Study on High Risk Behaviour among Adolescents Male and Females of Agra Urban Slums

Background: India estimates third highest number of HIVinfections in the world Adolescents often face significant barrierto getting the information education and services they need.Since discussing reproductive and sexual matter freely is still ataboo in our society. Most of the literature reports that majorityof married or unmarried people had experienced their first sexencounter before age 20. The most of the countries developedor developing especially those with high prevalence ofHIV/AIDS. The intervention in India are directed more towardshigh risk groups rather than adolescents, there has been anincrease in efforts to raise awareness on issues of HIV/AIDSand to influence preventive behaviour particularly regardingsexual activity in vulnerable age group.Methods: The study was performed among adolescents of 13-19years age group residing in randomly selected urban slumsof Agra city. Personal in-depth interview of adolescent’s boysand girls was conducted using a structured questionnaire.Results: Gutkha chewing habit appeared as an futuristicepidemic as 15.0% of adolescents Gutkha chewer, out ofwhich 84.44% were males, the majority of the adolescents71.67% had never seen pornographic films. The 88% ofadolescents said that they believe in religious customs andtaboos, out of which majority 51.89% were males. The sex withunknown status partner majority of adolescents 52% male saidto have sex only with use of condom, 43.33% expressed “nosex relation.Conclusions: The reproductive health education should be apart of curriculum in all schools. Public awareness programmeshould be directed to society. Apart from government sectors,the AIDS education should be programme activity of the localhealth agencies, NGO’s, media agencies.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of gutkha chewing among youth in Hiroli village of Kalaburagi district

Background: Gutkha is a preparation of crushed tobacco, lime, catechu, areca nut and flavouring agent. Gutkha chewing may lead to various diseases like cancer of oral cavity, gingival diseases, addiction, submucosal fibrosis and overall poor health of an individual. The use of gutkha in youths is highly prevalent due to a lack of awareness and education and has misconceptions, particularly in rural areas like chewing tobacco products aids in digestion, acts as germ-killer, mood enhancement and tension relief.Methods: The study was undertaken to know the knowledge, attitude and practice among gutkha chewers of Hiroli village in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, India. The study sample comprised a total of 479 participants.Results: The result of the study showed that the prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption is high in rural population (49.2%). And most of the participants (51%) agreed that gutkha chewing is injurious to health, but the knowledge of gutkha causing oral and throat cancer was limited (40.6% and 36.4% respectively).Conclusions: The result indicated to increase awareness programs on associated health risks that focus on improving the knowledge, attitude and practice of gutkha chewing.

The ban on smokeless tobacco products is systematically violated in Chennai, India.

BACKGROUND: India is the world’s third largest consumer of tobacco. There are twice as many users of smokeless tobacco products (STPs) as cigarette smokers. The Government of Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of gutkha and pan masala in 2013. Our aim was to identify the varieties of illegal STP available in Chennai, India. METHODS: In systematically chosen zones and regions of Chennai city, we randomly identified three kinds of kiosks (n = 18) and asked for “gutkha” and “pan masala,” one of each product available. Details of each product were reviewed based on the information printed on the sachets. RESULTS: Totally 65 STPs were collected; 26 distinct products and 23 brands. All products were claimed to be “tobacco” by the shop keepers. Sixty‑five percent of the products informed to contain tobacco and 15.4% to contain pan masala. Five sachets did not inform about the content; 30.8% did not have a pictorial warning; a text warning was printed on 80.8%, but only two products had the messages in Tamil; 70% had promotional messages printed, and 57% had their registration numbers printed. CONCLUSION: The ban on STP is being systematically violated in Chennai. STP are cheap and easily available and due to promotional laudatory messages and lacking information about the content and warning of health damage, the consumers are left with the perception that they buy more or less harmless product. The Indian Government must introduce policies to control production, import, and sale of illicit STP but we also call for a coordinated international solution.

Health Hazards of Gutkha: An Update Article.

Gutka or Gutkha is a partial grinded mixture of areca nut (beetle nut or supari), smokeless tobacco, catechu, paraffin and sweet smelling chemicals in limewater. It is popular and mainly manufactured in India and exported to some other countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal etc and is used as a mild stimulant and highly addictive. It is consumed like smokeless or chewing tobacco and causes several health hazards. It is a leading cause of oral cancer born deaths in India. It is continuously selling in some parts of India by shopkeepers without any care of imposing a ban for a high profit on the other hand clever manufacturers provide Gutka stuff.

Impact of 'gutkha and pan masala ban' in the state of Maharashtra on users and vendors.

