Assessing Knowledge and Behaviour Towards HIV/AIDS among the school students: A cross sectional study

Background: Inadequate knowledge of advance, absence of exact health data, and the prohibitions associated with sex education at homes and schools, indulgence in risky behavior and a lack of access to adequate reproductive health services further lends the adolescents susceptible to AIDS. Aim & Objectives: In the present study, the knowledge and behavior towards HIV/AIDS among students in selected school have been assessed. Material & Methods: Primary data has been taken from selected school with the help of structured questionnaire tools; school is located at Bhaipur Brahman village in Jewar block of Gautam Budh Nagar district, India. Univariate and Bivariate tables as well as chi-square test have been applied to know the association between demographic variables of students and their response. Results: It was found that more than 65 % students were aware about HIV/AIDS. About 31% of students were reported that it cannot be transmit through sharing syringes where equal responses have been observed by male and female students. Conclusions: It was observed that they had inadequate knowledge towards HIV/AIDS especially among age group10-13 years. Most of them have good attitude towards HIV/AIDS infected person.

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Phthalate Analogue Of Diclofenac Against Freund’s Complete Adjuvant Induced Arthritis In Rat

Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of Phthalate analogues of diclofenac in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) induced Arthritis in the rat. Methods: Twenty four female albino wistar rats were enrolled in this study and are divided into 4 groups (six each). The groups were designed as follows: Group I: vehicle control, Group II: arthritic control, Group III: diclofenac treated, Group IV: phthalate analogue of diclofenac treated. Various assessments such as anti-arthritic activity, biochemical estimations, haematological parameters, ulcerogenesis, radiological and histopathological studies were evaluated. Results: Arthritic control group exhibited significant increase in the level of paw volume, arthritic score (p<0.0001), Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (p<0.001), Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) p<0.01), rheumatoid arthritis factor, C-reactive protein (CRP), White Blood Cells (WBC), Creatinine and uric acid and a significant decrease in Red Blood Cells (RBC). Increased swelling of joints, bony destruction and profound ulceration were observed in the Arthritic control group. All these conditions were reversed in diclofenac and phthalate analogue of diclofenac groups. Conclusion: We conclude that phthalate analogue of diclofenac shows potent anti-arthritic activity with milder ulceration when compared to diclofenac treatment.

A study of mode of transmission, clinical presentations, WHO and immunological staging among HIV infected children.

Background: The clinical manifestations of HIV infection vary widely among infants, children, and adolescent. So there is a need to study the mode of transmission, clinical presentations, WHO and immunological staging among HIV infected children. Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. The children who were HIV positive (confirmed by ELISA for HIV-1 and HIV-2), and attending the OPD of ART Centre and SN Children Hospital, Allahabad during period of one year. The study population consisted of 47 patients, belonging to both sexes and age of 18 months to 19 years. Detailed history was taken and full clinical examination done in all cases. CD4 count was estimated at the time of presentation. Results: Predominant mode of transmission in our study was vertical and it was present in 95% cases. Fever was the most common presenting complaint and was present in 28 (59.57%) cases. The most common clinical sign was pallor in our study, present in 37 cases (78.72%) followed by lymphadenopathy 34 (72.34%). On the basis of WHO clinical staging, most of the patients in our study were found in stage 2 .On the basis of immunological staging, 51% had no evidence of immunosuppression (stage1), 18 (38.3%) had mild to advanced immunosuppression (stage 2 and 3) and 5 (10.63%) patients were severely immunosuppressed (stage 4). Conclusion: In HIV infected children predominant mode of transmission is vertical. Fever and pallor are common clinical manifestations. Most of the patients are found in WHO clinical stage 2 and immunological stage 1.

A study of habit of fast food eating among school going adolescents and parental advice and its relation with their nutritional status.

Background: A study of habit of fast food eating among school going adolescents and parental advice and its relation with their nutritional status. Methods: Design: an epidemiological analytic observational study. Subjects: 600 adolescents’ 15-19 years of age, studying in 11 and 12 classes and included both boys and girls. A single observer interviewed each student and gathered the information regarding their eating habits. It was recorded on a pre-tested open and closed ended Performa. Nutritional status was assessed by BMI. The adolescents for the purpose of analysis were broadly grouped in two groups. Group I (those having normal BMI ranging 18.5 to 25) and group II (Malnourished i.e. those having BMI <18.5 to >25). Group II adolescents were further divided into group IIa (Underweight, BMI<18.5) and group IIb is (Over weight and obese BMI >25). Results: Adolescents who took both fast food and soft drinks 73.1% were malnourished (group II) as compared to those who did not take both the things 13.7% in group II. Difference was found to be statistically significant (p value <0.01). Out of 73.1% who took both fast food and soft drinks 62.1% and 11.0% were in group IIa (Underweight, BMI <18.5) and group IIb (Over weight and obese BMI >25) subsequently. Incidence of malnutrition was significantly less in 12.4% adolescents’ interfered by their parents as compared to 69.6% of those where parents was not interfering. Difference was found to be statistically significant (P value <0.01). Conclusion: A habit of fast food eating and taking soft drink provokes malnutrition. Interference in eating by parents is beneficial among adolescents.

Study of morbidity pattern of under-fives in paediatrics OPD of a tertiary care hospital in a rural area of Uttar Pradesh.

