ABSTRACT
Background: Acute diarrhoeal diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries and a major contribution of malnutrition especially among infants and children under 5 years of age. Approximately two-thirds of the world population live in the developing countries characterized by a lack of potable drinking water, improper means of disposal of human faecal waste, intense crowding in houses and often primitive standards of personal hygiene. In India, diarrhoeal diseases are a major public health problem among children under 5 years. The objective of the study was to estimate number of episodes of diarrhoea in children under five years in a rural area.Methods: Community based longitudinal study conducted among 622 children.Results: The overall incidence of diarrhoeal disease was found to be 2.11 episode/child/year. It was observed that the diarrhoeal disease morbidity decreased with the increasing age of the child. Diarrhoeal disease morbidity increased in children from lower socioeconomic status 2.32 episodes/child/year.Conclusions: The lower incidence rate has been found in those children who were better nourished, had received immunization and had been breast fed. Hence there is a need to make efforts to still further improve and sustain immunization coverage, give importance to the nutrition of the children, encourage the mothers to breast feed their children for at least 2 years.
ABSTRACT
Background: Nomophobia literally means ‘no mobile phobia’ that is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. People experience symptoms of withdrawal when they are away from mobile phones. To address this problem and create awareness among medical students the present study was planned. Objectives of this study were 1)To assess prevalence of nomophobia among medical students 2) To assess pattern of mobile phone usage. 3) To know health related consequences of nomophobiaMethods: This college based cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of SRTR Government Medical College, Ambajogai. All undergraduate students from 1st MBBS to final MBBS were enrolled in the study. Data was collected from a total of 346 medical students with a predesigned pretested questionnaire. “test of mobile phone dependence” (TMD Brief) was used to assess nomophobia. TMD brief scale was designed and validated by Chóliz et al. According to scores, medical students scoring 30-60 were labeled as having nomophobia. Data was analyzed using Epi info 7 Software.Results: The prevalence of nomophobia was 71.39%, which was more among males (73%) compared to females (69.94%). ‘Disturbance of sleep’ (41.33%) was most common symptom experienced due to mobile phone dependence. Study participants belonging to nuclear family, 3rd year MBBS batch, age group of 20-22 years and students spending Rs. >400/month on mobile phones were significantly associated with nomophobia.Conclusions: The present study has reported prevalence of nomophobia as 71.39% among undergraduate medical students which is very high. Now a day’s nomophobia is an alarming issue and it should be addressed on priority basis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Health-care workers are at increased risk of infection with blood borne pathogens because of occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids. Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are major cause of blood borne infections transmitted among health care personnel. More than 90% of these infections occur in developing countries but most of these NSIs remain unreported. It is also found that 37.6% of Hepatitis B, 39% of Hepatitis C and 4.4% of HIV/AIDS in Health-Care Workers (HCWs) around the world are due to needle stick injuries. Aims & Objective: (1) To determine prevalence of needle stick injuries among health care workers. (2) To study circumstances under which they occur among health care workers in tertiary care hospital of Rural India. Material and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among HCWs of rural tertiary care medical college and hospital. A total of 220 health care workers were included in the study. A self-designed, semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Results: A total 130 (59.09%) HCWs reported having occupational exposure to blood and body fluid in last one year, out of these 108 (49.09%) had NSIs and 22 (10%) had history of splash of blood and body fluid. Maximum exposure of NSIs was found among nurses (50%), followed by resident doctors (25.93%). Conclusion: NSIs were common occurrence among health care workers and they are grossly underreported.
ABSTRACT
Background: Sex ratio, an important social indicator measuring extent of prevailing equity between males and females in society. Aims & Objective: To find out awareness regarding sex determination and attitude towards gender preference among pregnant women. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based, descriptive study was undertaken among pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic. Information recorded regarding on the sociodemographic factors viz. education of study subjects, socioeconomic status; residence (rural / urban); religion and type of family etc. Information was also collected on the obstetric details. Socioeconomic status of family was calculated by using modified BG Prasad Classification. Views of pregnant women regarding awareness of sex determination and attitudes toward gender preference and female feticide were also recorded. Results: Total 840 pregnant women were interviewed during study period. It was observed that 622 (74%) pregnant women aware about availability of sex determination facility. Among all 496 (59.05%) had knowledge about the method of sex determination. In our study 294 (35%) of pregnant women gave preference to male child. A preference to male child was significantly associated with education of mother, socioeconomic class and sex of the last child whereas insignificant association with religion and gravida of women. Conclusion: Awareness regarding availability of sex determination facility and different methods of sex determination was found to be raised, but it is still not reflected in attitude and practice. This situation calls for two pronged strategy i.e. by women empowerment and by ensuring effective implementation of PCPNDT Act so that families found it difficult to undertake sex determination and selective abortions.