BACKGROUND: Gutkha and pan masala contain harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Hence, Maharashtra Government banned their manufacture, storage, distribution and sale on 19th July 2012 for a year. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of the ban on gutkha and pan masala on its users and vendors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑ sectional study was conducted among gutkha and/or pan masala users and tobacco vendors in the selected area of Mumbai city, 4‑6 months after the implementation of the ban. The parameters studied included knowledge regarding the ban, usage or discontinuation of use of the banned products, product availability, withdrawal symptoms among quitters, etc., RESULTS: A total of 68 users and five tobacco vendors were enrolled in this study. Although all users were aware about the ban on gutkha, very few knew about the ban on pan masala. Only 5.9% of users knew that currently the ban had been declared for only 1 year. Electronic media was the main source of information regarding the ban as reported by 45.6% users. All users and vendors were in favor of the ban. After the ban, 23.53% gutkha users quit their habit while 55.88% reduced their gutkha consumption. Non‑availability of gutkha was the most important reason stated by the gutkha users for quitting or reducing the consumption. In spite of the ban, gutkha is still available in the market, but at an increased cost or in a different form. CONCLUSION: Nearly 23.53% of gutkha users have quit their habit post‑ban despite its availability through illegal sources.

Comparative study of Candida in oral submucous fibrosis and healthy individuals / Estudo comparativo de Candida em fibrose submucosa oral e indivíduos saudáveis

PURPOSE: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a high-risk precancerous condition that predominantly affects Indian youngsters due to the habit of gutkha chewing. Candida may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of premalignant and malignant lesions. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence, intensity, and species of Candida found in OSMF patients and healthy individuals. METHODS: This study included 20 OSMF patients and 20 healthy controls. A detailed history of each patient was recorded along with a clinical examination. Samples were collected with the oral rinse technique and cultured on Sabouraud's agar medium. The isolated yeast species were counted and identified based on Gram staining, a germ tube test, chlamydospore formation and a sugar assimilation test. RESULTA: In total, 40 percent of OSMF patients and 15 percent of healthy controls yielded Candida organisms on culture. C. albicans was the predominant species isolated, but C. krusei and C. tropicalis were also identified. Gender, gutkha habit and clinical staging had no influence on the candidal carriage in OSMF patients. CONCLUSION: The incidence and intensity of Candida (primarily C. albicans) was greater in OSMF patients than in healthy controls, but these findings were within the normal limit (3-47 percent). Therefore, Candida may not be an etiologic factor in malignant transformation. However, controversy still exists over whether the chewing of betel quid in cases of OSMF has an inhibitory effect or promotes the adherence and invasion of Candida.

OBJETIVO: Fibrose submucosa oral (FSO) é uma condição pré-maligna de alto risco que predominantemente afeta jovens da Índia devido ao hábito de mascar 'gutkha'. Candida pode ter um papel importante na etiopatogenia de lesões pré-malignas e malignas. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a incidência, intensidade e Candida spp encontradas em pacientes com FSO e em indivíduos saudáveis. METODOLOGIA: Este estudo incluiu 20 pacientes com FSO e 20 controles saudáveis. Obteve-se de cada sujeito uma história detalhada e exame clínico. As amostras foram coletadas com uma técnica de enxágue bucal e cultivadas em meio Agar Sabouraud. As espécies isoladas foram contadas e identificadas com base em coloração Gram, teste de tubo de ensaio e teste de assimilação de açúcar. RESULTADOS: No total, 40 por cento dos pacientes com FSO e 15 por cento dos controles saudáveis apresentaram resultado positivo de cultura para Candida. C. albicans foi a espécie predominante isolada, mas C. krusei e C. tropicalis também foram identificados. O sexo, hábito de mascar 'gutkha' e estadiamento clínico não influenciaram a presença de fungos nos pacientes com FSO. CONCLUSÃO: A incidência e intensidade de Candida (primariamente C. albicans) foi maior nos pacientes com FSO que nos sujeitos controle, mas estes achados estavam dentro dos limites normais (3-47 por cento). Portanto, Candida pode não ser um fator etiológico na transformação maligna. Entretanto, ainda há controvérsias se o hábito de mascar 'betel' em casos de FSO teria um efeito inibidor ou promoveria a aderência e invasão de Candida.

Tobacco Addiction Amongst Adolescents in Rural Areas of District Wardha

The present study was conducted in order to find out the use of tobacco amongst adolescents in a village of Wardha district. From the total 2200 population covered, 474 (21.54%) were adolescents {boys 216 (45.57%) and girls 258 (54.43%)}. Majority of the adolescent boys and girls were from unitary family. About 152 boys (70.37%) were using tobacco and remaining boys were non-user of tobacco. About 70 girls were using tobacco and 188 were non-users. Majority of the boys were engaged in tobacco chewing and smoking (69.74% & 17.1% respectively), whereas majority of the girls were found to be practicing other methods of tobacco use (Nas / Mishri, etc.). The exposure of the habit of tobacco use in adolescent was influenced by various factors like peer pressure, friends, elders, boys trying to follow hero images, feel great and powerful when smoking and for fun.