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Background: Smartphone usage is gradually escalating among Indian adolescents, which is having adverse consequences on their health and well-being. Awareness regarding adverse health impacts of smartphone usage among adolescents is thus necessary. Aims and Objectives: This study assessed the smartphone usage pattern and perception regarding its health effects among adolescents attending adolescent friendly health clinic (AFHC) at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 187 adolescents from January to March 2023 at AFHC of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata selected by systematic random sampling technique. Pre-designed self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Factors associated with the duration of smartphone usage were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: Smartphone was used by all the study participants (n = 187). A significant proportion has utilized smartphones for >3-year duration, whereas 114 (60.9%) used them for 1–2 h per day and 56 (29.9%) used them for ?3 h per day. The major adverse health impacts of smartphone usage perceived by the participants were eye symptoms (64.2%), headache (50.8%), and neck pain (46.5%). Gender (?2=12.98, df = 2, P = 0.0012), type of residence (?2 = 7.98, df = 2, P = 0.018), and socioeconomic status (?2 = 34.96, df = 2, P < 0.001) were factors significantly associated with the duration of smartphone usage per day. Conclusion: Smartphone should be optimized to protect the physical and mental well-being of adolescents. Motivation and counselling regarding the adverse effects of smartphone usage is should be given the utmost priority. Generating awareness among parents at the community level through field health workers is also the need of the hour.
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Background: The re-emerging Monkeypox disease is spreading worldwide, thus if prevention measures are not followed or awareness is not raised, chaos could result. Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the awareness and preventive measures of Monkeypox among medical students in a tertiary care hospital of Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 weeks, among final year MBBS students of Medical College Kolkata. Convenience sampling was done. Minimum sample size calculated was 110. A pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured, and self-administered questionnaire which was face and content validated by experts used as the study tool in this study. Questionnaire was answered while keeping their identities confidential. Data were collected and entered in a coded manner in MS Excel. Using SPSS version 25, tabulation, the necessary tables, and diagrams were created. The Institutional Ethics Committee of the Medical College in Kolkata was consulted for ethical approval. Results: The students lacked sufficient information. Majority of them responded well when asked about the disease’s cause, incubation period, natural host signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, preventive measures, and treatment, but it was clear that they were unsure about identification of a suspected, probable, or confirmed case and definitive diagnosis. Conclusion: The present study reported that the students had limited knowledge about Monkeypox disease.
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Background: Rapid, unplanned, and unsustainable patterns of urban development can result in many emerging environmental and health hazards. One of the important public health problems of urban environment is regular exposure to dust and pollutants and consequence of such exposure in the form of changes in the pulmonary function. Being the immediate environment, indoor pollution poses a higher risk to human health than the ambient environment. Realistic personal exposure assessment gives the actual idea about the exposure status. Objectives: This study determined the household principal environmental exposures (Dust, SO2 , NO2 , and total volatile organic compound) among urban slum dwellers and assessment of the respiratory function to determine any possible relationship between those exposures and outcomes. The study also described the knowledge, attitude, and practice of these urban slum people regarding air pollution and its effect. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 442 urban slum people residing in the slums of the Kolkata Municipal area. Household environmental exposures were collected by standardized methods and outcome was observed by conducting a pulmonary function test. Finally, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding air pollution were carried out with the help of a questionnaire-based survey. Results and Discussion: Almost all the pollutants exposure was associated with impairment of lung function. Younger age and female gender were statistically associated protective factors for the development of any lung disease. Those who had an overall good awareness regarding the means and effects of air pollution were found to be protected from developing lung disease. Using exhaust ventilation, relocation to inner side of slums, using personal protective measures, and adequate pollution awareness can help the slum citizens to overcome the problem.
