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Background: Policemen being an integral part of the law implementation system have long working hours with huge workloads. They may not be able to save time for regular exercise or eat timely healthy meals which may put them at high risk of developing non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or lifestyle disorders such as obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess their existing physical activity level and sedentary behaviour using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2.0.Objective: To assess the level of physical activity in police officers during work, travel and leisure-time and also determine the sedentary behaviour in them.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 policemen, 168 males and 102 females, from 16 different police station of the Pune city using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Along with the analysis of demographic factors, data was analysed to evaluate if the study participants met the criteria for physical activity recommended by WHO. Participants were then divided into different categoridepending on their energy expenditure i.e., MET-mins/week. Their sedentary behavior was calculated in terms of hours spent in sitting position.Result: Out of the total study participants, 50.4% were physically active and 49.6% were physically inactive.3.7% study participants were involved in the moderate-intensity physical activity at the workplace; 32.2% study participants were active in travel domain and 54.8%in leisure-time domain.12.2% of study participants were involved in vigorous-intensity physical activity in leisure-time domain only. 134 participants were inactive, 132 were low-active, 4 were moderately-active with not a single participant in highly-active category. The average amount of time spent sitting in the male participants was 6.11 + 3.03 hours whereas in female participants it was 7.50 + 2.62 hours.Conclusion: Even though 50.4% policemen were physically active, most of them were “low- active” and very few were “moderately-active” whereas not a single study participant was found to be “highly-active”. Sedentary behaviour in terms of average amount of time spent sitting was found to be more in female than male participants. Also,51.11% percentage of the study participants belonged to the overweight and obese category. Thus, there is huge scope for improving the physical activity level as well reducing the sedentary behavior in these professionals.
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Background: The consumption of various types of fast food is increasingly germinating in all components of the world, each in developed and developing countries.Methods: A cross sectional study was done to explore the perception and knowledge regarding fast food consumption from March 2019 to June 2019 amongst the 300 undergraduate students within the ages of 18 to 20 of three established private colleges of different disciplines in Pune. Paperless data was collected by a predesigned, pretested questionnaire with the help of google forms and statistical analysis was done.Results: The prevalence of consumption of fast food was found to be maximum in the undergraduates belonging to the high-income group (socio-economic class I). Around 85% of the undergraduates consumed fast foods and out of 85% nearly 17% consumed once a day. The undergraduates from all disciplines were also perceived as fast food consumption is measure of one’s socio-economic status, 76% for medical and the lowest for engineering undergraduates (55%). A significant difference between medical, engineering and architecture undergraduates was reported regarding the perception that fast food consumption has no harmful effect on body (40, 26 and 57, p<0.001). About 37% of the students had very poor knowledge, 40% of the students had poor knowledge,13% had average and only 10% had good knowledge regarding fast food consumption leading to non-communicable diseases.Conclusions: The consequences of this study propose that a requirement for health education programs that stimulate healthy eating habits and lifestyle for undergraduate college students.
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Background: Aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts is caused by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. In this study, the prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in groundnuts has been assessed. Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. They are known to cause hepatocellular toxicity. The aim of the study is to estimate prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts sold in the city of Pune and to assess the awareness about aflatoxin contamination amongst shopkeepers of selected shops/vendors.Methods: Sampling of groundnuts was conducted in 17 out of 144 administrative wards of Pune city. Hundred samples weighing 250g each were purchased from the randomly selected stores and transported in black polythene bags to The State Public Health Laboratory, Pune. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used by the laboratory to determine levels of aflatoxin B1. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for assessment of knowledge of aflatoxin contamination amongst vendors.Results: Out of 100 samples, four samples were contaminated with aflatoxin. However the maximum contamination was 0.6 parts per billion, which is well within the permissible limit of 30 parts per billion. Awareness of aflatoxin contamination amongst vendors was six percent. Ninety four percent of vendors were unaware of the concept of aflatoxin contamination.Conclusions: It is necessary to educate vendors, suppliers and handlers about the health hazards caused by this toxic fungus for the benefit of the average consumer.
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Introduction: Dental profession has expanded considerably, leading to a significant contribution to the production of biomedicalwaste (BMW). Hence, dentists ought to possess adequate knowledge about BMW management.Aim: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices about BMW management among private dentalpractitioners of Pune city.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 200 dentists of Pune. A closedended, validated, pretested questionnaire comprising four sections with questions on demographics, knowledge, attitude, andpractice of BMW management was distributed among 200 private practitioners. The results were expressed as numbers andpercentage for each question.Results: Of 200 dentists, 112 completely filled questionnaires were obtained. It was found that 94.6% of dentists were aware ofthe BMW management legislation; however, only 81.2% had registered with local BMW management service agency. 100% ofdentists considered improper management of dental waste to be hazardous to health. However, segregation and color codingof waste before disposal was followed by only 73.3% and 79.5% of dentists, respectively.Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that in spite of sufficient awareness about BMW management legislation;furthermore, training, awareness, educational, and motivational programs are required to attain better implementation of thelaws by the dentists.
