RESUMEN
Introduction: Diverse Factors influence medical student’s choice of eventual careers. Community Medicine is one of the specialities taken up at various hospitals by a number of doctors. This study was planned to review the career opportunities taken by doctors who passed MD Community Medicine or Diploma in Public Health from a premier teaching college located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Results: 163 students were enrolled since 2009 off which 53 were currently pursuing either MD/DPH course. Data was collected for this study in the months of September 2017 to November 2017. The career profile were grouped as Academics in MCGM, Academics in State government colleges, Public health in MCGM, state, centre, etc. Most pursued current careers were Speciality Medical Officer (bond post) in MCGM colleges (16), Academic positions in State government colleges (16), public health positions in Maharashtra state government (13) and public health in MCGM (11). Very few candidates were currently working in international or national institutions. Conclusion: This study shows that Academics and Public Health still are the major career prospects for doctors who have done MD/DPH. It could be seen that very few opted for other career options like Preventive Oncology, Health Management or Research institutes. This study recommends better maintenance of records of alumni for future contacts and career counselling for post graduate students.
RESUMEN
Introduction: India reports more than 60% of leprosy cases. The state of Maharashtra reported more than 15000 new cases in the year 2015-16. These figures show that we are miles away from the ultimate goal of leprosy eradication. This study was planned to analyse trends of Leprosy in a PHC located in Thane district of Maharashtra. Objectives: 1) To analyze the trends of leprosy cases in study area. 2) To give recommendations on the basis of study data. Results: The number of new cases reported fluctuates over the five year period. But the %MB cases have remained high and fairly constant which are comparable to national and state average. The % of children among Leprosy patients is on a rise with every 3rd patient being a child in last year of this Trend Analysis. The Prevalence Rate was 3.6/10000 in 2012 which went up in subsequent year and settled down at 4.4 for years 2015 and 2016. The ANCDR on other hand also went up in 2013 and has shown a gradual decline between years 2014 – 2016. Conclusion: This 5 year short term study shows that though it was difficult to absolutely conclude a rising or a decreasing trend, however, the Prevalence rate of leprosy cases in study area remained constant and the ANCDR showed a decline over most of study period.