Risk Factors of Breast Cancer Among Women – A Cross-Sectional Study in Selected Slums of Bhubaneswar City, India

Background: Breast carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (27·7%) and the leading cause of death (23·5%) among women in India as per GLOBOCAN 2018. There is considerable evidence that breast cancer risk is related to certain modifiable and nonmodifiable lifestyle factors. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of breast cancer in women of age group 18-70 years in selected urban slums.Methodology: This community based cross sectional study was conducted in selected 13 urban slums of Bhubaneswar which comes under the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Bhuba-neswar, IMS and SUM Hospital Bhubaneswar, Odisha from September 2018 to October 2020. Data were entered to an excel sheet and SPSS software version 20 was used for analysis. Results: Among the total population of 300, the mean age of the study subjects was 42 + 12 years rang-ing from 20 to 69 years. Married women in the study were 95.3%. Including both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, 57% of the participants were having risk factors of breast cancer. Conclusion: Women need to be aware of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for breast can-cer to adopt appropriate practices for prevention of Breast cancer.

Physical Activity and Diet as a Perceived Panacea to Mental Illness of Women in India: Reality Check

Looking towards the evidence of physical activityand dietary effect on mental health, a massive search of literatures was done and it was concluded that, lifestyle behavioral practices like yoga, exercises and healthy food intake enhances self-esteem capacity and promotes a healthy life by balancing emotions and cognition with daily hurdles.The narration reports the means of preventing mental illness like depression, anxiety and stress among married women through the light of physical activity and diet. However,lack ofexercise and negligence towards mainstreaming of mental health services in primary health care raises the burden of common mental disorders in the community.

Socio-clinical profile of rabis cases in anti-rabies clinic, M. K. C. G. Medical College, Orissa.

A hospital based study was conducted in the anti-rabies clinic of a medical college of Orissa during April 1988 to May 2002. Of 24 clinically diagnosed and reported rabies cases during the four years study period, 62.5% were children below 15 years of age, 67% were males, 87.5% were victims of stray dogs, 79% had not taken any anti-rabies treatment though all had undergone treatment by traditional systems of medicine.

Equine rabies immunoglobulin: a study on its clinical safety.

To confirm and assess the clinical safety of equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG) administered locally for postexposure prophylaxis against rabies since human rabies immunoglobulin is too expensive to be affordable by most patients, a study was carried out among 3723 patients who attended the antirabies clinic, department of community medicine, MKCG Medical College Hospital, an urban tertiary hospital between September 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004. They were advised ERIG, 1621 patients were of high risk due to the nature of the bites or animal, but only 286 patients of them who could afford the treatment received it. Side-effects were monitored during the follow-up visits on days 3,7,14,30,60 and 90. Statistical analysis was done by using simple proportions and chi-square test. Of the 286 cases receiving antirabies treatment, 214 patients had dog bites and in 100 cases the animal showed abnormal behaviour. Pain (n=237) was the most common side-effect and in 18 patients fever was the systemic side-effect. No anaphylaxis was noted in the study. On day 90 none of the patients had developed rabies. So it can be concluded that ERIG is safe for passive immunisation against rabies.

Leprosy elimination campaigns in Orissa.

Four Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (MLECs) were conducted in Orissa by March 2003. Their impact on various leprosy indicators was analyzed. More than 70% of the people of the State were examined during these campaigns. The suspect rate decreased from 1.44% to 0.37% towards the fourth MLEC. About 15% of the suspects were clinically confirmed to be having leprosy. The total number of new cases detected during the MLEC years was on the decrease. A marked fall in new case-detection rate was observed during inter-MLEC years. This has resulted in fluctuation in the prevalence rate during the MLEC years, but the overall PR/10,000 population decreased from 12.18 in 1996-97 to 7.3 in March 2003. More than 40% of the total new cases and about 45% of total new child cases for the corresponding year were detected during the MLECs, and the proportion of total new case-detection was as high as 60.8% during the first MLEC. The proportion of female cases detected during succeeding MLECs improved and an almost equal number of female cases were detected during MLECs III and IV. Considering the present leprosy situation in Orissa and the effectiveness of MLECs in case-detection, it was recommended that such campaigns should be undertaken in select high prevalent blocks of the State at regular intervals, along with the strengthening of the integration of NLEP activities into primary health care activities.

Perspectives of leprosy patients on MDT services after integration of NLEP functions into primary health care.

Sixty-five leprosy patients residing in rural Digapahandi block of Ganjam district were studied during July-August 2001 in order to ascertain their perspectives regarding different MDT services after NLEP functions were integrated into primary health care (PHC) in Orissa after September 1999. They included 43.08% multibacillary (MB) cases and 61.92% paucibacillary (PB) cases. Assessment was done by personal interviews of adult patients and the parents of child cases after verification of their treatment cards at the sub-centre. Patient's knowledge regarding the availability of MDT services under PHC services and utilization of these services were highlighted. Influence of different socio-demographic factors was also studied. Basing on the study results, recommendations were made for sustained NLEP functions through PHC in order to improve the utilization of MDT services, which will help in the elimination of leprosy.

An interventional strategy to strengthen integration of NLEP into primary health care.

The Government of Orissa implemented the Revised Operational Strategy in September 1999 to integrate the NLEP functions into primary health care activities. An interventional strategy, in the form of consensus on job responsibilities and capacity-building through training of PHC staff, was developed and adopted in a rural block under the Department of Community Medicine to strengthen the integration process. The impact was studied six months after the intervention by comparing it with the leprosy situation in the pre-intervention period. Data were collected by verification of registers at the block PHC and sub-centre levels. Analysis was done using different leprosy indices, such as new case-detection rate (NCDR), child rate, deformity rate, profile of leprosy cases and patient compliance, etc. This integrated approach was found to be more community-oriented and effective in early case-detection in children and women. It also helped in providing continuous MDT services because of the involvement of primary health care functionaries in the post-intervention period.