Knowledge about rabies among urban adult residents, Agartala, West Tripura: a cross sectional study

Background: India is endemic for rabies accounting for 36% of the world death. Low awareness of the need to seek health care after a dog bite claims the lives of more than 55,000 people each year, mostly Asia and Arica. The objective of the study was to estimate the level of knowledge about rabies among adult population in urban area and also to find out the factors associated with level of knowledge. Methods: The cross sectional study was carried out among 200 adult population of Agartala Municipal Corporation area for a period of one month and study subjects were selected by using multistage sampling technique. A predesigned, pretested, structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Chi-square and Fisher's exact was used to find out the factors associated with level of knowledge and p value <0.5 considered as a significant. Results: The present study showed that mean age of the respondents was 45.23±14.7 years. Among them 54.5% were female, 32% home maker and 39% had completed graduation. Out of 200 respondents, 167 respondents were heard about the term ‘Rabies’ i.e., 83.5% and 33 respondent’s i.e., 16.5% never heard about the term ‘Rabies’ but only 20.5% subjects knew correctly that rabies was caused by virus. In our study, adequate knowledge on rabies was found 40% and only one factor i.e., literacy (p=0.002) was found significantly associated with level of knowledge. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that still there is need to be increase adequate level of knowledge about rabies among adult residents in urban area.

A cross sectional study on menstrual hygiene practices among the village women attending a primary health centre, Tripura

Background: Hygienic practices performed by the rural women during menstrual cycle is often remain unsatisfactory, resulting adverse health outcomes and poor productivity. Assessment of the practices among different population groups as well as different geographical locations thus has been a priority issue. The objective of this study is to assess the menstrual hygiene practices among the village women attending a Primary Health Centre of Sipahijala district, Tripura.Methods: The study was conducted among 141 village women of reproductive age group (15-49 years), visited Madhupur primary health centre, Sipahijala district, Tripura for some other health conditions. Unwilling individuals were excluded from the study. Data were collected using a pre-designed pre tested schedule by interviewing the participants for basic socio-demographic variables as well as questions related to hygienic practices during menstrual period. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 and presented using principles of descriptive statistics. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee, Tripura Medical College.Results: Majority of the study subjects belonged to 21-30 years of age group (49.3%). Cloth was the major absorbent material (44.0%) followed by sanitary napkin (36.2%). 47.5% of the study subjects reused the material. Only 2.1% of the study subjects changed the material less than 2 times/day. More than 90% of the study subjects clean their private parts regularly. 66.0% of the study subjects disposed the material in dustbin.Conclusions: Majority of the participants were performing satisfactory menstrual hygienic practices. However, large scale analytical studies will be helpful to draw a definite conclusion about influence of sociodemographic factors on menstrual hygiene practices.

Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in an urban slum, West Tripura: a cross sectional study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed children during their first months of life, having important benefits for them and their mothers. Despite of all benefits, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is quite low and information on influencing factors is limited especially from slum settlements. Objectives was to estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and to find out the factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in an urban slum, West Tripura.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 lactating mothers for a period of six months in an urban slum using structured interview schedule. Eligible mothers were selected by sample random sampling technique. Data has been analyzed by SPSS statistical software version 17.Results: Majority (43%) of the mothers was aged between 21-25 years and 89% were non working mothers. Among the participants, 55.5% were Hindu by religion, 60% belonged to nuclear family and 43.5% had studied up to primary level. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding rate among the study mothers were 60.5%. Only parity, place of delivery and number of antenatal check up were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) rate still needs to improve. Community level interventions like awareness programmes on exclusive breastfeeding, health education and behavior change communication among the target group is essential to improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate especially in slum settlements.

Loksampriktir Prekhonbindute: Jaya Gowalar “ Tobu Madol Baje” Uponyash

This paper discusses about Kothasahitya of Tripura and then moves to present various aspects of the Novel

Levels and determinants of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) status among reproductive age women of Tripura, North East India

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker of chronic hyperglycemia, has been recommended for use, in the diagnosis of diabetes. Objective: To assess the mean HbA1c level among reproductive age women in Tripura and to study the factors associated with high HbA1c level (≥ 6.5 %). Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tripura among 2000 reproductive age women selected by Cluster sampling using PPS technique. Results: The present study revealed that the mean HbA1c level was 5.29 + 0.83% among the reproductive age women with 3.95% participants having HbA1c level of ≥ 6.5%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the age group and income of the family had a significant effect on the HbA1c status. Scheduled tribe women had 0.43 odds (0.22-0.81) of having high HbA1cstatus compared to women from general caste. Conclusion: The present study provided the reference values for HbA1c distribution among reproductive age women in Tripura and may be useful in the early identification of at-risk individuals.

