ABSTRACT
Background: Menstruation is associated with taboos and socio-cultural restrictions. The social and cultural significance of menstruation interacts with the physiological process to produce culturally determined norms and practices. This study was conducted among young females aged 15-35 years from urban slums of Kochi, India. The objective was to assess prevalence, factors, and patterns of restrictions faced by young females during menstruation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 young females in three urban slums of Kochi. A pre-formed pretested questionnaire was used. Data were analysed statistically by simple proportions.Results: Only 8.8% young females felt they had restrictions during menstruation but when asked in detail 88% had socio-religious restrictions. Source for restrictions was traditionally followed patterns 60.8%, patterns taught by elderly mainly mother or mother in law 11.2% and self-imposed restrictions 28%. Reasons for restriction are that 14.4% considered it was good and give rest to the body, 8% women think they are unclean and 57.6% women fear to disobey religious restrictions. 77.6% of Women felt these restrictions are necessary and 40.8% felt restrictions do not need change. Out of 22.4% who felt religious restrictions were unnecessary only 1.6% were affected by religious restrictions.Conclusions: Only a few (8.8%) felt they had restrictions and more than two-third had restrictions (88%) and felt these restrictions are necessary (77.6%). This paper explains restrictions practiced and the origin of such restrictions during menstruation. The key issues identified from the community will be an asset to combat restrictions.
ABSTRACT
@#With interest we read the recent article on methemoglobinemia by Chan et al.[1] Through this letter, we would like to add few additional comments regarding methemoglobinemia and its relevance in medicine practice with regards to food poisoning.
ABSTRACT
Background: Interstate migrant workers in the state of Kerala are increasing day by day. Tobacco usage is quite common among them; however, there are only few studies about oral smokeless tobacco consumption among them. The objectives of the study were to study the prevalence of oral smokeless tobacco use among migrant labourers in an urban settlement in Ernakulam district of Kerala and to assess the knowledge and attitude of users towards cessation. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 140 migrant workers residing in an urban settlement in Kochi. Data regarding their socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices of smokeless tobacco consumption was collected using a questionnaire adapted from the global adult tobacco survey questionnaire (GATS). Data was entered into excel sheet and was analyzed using Epi Info. Results: The prevalence of oral smokeless tobacco was found to be 32.85%. Of which, majority of them used a tobacco-lime mixture called Khani (50%) and used tobacco on a daily basis (65.2%). It was observed that 71.74% of the users were unaware of the ill effects of the use of smokeless tobacco and 69.57% of them were not interested in quitting this habit. Among those who had quit, majority of them had done it on their will power alone. Conclusions: The use of smokeless tobacco is quite prevalent among the migrant population. Effective behavioural change communication activities need to be directed towards them.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the vaginal colonization rate of Streptococcus agalactiae [group B streptococci, GBS] in an antenatal population in a maternity hospital. Subjects and Anal, vaginal and combined anal and vaginal specimens were obtained from 110 pregnant women [mean age 30.7 ' 5.5 years] at 35-37 weeks of gestation, using a commercially prepared culturette, and transported in 0.5 ml of Stuart's transport medium. The specimens were then cultured in standard selective Todd-Hewitt broth medium, supplemented with gentamicin and nalidixic acid. After 36 h of incubation, the broth culture was subcultured onto sheep blood agar and incubated in 5% carbon dioxide for 18-24 h. Representative colonies morphologically resembling GBS were tested with latex agglutination kit. Each culture-positive woman was given ampicillin or piperacillin prophylactically and followed up through labour and postpartum. Detailed records of biodata, antecedent antenatal events and pregnancy outcome were reviewed. The combined vaginal and anal specimens were positive for GBS in 18 [16.4%] women. Gestational age at delivery was 39.01 ' 1.79 weeks. The deliveries were uneventful and no neonate developed sepsis. Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy-induced hypertension/hypertension were detected antenatally in 16.6 and 11.5%, respectively. GBS carriage was not associated with adverse outcome of pregnancy. The colonization rate of GBS in pregnant women in Kuwait is high, and on the basis of the documented benefits of antenatal screening in Western countries, we recommend routine screening especially for our at-risk patients