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Background & objectives: Regional Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory established at ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) regularly receives samples for dengue screening and serotyping from patients of acute febrile illness (AFI) from Kolkata and adjacent districts. In this study, data over a three year period (August 2016-July 2019) was retrospectively analyzed to provide insight into the epidemiological trends of dengue fever in this region. Methods: Serological screening of dengue was performed by detection of NS1 antigen and/or immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody. Dengue serotyping was done by conventional or real-time reverse transcriptase–PCR. The data were analyzed to describe the distribution of dengue with respect to age of patient, duration of fever on the day of blood collection and month of the year. Zip codes were used for spatial plotting. Results: Out of the 24,474 samples received from Kolkata and its adjacent districts (Hooghly, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas), 38.3 per cent (95% confidence interval: 37.7-38.9%) samples were screened positive for dengue. The correlation between age and dengue positivity was found to be weak. A combination of dengue NS1 antigen and dengue IgM antibody detection may be a better option for detecting dengue positivity compared to a single test. Most AFI cases were tested from August to November during the study period, with maximum dengue positivity noted during September (45.9%). The predominant serotype of 2016, dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1), was almost entirely replaced by DENV-2 in 2017 and 2018. Interpretation & conclusions: Dengue continues to be an important cause of AFI in the region and round-the-year preventive measures are required for its control. Serotype switching is alarming and should be monitored routinely.
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Background: An increasing rate of suicide by different age groups of people is a grievous social problem in the world. India is not an exception. This study aims to identify the actual causes of suicide by analysing the lived experiences of suicide survivors and explore the preventive strategy. A phenomenological approach wa Methodology: s used. As study participants, nine suicide survivors selected through snowball sampling were face to face interviewed. The Results: lived experience of suicide survivors is summarized into four themes: the first theme is feelings during suicide attempts, the second theme is the perception of triggers, the third theme is behavioural changes and the fourth theme is expectations. At the time of attempting suicide or before it if people get support from society, and feel desired and loved they won't attempt suicide. Strong informal social connectedness to preve Conclusion: nt suicide is not only relevant but essential to prevention efforts.
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Background: Patient satisfaction has been defined as the degree of congruency between a patient’s expectations of ideal care and his/her perception of the real care he receives. It is a multidimensional aspect, represents a vital key marker for the quality of health care delivery and this is an internationally accepted factor which needs to be studied repeatedly for smooth functioning of the health care systems. It has been an important issue for health care managers. Patient satisfaction level is an important and useful indicator for measuring quality in healthcare. Aims and Objectives: This study was planned to assess patient satisfaction with services provided in the study area and to find out whether there is any association between the socio-demographic characters with the satisfaction level from the services provided. Materials and Methods: The study is an observational, descriptive study with cross-sectional study design. An exit interview of 162 adult patients, selected by convenience sampling attending various out-patient department of medical college, Kolkata was conducted over a period of 2 months; using a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured data collection form. Statistical analyses were done using Chi-square tests, at P ? 0.05 level of significance. Results: The study highlighted that majority (60.5%) of the study participants belonged to 31–60 years age group. It was also noted that majority of the patients were satisfied with overall services available except for ventilation and toilet facilities. Lower educated participants were satisfied with overall behavior of the healthcare providers. Rural participants and those from lower socio-economic status were satisfied with overall availability of general basic facilities. Lower educated participants were less satisfied with overall satisfaction level at various service windows. Gainfully employed participants were satisfied compared to unemployed participants. There was a statistically significant association between the education status and occupation of the study subjects with overall satisfaction level at various service windows. It was found that lower educated participants were less satisfied with overall satisfaction level at various service windows, compared to higher educated participants (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study revealed that majority of the patients were satisfied with the overall services provided at medical college, Kolkata.
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Background: A balanced sex ratio is needed to stabilize India, a patriarchal subcontinent. Aim and Objective: The study aims to find out whether there is any association between the socio-demographic characters and perceived gender preference among the study subjects. Materials and Methods: The study is an observational, descriptive study with cross-sectional study design. An exit interview of 80 pregnant mothers, both primi and multigravida, selected by systematic random sampling attending antenatal clinic of Medical College, Kolkata for 1st time was conducted for 1 month, using a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured data collection form after ethics committee approval. Statistical analyses were done using Chi-square tests, at P ? 0.05 level of significance in Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: Mean age of study participants was 24.15 ± 4.38 years. The majority (77.5%) of them belonged to age group 20–29 years. 58.8% mothers were nulliparous, 53.8% from rural areas, 63.7% followed Islam, 52.5% from joint family, 31.3% belonged to middle class. 95% of the mothers had no history of abortion. Regarding education, the majority (32.5%) of the study participants were educated till secondary level. Among their husbands, 28.7% were educated till middle level. 40% study participants had no any gender preference, 40% had male preference and 20% had female preference. Main reason behind male preference was an earlier female child. Some preferred daughters due to their earlier male child. Nulliparous mothers had no gender preference while lesser-educated mothers had gender preference. Conclusion: The majority of the study participants had gender preference. Male preference was more than female preference.