Malaria transmission in Tripura: disease distribution & determinants.

Background & objectives: Malaria is a major public health problem in Tripura and focal disease outbreaks are of frequent occurrence. The State is co-endemic for both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax and transmission is perennial and persistent. The present study was aimed to review data on disease distribution to prioritize high-risk districts, and to study seasonal prevalence of disease vectors and their bionomical characteristics to help formulate vector species-specific interventions for malaria control. Methods: Data on malaria morbidity in the State were reviewed retrospectively (2008-2012) for understanding disease distribution and transmission dynamics. Cross-sectional mass blood surveys were conducted in malaria endemic villages of South Tripura district to ascertain the prevalence of malaria and proportions of parasite species. Mosquito collections were made in human dwellings of malaria endemic villages aiming at vector incrimination and to study relative abundance, resting and feeding preferences, and their present susceptibility status to DDT. Results: The study showed that malaria was widely prevalent and P. falciparum was the predominant infection (>90%), the remaining were P. vivax cases. The disease distribution, however, was uneven with large concentration of cases in districts of South Tripura and Dhalai coinciding with vast forest cover and tribal populations. Both Anopheles minimus s.s. and An. baimaii were recorded to be prevalent and observed to be highly anthropophagic and susceptible to DDT. Of these, An. minimus was incriminated (sporozoite infection rate 4.92%), and its bionomical characteristics revealed this species to be largely indoor resting and endophagic. Interpretation & conclusions: For effective control of malaria in the State, it is recommended that diseases surveillance should be robust, and vector control interventions including DDT spray coverage, mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets/ long-lasting insecticidal nets should be intensified prioritizing population groups most at risk to avert impending disease outbreaks and spread of drug-resistant malaria.

The crisis of livelihood and overcoming it in the tribes of Tripura : In the light of Hachuk Khurio and Longtorai.

Nature not only nurtures and grips us to her breast but helps us to grow up according to her own wish. In order to save our lives, we come to her influence again and again. This instance has been reflected nicely in the novels of Bimal Shinha’s ‘Longtorai’ and Sudhanna Debbarma’s ‘Hachuk Khurio’ where the novelists have shown us how the tribes are badly affected on the arrival of the Bengali refugees and how their peaceful lives are being disturbed. They have dealt with the social, political and economical sides of the tribes of Tripura. Sudhanna Debbarma is the actual narrator of the lives and livelihood of the clans. His Novel Hachuk Khurio has depicted how the calm lives of the clans are being disgraced but by the same time it has portrayed how the renaissance was hasten in the lives of the tribes on the arrival of the Bengali refugees. The novel Longtari has described the main source of crisis in the lives of the tribes as their rejection of the jhum cultivation and the adaptation of the plain land cultivation in the scientific way. The novel has shown us two different pictures: one is the crisis in the livelihood and another is how to get rid of this crisis. In order to save their lives, they discarded the jhum cultivation and without having any scope of work anywhere they adopted the road repairing and brick-breaking work and became the daily labourer. Ultimately, the novelist has shown us how the clans using the benefits of science and technology were enabled to develop themselves and started to go ahead with the changing of time. The main motif of the present speaker is to highlight on the two mentioned novels by the two novelists.

Malaria incidence among paramilitary personnel in an endemic area of Tripura.

Background & objectives: Paramilitary operations along the Indo-Bangladesh border are adversely affected by malaria induced morbidity and mortality. Villages surrounding the paramilitary installations often serve as disease reservoirs. Malaria incidence in Tripura State Rifles (TSR) units in Dhalai District of Tripura was studied and the role of the village population in disease transmission was also assessed. Methods: Mass blood surveys were carried out among TSR personnel and villagers during 2007 to 2009. Malaria diagnosis through blood smear examination and rapid detection kits was done, and percentage parasitaemia was determined. Activity of malaria vectors was monitored using CDC light traps. Results: Slide positivity rates (SPR) in the neighbouring villages (51.4%) was significantly higher than that in TSR (27.7%) (P<0.0001). Malaria incidence in villages did not show seasonal variability while it was lowest during post-monsoon season in TSR (P<0.325; OR = 0.74). Per cent Pf parasitaemia was high in TSR (0.29) as compared to villagers (0.20) (P<0.0001). Anopheles minimus and An. dirus were the major malaria vectors observed. Interpretation & conclusions: Paramilitary and public health authorities should adopt targeted measures to reduce the malaria incidence in the villages surrounding the paramilitary installations as the village populations play a major role in disease transmission.

Sarcophagid flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Tripura, India

Systematic position of seventeen species under nine genera are reported here. Sinonipponia smarti is described as new species. Lioproctia (Coonoria) pattoni (Senior-White) is redescribed and figured.