from the same districts. Information was collected by teams from Community Medicine Departments by visiting selected PHCs. Establishment of monitoring committees and training of medical offi cers (MOs) had been completed as required but only 36.36% MOs were trained. Only 43.18% MOs received the facility report card. Most of the MOs (90.90%) attended Jansunwai and opined that it had increased community awareness and the barriers between the people and PHC staff were broken. There was no difference in fund utilization and meetings of Rugna Kalyan Samittees. Percentage of Institutional deliveries and women receiving Janani Suraksha Yojana benefi ts among home deliveries was more in the non-CBM group of PHCs.