ABSTRACT
Hypertension is an important worldwide public-health challenge and it is accountable for 7% of Disability Ad-justed Life Years (DALY) loss, and by the end of 2025 about 29% of world’s population is likely to suffer from hypertension. Tribal population constitute about 8% of the total population in India. Among tribal population, study on hypertension will provide an interesting outcome because studies across the world have shown a lower prevalence. The objective of the study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension among adult tribal populations in India and also to analyse the possible sources of heterogeneity in the estimate. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus, Embase MEDLINE, and journals for arti-cles published between 2001 and 2020. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis done on hypertension among tribal populations of India. Three authors independently reviewed the articles, performed quality as-sessment and data was extracted. Pooled estimate of hypertension was calculated. Subgroup analyses was performed. A total of 26 articles with a total number of subjects of 75,543 were included in the study. The pooled estimate of hypertension prevalence was 25.1% (95% CI: 24.7, 25.4). There was significant heteroge-neity among the studies (I2 = 98.2 and Q = 1289.37). It is essential to conduct larger cohort studies and ran-domised controlled trials to determine the causes of the increased prevalence of hypertension among the tribal population. The prevalence of hypertension among tribal population are essential as a source of prima-ry information and for rational planning of health services and will help public-health policy-makers to assign sufficient priority and resources for its management and prevention.
ABSTRACT
Optimal infant and young child feeding practices(IYCFPs), despite being emphasized since 2003, are yet to be met in India. This study assessed these practices and their association with various factors among mothers of children aged 0–23 months in Paniya tribes in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. About 89.1% of the infants below six months were timely breastfed and 77.9% of them were exclusively breastfed, respectively. Complementary food was introduced to 25% of infants aged six to eight months. About 27.8% of them received a diverse diet. About 91.7% of them were fed egg and/or flesh food and 37% of them were fed vegetables and fruits. Illiterate mothers and mothers who had a vaginal delivery fed the infant optimally. The adherence to these practices was found to decrease gradually with an increase in the infant’s age. The prevalence of IYCFP is higher in the study population compared to the corresponding indicators for the district according to the National Family Health Survey‑5.
ABSTRACT
Background: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) forms the backbone of NRHM who provides promotive, preventive, and curative health facilities in especially the vulnerable groups. There is a need to comprehensively look into the knowledge and performance of ASHA in terms of her job responsibilities in maternal health, hence this study was conducted to assess knowledge regarding maternal health care among the ASHA workers and to assess the impact achieved after the training programme.Methods: Community based interventional study was conducted among ASHA’s in Jawadhu Hills between April to July 2017, a pretested semi structured questionnaire was administered to elicit the knowledge of ASHA in regard to maternal health care. After the initial assessment, an intervention training programme was conducted based on a module prepared in their native language and post training assessment was done after two months. The statistical tests used were proportions, chi-square test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant.Results: Based on the initial assessment around 60% of ASHA knew about the core ANC, which statistically (p<0.05) improved after the training programme. Based on danger signs of pregnancy less than 10% knew about vaginal bleeding (3.8%), swelling of legs (4.8%), visual disturbances (6%) which statistically (p<0.05) improved after the training.Conclusions: Knowledge of ASHAs on various aspects of maternal health care was moderately adequate, before the training programme and it was significantly improved after the training programme, which shows that there is a need for regular fixed training programme to maintain the performance of ASHA
ABSTRACT
Background: In 2005, the Government of India implemented the National Rural Health Mission for reduction of maternal mortality. One of the major impediments in improving maternal health since then has been a poor management of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) at grass-roots level which could integrate data collection, processing, reporting, and use of information for necessary improvement of health services. Objective: The paper identifies the challenges in generating information for HMIS and its utilization for improvement of maternal health program in the tribal-dominated Jaleswar block in Odisha, India. It also aims to understand the nature and orientation of the HMIS data generated by the government for the year 2013–2014. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional type which used observation and interview methods. Primary data were gathered from health professionals to understand the challenges in generating information for HMIS and its utilization. Next, to understand the nature and orientation of HMIS, data pertaining to tribal block were analyzed. Results: The findings show that there are challenges in generation of quality data, capacity building of workforce, and monitoring of vulnerable tribal population. The discrepancies between HMIS data and field reality display the gap in formulation of policy and its implementation. Conclusion: The study unearths the existing politics of knowledge generation. This shows highly standardized procedures and information gathering by use of dominant biomedical concepts of maternal health with limited inclusion of local birthing conceptions and needs of vulnerable tribal pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To find out the magnitude of childhood morbidities, health care seeking behavior and explore the status of 'some desired practices' at household level during episodes of illness in two tribal blocks of Chandrapur district. Materials and Methods: The present explanatory mixed-method design of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (focus group discussions, FGDs )methods was undertaken in nine Primary health centers of Warora and Bhadrawati blocks in Chandrapur district. The information of 2,700 under-five children on morbidity, health care seeking behavior and some desired practices at household level was collected by paying home visits and using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS 12.0.1 and C sample program of epi_info (version 6.04d) software package. The conventional content analysis of FGD data was undertaken. Results: The prevalence of morbidities was high among newborns and children. About 1,811 (67%) children had at least one of the morbidities. Private health care providers and village level faith healers were preferred for seeking treatment of newborn danger sings and childhood morbidities. The status of some desired household practices such as frequent feeding and giving extra fluid to drink during episodes of illness was poor. Conclusions: In conclusion, considering high prevalence of child morbidities and poor status of some desired household practices of caregivers at household level for sick children, household and community IMNCI strategy needs to be implemented to promote child health and nutrition. Apart from this, health care delivery at village level should be strengthened.