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Background: Access to safe water and sanitation practices is an important issue of health and development at local, regional and national levels. The government has come up with various facilities regarding the water supply and sanitation but there are various factors which curtail their utilization. The present study deals with the extent of utilization and factors impeding the utilization of such services at the village level.Methods: The present impeding cross-sectional study was carried out in village Nagkalan, Amritsar, where the eldest adult member present in the house at the time of the visit was interviewed. Every house of the village was visited during the period of January 2017 to December 2017, and a total of 1123 families were included in the final analysis. Thereafter, data was compiled and analyzed.Results: Out of total 1123 families, only 31.4% were using government water supply (tap water); while 42.7% had no government connection at all and used submersible as their sole source of water supply. 20.2% did not have a toilet at their house and therefore practiced open defecation; out of which majority families belonged to lower socio-economic status (statistically significant). Out of total 896 families having a toilet at their house, there were only 30 families (3.4%) who responded that some of the family members practice open defecation. Also, only 6.1% of the respondents were aware about the functions of Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC).Conclusions: More number of families (42.7%) were dependent on submersible pump as sole source of water supply. 20.2% lacked separate toilet facility, mostly belonging to lower socio- economic status. Only 6.1% were aware regarding the VHSNC. All the families disposed of their household waste on the roads.
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Background: The health of a pregnant mother and her nutritional status can influence the health and survival of the growing foetus because of the biological link between them. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and determining factors regarding nutrition during pregnancy among females of rural Punjab.Methods: 359 mothers of 2 months to 24 months old children were selected from Verka block of district Amritsar using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a semi structured and pretested questionnaire. Analysis was done using frequency distribution, simple percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square was used to test hypothesis at 5% level of significance.Results: Findings reveal that 81.1% of respondents stressed on adding extra diet during pregnancy out of which only 77.3% of mothers actually added or increased one or more food items. Place of residence, education and parity were significantly associated with knowledge regarding diet increase during pregnancy. Fear of caesarean section and difficult labour were the main reasons given for not adding extra diet during pregnancy.Conclusions: The study however suggests that there is a need for educating the mothers regarding importance of diet during pregnancy.
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Background: Lack of knowledge about tuberculosis could have an effect on the patients who seek health care services and continue the disease transmission within the public. Hence, the study was conducted in Amritsar district to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards transmission and prevention of Tuberculosis.Methods: The study was conducted on 326 patients registered with district tuberculosis centre, Amritsar. Information was collected with reference to knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding TB.Results: A total of 228 patients participated in the study. 72.4% had heard of tuberculosis before being diagnosed, with significant gender difference (p=0.016). 19.3% were afraid to disclose the disease to others. The relation between fear of disclosing the disease and gender was found to be statistically significant (p=0.011). 23.5% male vs 8.3% females were worried about finances, which was found to be statistically significant (p=0.002). Regarding the practices, 72.4% of the patients used separate utensils. In response to stigma 9.2% patients had isolated themselves from other members and 34.6% had discontinued their work and there was significant gender difference seen with both these practices (p=0.0001).Conclusions: There were lot of unfavourable attitude and practices regarding TB. More male patients had heard of tuberculosis. Due to social stigma more males had isolated themselves and discontinued their work as compared to females. Females were worried that other family members may not get the disease.
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Background: Low level of education of the slum dwellers along-with poor socio- economic status and pathetic environmental conditions lead to their poor health indicators. Since the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched in 2013, the health services are still in their initial stages. Assessment of the availability as well as the utilization of health care services of the urban slums is the need of the hour.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected slum in Amritsar city. All the houses were enumerated and visited by the interviewer herself. The eldest adult member of the family was selected as key respondent and written, informed consent was obtained. Predesigned questionnaire was used to collect the data which was then compiled and analyzed using statistical tests.Results: Out of the total respondents, one third respondents had knowledge about the government health center nearby (statistically significant) while out of these, only one third utilized the services at the center (statistically non-significant). Almost half of the respondents had knowledge about the medical camps and out of these, two-thirds utilized the services at medical camps.Conclusions: Overall utilization of services is poor. More respondents were aware of the medical camps than the static government health facility and utilization of medical camps was also more. So the static health services under NUHM need to be further strengthened.
