Knowledge, awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening among ever married rural women of Ganjam District, Odisha: a community based cross-sectional study

Background: India accounts for 25% of total deaths from cervical cancer. Screening for cervical cancer reduces mortality by early detection and treatment. So, a study was conducted among rural women of Ganjam district with the objective to know knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical screening among them.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from January to February 2019 among ever married women of more than 30 years of age residing in villages of Chhatrapur block of Ganjam district. Sample size was calculated to be 280 by formula Z2pq/l2. Multistage random sampling and PPS method were used to select participants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data and all data were analysed in SPSS.Results: Among 280 participants, though 70.7% had heard about cervical cancer, only 32.5% knew that there are tests for screening. Only 13.2% of participants said that Pap smear test was to be taken regularly. However, majority didn’t know who should undergo screening test and what age tests should be started. Main source of information for them was health worker (39%). Only 14.6% had any type of cervical screening in their lifetime. The main reason for not going for screening was ignorance (53.9%) followed by thinking tests are not needed unless any symptoms appearedConclusions: Proportion of participants with proper knowledge and awareness regarding cervical cancer screening was low which led to poor uptake of screening. So, awareness regarding cervical cancer screening should be increased. Health camps and education programs should be conducted regularly.

Epidemiological study on body mass index distribution and health awareness among women at an urban tertiary care centre of north India

Background: Obesity has become a new worldwide health problem and is gradually moving towards an epidemic. overweight and obesity implies an abnormal excessive fat accumulation that poses health risk. According to National Family Health Survey-4, prevalence of obesity has doubled in country over the last decade. Asian Indians stand at higher risk for development of obesity related non-communicable diseases at lower body mass index levels.Methods: It was an observational interpretive study carried on 1000 randomly selected women over 3 months in a tertiary center of urban northern India. BMI was obtained by dividing weight in kilograms and height in meters squares. Patients were enquired about any menstrual complains, known comorbidities, awareness of obesity in terms of its cause and effects, about weight reduction and benefits of exercise and its practice and details noted in a preformed performa. No prior intervention or health education was given to avoid bias.Results: Out of 1000 women, mean BMI was found to be 31.85±8.85kg/m2. BMI classification (Asian standards) stated that 8.1% were overweight and 78% of patients were pre obese and obese (maximum in age of 21-40 years). Menstrual complaints were present among 39% of overweight and obese groups. Among comorbidities, hypothyroidism was found to be maximum being 9.5% in the obese group, followed by hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Only 26.3% of obese women were aware of the factors causing obesity. Knowledge of exercise benefits was grossly limited, with only one fourth of the pre obese and obese population being aware of it.Conclusions: Rising obesity in Indian women needs measures for prevention. Though there is knowledge of the cure among Indian females but there is limited ability to implement the same. Health education of women regarding obesity related comorbidities along with the benefits of weight loss with exercises should be promoted strongly.

Perceptions and practices of rural Indian women in contraception, abortion, and sexual health: a cross sectional study

Background: Maternal mortality is an important target of health care policies, especially in India. While numerical indicators of maternal health improve, this can only be sustained with change in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women. Gender empowerment is a neglected aspect of health care policy, and there is a need to assess the perceptions of Indian women, the true torch-bearers of change.Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional quasi-quantitative study in a sub-district hospital in the town of Ballabgarh, Haryana, India. Married women attending the outpatient clinic, antenatal clinic, labor ward, and primary health centres in the age group of 20 to 40 years were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Health concerns were concurrently addressed.Results: Author interviewed 956 women. No form of modern contraception had ever been used by 58.36% of the women. Intra-uterine contraceptive devices were discontinued by 76.12% of the women who had used them. Emergency contraception was a concept known to 49.89% of the women, but fraught with misconceptions. Induced abortions was being used as a form of family planning, with nearly 90% of the women having taken over-the-counter abortifacients. Women were receptive to contraception, and many expressed an interest in long acting contraceptives other than IUCDs.Conclusions: This study provides insight into the thinking of Indian women regarding family planning. This may help guide family planning policies.

Oral contraceptive pills decrease pulmonary airway resistance in healthy north Indian women.

Objectives: Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are hormonal pills used by females to prevent conception; they are a combination of estrogen and progestin. There is, however, compelling evidence that throughout the reproductive life of a woman, her airways are subject to the influence of the cyclical variations in sex hormones which occur in relation to circadian rhythms. The present study has been designed to investigate the effects of OCPs on airway resistance in terms of spirometric parameters in OCP users and nonusers. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 women (age: 20-40 years) ware selected for the present study. The subjects were provided with a one-month supply of OCPs. The constituents per tablet of MALA-N used were levonorgestrel 0.15 mg and ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory flow in expiring 25-75% air (FEF 25-75), forced expiratory volume percentage in one second (FEV1% or FEV1/FVC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were recorded. Results: In our study, the FEF 25-75and PEFR increased significantly in OCP users, showing that these hormone pills decrease the resistance offered by small bronchioles.

A Subgroup Analysis of Effect of Metformin in Indian Women with PCOS.

To analyze the variations in effects of metformin on ovarian function in different subgroups of Indian women with PCOS. Sixty PCOS patients were divided into treatment (metformin 500mg TDS for 2 months) and placebo groups. Parameters were assessed at baseline and after 2 months. Patients in the metformin group were further divided into subgroups according to the Body Mass Index (BMI), Serum Insulin and Serum Testosterone levels. Statistical analysis was done by Wilcoxan's Rank Sum test and paired t test. In subgroup analysis, obese patients (BMI>30 kg/m2) had more severe abnormalities. Hyperinsulinemic patients (S.Insulin > 25 μIU/ml) had far better response to metformin than normoinsulinemic patients. Hyperandrogenic patients (S. Testosterone > 2pg/ml) responded poorly as compared to normoandrogenic patients. Patients with high insulin levels and low testosterone levels are better responders to metformin. Obesity also has implications on PCOS. Further studies are required to assess the effect of these parameters on treatment of PCOS.

A Subgroup Analysis of Effect of Metformin in Indian Women with PCOS.

To analyze the variations in effects of metformin on ovarian function in different subgroups of Indian women with PCOS. Sixty PCOS patients were divided into treatment (metformin 500mg TDS for 2 months) and placebo groups. Parameters were assessed at baseline and after 2 months. Patients in the metformin group were further divided into subgroups according to the Body Mass Index (BMI), Serum Insulin and Serum Testosterone levels. Statistical analysis was done by Wilcoxan's Rank Sum test and paired t test. In subgroup analysis, obese patients (BMI>30 kg/m2) had more severe abnormalities. Hyperinsulinemic patients (S.Insulin > 25 μIU/ml) had far better response to metformin than normoinsulinemic patients. Hyperandrogenic patients (S. Testosterone > 2pg/ml) responded poorly as compared to normoandrogenic patients. Patients with high insulin levels and low testosterone levels are better responders to metformin. Obesity also has implications on PCOS. Further studies are required to assess the effect of these parameters on treatment of PCOS.