ABSTRACT
Background: India shoulders the largest global burden of blindness. Despite all the advances of science, there is no artificial substitute invented so far to replace human cornea. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice about eye donation among the eye donors’ and recipient’s family.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from January 2011 to December 2011 in Ahmedabad city, Gujarat. Eighty-one eye donors and 127 eye recipients using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma was finalized to collect the information from the participants either by home visit (in city) or by telephonic or e-mail interview. Data was entered and analyzed in MS Excel 2007 and Epi info7 software. Knowledge, attitude and practice were expressed as proportions.Results: A total of 81 eye donors and 127 eye recipient’s relatives were interviewed. Doctor or hospital was the most common source of knowledge regarding eye donation for both eye donors (68, 83.95%) and eye recipients (113, 88.97%). In this study 11 (13.58%) eye donors and 4 (3.15%) eye recipients were regular blood donors showing their positive attitude. Only nine (11.11%) donations were done by either donor’s personal will or by already pledging. Among our participants 68 (83.95%) family members had closed the eye lids of the donor after death, 39 (48.15%) had switched off fan of the room after death.Conclusions:Relatives of eye donors and eye recipients are willing to pledge for eye donation after death. Media and medical person was the mainstay in imparting knowledge to the participants. The relative of the donors are well versed with various aspect of preserving eyes after the death of donor compared to those recipients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dengue fever is one of the major public health problems among all the vector born diseases. It is an emerging disease of tropical and sub-tropical regions, affecting urban, peri-urban and rural areas. Twenty five cases of dengue fever were reported in our hospital and other private hospitals from Undera village, which is in the peri urban area of Vadodara, so an investigation was carried out. The objective of this study is to find out the incidence and demographic details of people affected by fever during the outbreak and to find the environmental factors responsible for the outbreak.Methods: Community based, cross-sectional, direct interviewing of community members of Undera village in Vadodara district was carried out on 21st August 2017 and 23rd August 2017.Results: In this outbreak investigation, 219 fever cases were reported from 2930 population residing in 645 houses. There were 25 confirmed cases of dengue fever, out of which three deaths were reported. This included one pregnant woman during this outbreak. Seventy percent of fever cases were in the age group 0-30 years. Daily wagers were affected more than other occupations. At least one fever case was reported from 109 houses. Breeding places for mosquitoes were observed surrounding the houses from were fever cases reported.Conclusions: The dengue fever outbreak was confirmed through laboratory as well as clinico-epidemiological correlation with confirmed clinical picture and presence of breading places of Aedes mosquitoes. The fatality rate was 12% and there were three complicated deaths.
ABSTRACT
Background: Men having sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk of getting STIs, including HIV. Their role as bridge population is also very important in the spread of HIV. This study was done with the objective to study the demographic and behavioural factors of MSM and to measure the prevalence of STI among MSM using laboratory facilities of regional RTI/STI centre.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted at a targeted intervention (TI) site of Vadodara city. Sixty-eight MSM were enrolled, counselled regarding HIV and other STI testing followed by an interview using a pretested semi-structured study instrument for the information regarding socio-demographic status, sexual behaviour, present and past history of STI and health seeking behaviour. Following that, clinical examination for presence of any signs of STI and sample collection [oro-pharyngeal, urethral and anorectal swab] was done in an examination room and blood samples were collected. The samples were tested for various STIs at Regional RTI/STI centre.Results: Thirty-seven percent of MSM were bisexual. 37% MSM were not using condom consistently with ‘unavailability at all the time’ being the main reason. Six out of 68 MSM found positive of STI. Prevalence was maximum for Chlamydia infection followed by HSV2, HBsAg.Conclusions: Prevalence of STI was 8.82% among MSM of Vadodara city