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Introduction: Worldwide Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection is a Public Health Problem. Adolescents and young people are inclined to experiment with sex and prone to have HIV infection. Interventional Education Program on HIV/AIDS may prevent spread of the infection. Materials and Methods : Knowledge and attitude of students (N=2373) of 10th to 12th grade from 38 schools of Kolkata about HIV/AIDS was assessed based on a questionnaire. Subsequently an interventional educational program was conducted for them. A follow-up study with the same questionnaire after 6-8 weeks of the interventional program was performed among the students (N=811) of 11th and 12th standard. Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS was evaluated by defining a ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Attitude’ score from responses of the students to relevant questions. Data was analyzed using SPSS, version 17 software. Observations : Interventional Program improved student’s (a) responses to more questions, (b) knowledge level and (c) positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Significant improvement occurred in the association of knowledge score with respect to the male students after the Intervention Program but not much with respect to girls. Association of the attitude score with respect to gender and three streams (Arts, Science, Commerce) of study were significantly enhanced after the program. Discussion : Several studies around the world indicate that Interventional Educational Programs almost certainly improve knowledge and attitude of the school students about HIV/AIDS. Some differences in findings may be due to qualitative differences of the study participants. Our observations may not be extrapolated to other Indian Student Groups who may differ in awareness and cultural status
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Background: Lung cancer is one of the commonest cancer worldwide and also in India. Being a chronic disease, it is expected to result in disability during the course of the illness. Disability in turn results in deterioration of mental health and leads to poor quality of life. The present study intended to assess the degree of disability among lung cancer patients and to find out the covariates of the same.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study had been conducted over a period of six months among lung cancer patients attending a tertiary care centre. Exit interview had been conducted with a pretested schedule after taking informed consent. Disability had been assessed by WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Data were entered and analysed in SPSS 20.0 version.Results: A total of 210 patients were recruited in this study. Half of the study population were suffering from higher level of disability. Multivariate analysis revealed degree of disability was higher among the patients who were financially dependent to others, had advanced stage of the disease and when time since diagnosis was more than one month.Conclusions: Holistic approach needs to be taken up to address this alarming issue of disability and its consequences among lung cancer patients. The approach should include various rehabilitative measures, social security schemes by the government and active involvement of non-governmental organisations.
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Study of profile of leprosy in a Tertiary care Centre in an Urban Metropolitan settings has important epidemiologically relevant messages. This study has been carried out to find out the profile of leprosy patients attending a Tertiary Care Centre at Kolkata and to interpret data in respect to different epidemiological variables. The cases attending R.G. Kar Medical College for the year 2014-2017 and who were referred to Microbiology Department for slit skin smear examination were studied. Their profile analyzed according to age, sex, type of disease, past treatment, presentation of disease, deformity status, presence of reactions, bacteriological status of the patients and treatment history. Diagnosis was based on the clinical assessment and slit skin smear for Bacteriological Index (BI) as well as Morphological index (MI). Among 2380 cases 720 (30.25%) were females and 1660 (69.75%) were males. Maximum patients (74%) belong to upper lower (Class IV) socio-economic class. 20-40 years age group was reported as peak age of onset with average onset of age as 35 years, 7.56% were children below 15 years of age. Maximum patients (63.87%) were in reproductive age group. Multibacillary (BL/LL) cases are more prevalent (71.47%). 21% of cases were bacteriologically positive with 10.9% having >3+ BI. MI upto 25% was observed in 92% of 360 smears examined for this purpose. Proportion of type 1 reaction was more than type 2 in both males and females. 440 (18.5%) had reactions, 12.6% had type 1 and 5.9% type 2 reactions. Reactions in females were more associated with pregnancy/ lactation. 24% of cases had grade I disability whereas grade II disability was present in 14% of cases which indicates delayed diagnosis and inadequate management or both. Both grade 1 and grade 2 were more in males. Leprosy was found to be more prevalent in males, more prevalent in upper lower (Class IV) socioeconomic class and more commonly of borderline type. Strategy need to be fine tuned to improve early detection, more focus on females during the reproductive years and appropriate intervention to reduce overall morbidity and deformity/disability