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INTRODUCTION:Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among people aged between 15 and 29 years. Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product. Without sustained action, road traffic crashes are predicted to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.METHODS:170 patients who met with an accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and who presented to Emergency Department of MGM Medical College and Hospital were studied and analyzed.RESULTS:In our study we noted that human factors (68%) contributed the most followed by vehicle (12%) and infrastructure (7%) among which over speeding (65.07%), alcohol (34.70%), fatigue/ sleep (34.22%), obstacle (21.70%) were the most common responsible factors for RTAs.CONCLUSION:Maximum RTA’s occurs in the productive age group. The need for drivers / road user’s education, road maintenance and putting in place a well-organized rescue and pre-hospital care team is emphasized.
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A self-administered survey based questionnaire study about oral carcinoma conducted at Bharati hospital, Pune. Aims: To assess the awareness and knowledge about oral malignancy, to assess the knowledge about risk factors related to oral malignancy and to assess the awareness about signs/symptoms of oral cancer in urban Pune. A self designed questionnaire-based survey was conducted at the OPD of a tertiary care institute. Materials and Methods: A self administered questionnaire-based survey. Time period: two months Study Area: OPD of a tertiary care hospital in Pune. Total Participants: 500 persons. Statistical analysis used: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software to assess and associate oral cancer awareness. Results: The general awareness, knowledge of signs and risk factors of oral cancer were found to be proportionate to the literacy level with the highest rate of awareness being among health-care workers and post-graduates and lowest among illiterates. It was also observed that on most of these dimensions the younger age groups (<30 years) were significantly more knowledgeable. Conclusion: The awareness of oral cancer in the population of Pune was not satisfactory, pointing to a need for further dissemination of information on this issue. This is especially important for the youngsters, as this may possibly help them keep away from indulgence in any form.
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Background & objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected several million individuals in India. Various interventions have been implemented for early detection and prevention of transmission of HIV infection. This has progressively changed the clinical profile of HIV infected individuals and this study documents the clinical presentation of individuals positive for HIV in 2010, in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study included subjects who had come to the HIV referral clinic for HIV testing from January to December 2010. children as well as individuals with indeterminate HIV result were excluded from the study, and data for 1546 subjects were finally analysed. Results: The HIV positivity rate among all referred cases for the year 2010 was 35 per cent (male 55% and females 45%). The median age (Q1, Q3) was 31 (25.75, 39) yr. The median CD4 cell count for all HIV infected individuals (whose CD4 count was available n= 345) was 241 cells/μl and for asymptomatic HIV infected individuals was 319 cells/μl. There were 673 (43.5%) symptomatic and 873 (56.5%) asymptomatic participants. Fever, breathlessness, cough with expectoration, weight loss, loss of appetite, generalized weakness, pallor and lymphadenopathy (axillary and cervical) were found to be associated (p< 0.001) with HIV positivity. On multivariate analysis, history of herpes zoster [AOR 11.314 (6.111-20.949)] and TB [AOR 11.214 (6.111-20.949)] was associated with HIV positivity. Interpretation & conclusions: Signs and symptoms associated with HIV positivity observed in this study can be used by health care providers to detect HIV infection early. Moreover, similar to HIV testing in patients with tuberculosis, strategies can be developed for considering Herpes zoster as a predictor of HIV infection.
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Background: In India as of 31st March 2010, there were 30917 laboratory confirmed H1N1 positive cases out of which 1453 were deaths with positivity index of 22.87% and mortality was 4.8%. But there was alarming sign after comparing these figures with those on 3rd October 2010 which showed 44687 confirmed H1N1 Positive cases with 2574 deaths with rise in positivity index to 23.3% and mortality rate of 5.7%. From the available data core issue of deaths occurring due to H1N1 positivity in short period of time in this year and risk factors associated with fatality were needed to look in detail. Aims & Objective: To study the epidemiologic characteristics of reported deaths, high-risk profiles linked with underlying disease among reported deaths who died after infection with H1N1 influenza.. Material and Methods: Retrospective Record based study. Data was collected from prescribed format for swine flu patients admitted in IIW (Identified Isolation Ward) of Tertiary care hospital in Pune, State Maharashtra, India. Epidemiological characteristics like age, gender, residential address, time lag of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) initiation, co morbidities, etc. were included. Confirmation of H1N1 positivity among cases was done by conducting Real Time PCR at National Institute of Virology, Pune. Trend of Occurrence of positive cases and death was drawn. Results were presented in the form of percentages for the respective variables. Case fatality rate was calculated for H1N1 Deaths. Results: Maximum positive cases and deaths were in the month of August 2010. Deaths were more among age group of 20 years and above and female’s proportion was high. Thirty one deaths were in Pune urban area from April 2010 to September 2010. Time lag in initiation of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was seen among 63 (79%) deaths. Asthma, Diabetes and hypertension were co morbid condition and pregnancy was associated condition with H1N1 fatality. Conclusion: Mortality was seen among adult population. Time lag in initiation of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was seen among majority of deaths.