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Background: Slums are not new phenomenon. They are characterized by insanitary condition, crime, drug abuse etc. The male youth living in the slums, are prone to various health impacting conditions including substance use like alcohol consumption, smoking, tobacco chewing, drugs etc.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in the four selected urban slums of Amritsar city. From each slum 250 male youth aged 15-24 years were included in the study, so total 1000 respondents were interviewed and required information was filled in pre-designed semi-structured proforma. Data was compiled, analysed and valid conclusions were drawn.Results: The overall prevalence of substance use among the respondents was 25.9% and as the age increases the prevalence of substance use also increases. Among substance users, tobacco (86.8%) was the most common substance consumed both in smoking form (52.1%) and smokeless form (34.7%), followed by the alcohol (72.2%) and then drugs (12%). Majority (62.1%) of respondents had initiated the substance use between 15-19 years of age. Factors like illiteracy, migration, joint family, married status and increased mental stress were significantly associated with substance use, however no association was found with socio economic status of the respondents.Conclusions: Government should take robust steps to improve the awareness and education status of the youth living in the slums. As the younger ages are most vulnerable ones, health education, IEC and BCC activities regarding the harmful effects of substance use along with life skills should be incorporated into the school curriculum.
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Background: Diabetes has become global issue due to premature illness and death due to its complications. Awareness about good health seeking practices are essential for prevention, early detection and management of diabetic complications. Objective of the study was to evaluate the health seeking practices among diabetics (>10 years of duration) in the field practice areas of Government Medical College, Amritsar.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of district, Amritsar. A total of 200 diabetic patients who had diabetes equal to or more than 10 years of duration were interviewed using pretested and predesigned questionnaire. Data such collected was analysed at p<0.05.Results: Out of total 200 diabetic respondents, 50% (100) were from urban and 50% (100) were from the rural area. In both urban and rural areas, majority were literate i.e. 80% (161) and employed i.e. 51% (103). The mean age of diabetic respondents was 58.05 years with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1. The majority 82% (165) were diagnosed in the private sector and 99% (198) were on allopathic treatment. Oral hypoglycaemic agents were used by 77% (153) patients to manage their disease. 23% (45) were using both oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin. About 48% (96) were monitoring their RBS regularly, 76% (151) were on regular treatment for diabetes and 55 (27%) were doing physical activity.Conclusions: Poor health seeking practices and less awareness about non pharmacological measures are main factors for development of complications among diabetics.
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Background: Health care expenses induced impoverishment in the poverty stricken strata of rural India is a major issue. The government of India has come up with various services in public health facilities, but there are various factors which curtail the utilization of available services and people have to visit some private health facility. The present study deals with the extent of utilization of services of government health facility and the factors impeding the utilization.Methods: The present cross sectional study was conducted in village Nagkalan, district Amritsar, where the eldest adult members present in the house at the time of the visit, and are interviewed using a semi-structured and predesigned questionnaire. A total of 1123 families were included in the final analysis. Data was compiled, analysed and valid conclusions drawn.Results: Almost all the respondents were aware about the existence of subsidiary health centre in the village. However, out of those who were aware, 40.8% never visited the centre. Utilization was more in the lower socio economic status. Immunization services followed by treatment for common ailments constituted the top two reasons for visiting the centre. Out of those visiting the centre, 80.7% were not satisfied with the current timings of the centre; only 20.2% were attended by the doctor and 33.3% reported that the prescribed medicines were never available at the centre.Conclusions: Regular supply of prescribed medicines, availability of the doctor and appropriate timings are critical for utilization of health care services at the government health facility.
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Background: Slums are most vulnerable and deprived areas within a city. The unhygienic and polluted environment, overcrowding, poor housing and absence of educational exposure affect youth in slums. Consequently, their health is affected adversely.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four slums, one each from four different directions (north, south, east and west) of Amritsar city. A total of 1000 respondents, 250 from each slum were interviewed by using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data was compiled and statistically analysed.Results: Out of total study population, 41.2% of the families had migrated from other states, Overcrowding was present in majority (92%) of the families, 20% of the respondents didn’t have latrine facility at their home, 44.4% respondents throw their garbage waste in the open space nearby their dwellings and 45% of population was not satisfied with the cleanliness of their slum, 54.6% of the respondents reported to have some kind of health problem during last three months. Educational status, socio-economic status and overcrowding were significant factors affecting their health.Conclusions: Important factor in causation of disease were found to be poor socio-economic status, lack of education and overcrowding. There is a strong need to intensify the IEC/BCC activities to raise the awareness about the health-related issues.
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Despite of various nutritional health programmes, malnutrition among children remains the big health problem in India. Even after the universalization of ICDS, India has biggest burden of malnourished children in the world. Suboptimal utilization of services by mothers is a big challenge before all programmes. Utilization of services also depends upon the awareness regarding the service and its perceived usefulness among beneficiaries. Therefore, the present study was conducted to know the awareness about the growth chart and its determinants among rural mothers. Study was conducted on 186 mothers selected from three villages. Chi square test and F test were applied wherever necessary. Results showed low level of awareness (38.17%) among the mothers regarding growth charting. Majority of mothers reported peripheral health functionaries i.e. ASHA (36.62%) & Anganwari worker (39.44%) as source of information. Distance from Health facility did not affect the knowledge of mothers. However, socio economic status and educational level of mothers were significantly associated with presence of awareness among mothers.