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OBJECTIVES: The present study analyzes metal contamination in sediment of the East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar site, which is receiving a huge amount of domestic and industrial wastewater from surrounding areas. The subsequent uptake and accumulation of metals in different macrophytes are also examined in regard to their phytoremediation potential. METHODS: Metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) were estimated in sediment, water and different parts of the macrophytes Colocasia esculenta and Scirpus articulatus. RESULTS: The concentration of metals in sediment were, from highest to lowest, Mn (205.0±65.5 mg/kg)>Cu (29.9±10.2 mg/kg)>Pb (22.7±10.3 mg/kg)>Cd (3.7±2.2 mg/kg). The phytoaccumulation tendency of these metals showed similar trends in both native aquatic macrophyte species. The rate of accumulation of metals in roots was higher than in shoots. There were strong positive correlations (p<0.001) between soil organic carbon (OC) percentage and Mn (r =0.771), and sediment OC percentage and Pb (r=0.832). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) also showed a positive correlation (p<0.001) with Cu (r=0.721), Mn (r=0.713), and Pb (r=0.788), while correlations between sediment OC percentage and Cu (r=0.628), sediment OC percentage and Cd (r=0.559), and CEC and Cd (r=0.625) were significant at the p<0.05 level. CONCLUSIONS: Bioaccumulation factor and translocation factors of these two plants revealed that S. articulatus was comparatively more efficient for phytoremediation, whereas phytostabilization potential was higher in C. esculenta.
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Biodegradation, Environmental , Cadmium , Carbon , Colocasia , Copper , India , Manganese , Metals , Soil , Wastewater , Water , WetlandsABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Dengue infection is endemic in several areas and the dengue virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Thus, it becomes important to understand the breeding ecology of dengue vector and characterize the physicochemical parameters of its breeding habitat. The objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical parameters of the breeding habitat of the dengue vector and to find out the nutrient composition of the habitat in and around Kolkata, West Bengal. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to map the disease prone areas for its effective management and prevention. Methods: Water samples were collected from various breeding habitats of Aedes mosquitoes of Kolkata and adjoining areas and were analysed for various physicochemical properties like acidity, alkalinity, hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, concentration of chloride (Cl-), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), fluoride (F-) in relation to larval prevalence. Results: Parameters like water pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, electrical conductivity, concentration of chloride, sodium and potassium were seen to vary throughout the year. Certain parameters were found to be dependent on container type, like concentration of fluoride. Significant positive correlations were seen between per dip larval density and total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity. Interpretation & conclusions: Water pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids were seen to play a major role in the ovipositional preferences. Container type did not seem to affect TDS. Tyres had the highest TDS in most of the cases. Nutrient composition like sodium concentration was mostly found in the coconut shells, potassium concentration also showed the same. Thus, container type and various parameters and nutrients play a major role in determining where a gravid female mosquito will lay its eggs. It was observed that by altering various chemical and physical properties of breeding habitats it was possible to control the larvae survivability.
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Mohit Chattopadhyay is a dramatist with difference. His plays (1963) starts with the sufferings of youth in post 2nd world war days. With the changing milieu his plays are also changing. He is afraid and conscious in 1990‟s economic – social – political situation. The market economy, consumerism are engulfing our youth. He jeers it and tries to caution us in his plays. He also wants to cultivate self confidence in the young people. He starts his journey with the suffering of so - called aberrant youth. The playwright is also conscious about honest, conscientious youth whom the society wants to see. He continuously cautions us about socio - economic - political situation which have emerges to destroy humanism.
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Having close friends in the third age as in any other period of life consistently corresponds with happiness and satisfaction. Friends provide support, companionship, and acceptance, which are crucial to older adults' sense of self-esteem. Having close friends positively affects the psychological well-being of older adults. Friends are named as the people with whom older adults enjoy spending time, engage in leisure activities, and have daily or frequent contact and who have the most positive and significant impact on well-being. Research suggests that adults' views of social relationships are likely to vary with age. As friendship patterns are affected by age, perceptions of friendship also get affected with it. Gender is the other important factor affecting the perceptions of friendship. This paper seeks to understand the elements involved in older adults’ perception of friendship relationships by analysing the definitions of. Friendship provided by the participants. The research also explored the problems affecting the friendship relationships of the elderly and the factors causing such problems.