Background: Children under-five are most vulnerable for malnutrition and infection. Morbidity pattern of this age group has several determinants like socio-economic status, basic education, occupation, socio-cultural practices, living environment etc. Objectives: To study the morbidity pattern in under-five children and to find out it’s association with various factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in paediatrics OPD of a tertiary care level hospital in rural area of Etawah District of Uttar Pradesh for three months. We included 379 children by random sampling design. Mothers of children were interviewed using a predesigned schedule. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Commonest morbidity was malnutrition (70.71%), followed by ARI (63.59%), anaemia (47.76%), diarrhea (20.58%), malaria (13.33%) and worm infestation (10.03%) while around 25 percent suffered from other illnesses. Most common symptom was fever (70.71%) and cough (62.8%). A statistically significant association was found in morbidity pattern of ARI, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition and anaemia with various factors like education, socio-economic status, and occupation. Congenital anomalies were found in around 3 percent children. 3.69 percent children were admitted in wards from OPD. Conclusion: Common childhood illnesses were prevalent though children suffered from serious illnesses on very few occasions.

Energy balance of adolescent girls in rural area of Varanasi.

Although several studies have been undertaken on dietary intake of adolescent girls, studies on their energy expenditure and thereby energy balance are few. In order to explore these aspects, this community based cross-sectional study was done on 270 adolescent girls of a rural area of Varanasi, selected by adopting appropriate sampling technique. Nutritional status of study subjects was assessed on the basis of BMI. Their energy intake was computed by 24 hours recall oral questionnaire method. Estimation of energy expenditure was based on physical activity which was noted by 24 hours activity recall questionnaire method. Average energy intake (1609.42 +/- 528.87 kcal/day) of the study subjects was less than their mean energy expenditure (1896.19 kcal/day). Their energy expenditure was significantly influenced by several factors (e.g. age, caste, type of family, etc.) As much as 69.63%, subjects were in negative energy balance. Majority of subjects belonging to lower (79.37%) and middle (75.19%) SES were in the negative energy balance. Negative energy balance has been significantly less in subjects belonging to high SES, having main occupation of the family as business and high per capita income groups with respect to their corresponding subcategories. In all 68.52% study subjects had BMI < 18.5 kg/m2. Majority (91.11%) of adolescent girls had rate of energy expenditure > 1.4. Under nutrition was significantly (p<0.05) more in subjects with rate of energy expenditure > 1.4 (i.e. 70.33%) than in subjects with rate of energy expenditure < or = 1.4.

An epidemiological study of cannabis abuse among college students of Varanasi.

A study of 4326 students, selected by stratified random sampling and using a self administered questionnaire, revealed that overall cannabis abuse among them was 4.5%. It amounted to a considerable decline in prevalence compared to 10.2% observed in 1976. However, it was noted that this reduction was mainly in occasional users and the proportion of regular users has actually increased in 1986. The prevalence has also shown an increase among girl students. The regular users were mainly from professional colleges, hailing from metropolitan cities and with relatively higher amount of pocket money at their disposal. It was concluded that the observed trends could be due to peer pressures. It was also considered that health education of such students at entry point may help reduce the problem.

Poor reliability of the first meal tolerance test.

The poor reproducibility of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has been known for a long time. Some recent reports indicate that postprandial glycaemia achieved during the test is likely to be higher on the first occasion than on subsequent visits. We have analysed our recent data on meal tolerance tests (MTT) from this angle. Fifteen healthy subjects and 9 subjects having NIDDM were administered two essentially identical meals one or two weeks apart. In case of healthy subjects, the absolute as well as incremental postprandial glycaemia achieved at 0.5 h and 1.0 h on the first visit was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than on the subsequent visit. The effect of visit was insignificant in case of NIDDM subjects. The effect observed in healthy subjects may be due to the release of adrenaline during the first visit brought about by apprehension. In NIDDM subjects the apprehension is likely to be much less because of their having undergone such tests in the past. Hence a single casual OGTT or MTT is unreliable as a diagnostic tool in borderline cases of impaired glucose tolerance test. The test needs to be repeated at least once more to eliminate false positives.

Effect of coingestion of paracetamol on glycaemic response.

Rate of gastric emptying is a frequently measured variable in glycaemic response studies. One of the indices employed for measurement of the gastric emptying rate is the blood level of paracetamol at frequent intervals of time following coingestion of paracetamol with the meal. But the effect of paracetamol itself on glycaemic response is not known. The present study was performed on ten healthy and five NIDDM subjects. Each subject underwent two meal tolerance tests in random sequence. On one occasion the meal was white bread; on the other occasion, the meal consisted of the same quantity of white bread and 1.5 g paracetamol. The postprandial glycaemica following the two meals was not significantly different. Thus the results validate the use of the paracetamol technique for gastric emptying in glycaemic response studies.

Glycaemic response to maize, bajra and barley.

The postprandial glycaemic response to maize (Zea mays), bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) was studied in a pool of 18 healthy volunteers and 14 patients having non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In response to maize, none of the variables examined was significantly different as compared to white bread. The glycaemic response to bajra was significantly lower than that to white bread in healthy subjects, but the two responses were indistinguishable in NIDDM subjects. The insulinaemic responses to bajra and white break were not significantly different in either group of subjects. The glycaemic response to barley was significantly lower than that to white bread in both groups of subjects. But the insulinaemic response to barley was significantly lower than that to white bread only in healthy subjects. In NIDDM subjects, there was a tendency for the response to barley to be higher than that to white bread 0.5 h after ingestion. Barley, with a low glycaemic index (68.7 in healthy and 53.4 in NIDDM subjects) and a high insulinaemic index (105.2) in NIDDM subjects seems to mobilize insulin in NIDDM. This makes it a specially suitable cereal for diabetes mellitus.