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Background & objectives: Entomological surveillance of the dengue vectors using pupal productivity as indicators can be helpful in effective management. On this basis, an assessment was made on the relative importance of the larval habitats of Aedes mosquitoes in Kolkata, an endemic zone for dengue in West Bengal, India. Methods: Monthly collection of larvae and pupae of Aedes from larval habitats categorized as earthen, plastic and porcelain containers and tyres, was carried out from selected sites. Pupal weight was recorded and degree of sexual dimorphism was calculated. The data on pupal weight, sexual dimorphism and immature density were used for regression analysis. Results: The number of positive sites for each type of larval habitats varied with months and mosquito species. Based on mean density per month, the plastic containers were the most productive habitats and the tyres were least productive for both Aedes species. The pupal weight of both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus varied with the relative density and type of larval habitats. Significant differences in pupal productivity, positive sites and the proportion of pupae were observed in the habitats. Species-specific differences in the degree of dimorphism were noted with the females being larger in size than males, irrespective of the habitats. Interpretation & conclusions: Pupal productivity of Aedes mosquitoes in Kolkata differed in terms of the type of the larval habitats with the immature density affecting the body size of the adults. This habitat-based study is a pioneer effort considering Kolkata and calls for a management plan for source reduction of these habitats to minimize Aedes mosquitoes and thus potential risk of dengue.
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Objective: To observe other hemoprotozoan diseases with canine ehrlichiosis and to evaluate the clinical and hematological aspects of dogs naturally infected with ehrlichiosis with other hemoprotozoan diseases.Methods:Blood was collected for hematological value and Giemsa stained blood smear was made for diagnosis of Ehrlichia sp. and other hemoprotozoan parasites from naturally infected dogs. Case history was taken from the owner and clinical signs and symptoms were noted.Results:A total of 47 cases of ehrlichiosis in dogs were reported with babesiosis (8.51%) and hepatozoonosis (6.38%) hemoprotozoan diseases. Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Brucella canis,Babesia gibsoni and Hepatozoon canis were observed under oil immersion lense of microscope in Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears. Marked anaemia and neutrophilic leukocytosis were observed.Conclusions:The results of this study stated that clinical and haematological changes occurred in canine ehrlichiosis with babesiosis and hepatozoonosis due to parasitemia. In mixed infection, the disease more severe, and also it depended on immunity of animals. Babesia gibsoni andHepatozoon canis with Ehrlichia sp. were first reported from West Bengal state of India by this study.
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Background & objectives: A dengue outbreak occurred throughout West Bengal, India starting from August 2005. The objectives of this study were: (i) documentation of suspected cases, confirmed by MAC ELISA; (ii) a longitudinal serosurveillance of dengue in Kolkata by detecting denguespecific IgG and IgM antibodies in suspected cases and to note the seasonal incidence; (iii) to get information about proportion of primary, secondary and old dengue cases and persons free from dengue in the population tested; and (iv) to get some idea to forecast advent of dengue and dengue epidemic/precipitation of DHF. Methods: The epidemiological data were collected from different sources including Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and Government of West Bengal. For serosurveillance in Kolkata, serum of each suspected patient was examined for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies using the microwell ELISA dengue fever kit. Results: Altogether, 6293 ELISA IgM reactive cases were documented out of 12,059 persons (52.18%) tested in the whole of West Bengal, involving 18 districts with 34 deaths. Serosurveillance of 1668 persons from August 2005 to December 2007 in Kolkata showed that only 18.1% (302) suffered from dengue, 6.03% (101) from primary, 12.03% (201) from secondary dengue, 20.44% (341) were not sufferers of dengue and 61.45% (1025) were old dengue cases. Though stray dengue cases were found perennially, most of the cases occurred in the post-monsoon season, with a peak in September. Of dengue patients, 63.24% (191) were males. Secondary dengue cases outnumbered primary dengue cases. So, possibility of DHF would remain in all age groups and in those persons who suffered from dengue on earlier occasion. Dengue cases drastically reduced in two subsequent post-epidemic years (2006 and 2007). Interpretation & conclusion: Dengue serosurveillance studies may give some idea about advent, intensity, transmission season, seasonal incidence, waxing and warning, and impending epidemic of dengue and DHF. A large-scale active longitudinal serosurvey along with the study of vector capacity and vector competence would provide more correct information.