A Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers in Government Health Facilities of District Bandipora, J&K

Introduction: Needle stick injuries are often neglecteddespite being an important occupational hazard, withpotential to transmit infectious diseases. There is a need forraising awareness about them among all cadres of health careworkers. The current study was done to assess the problem inGovernment Health facilities of a rural district of J&K.Material and methods: Descriptive cross sectional study wasdone using all the secondary and 40% of the primary healthfacilities of the district. Study was conducted among doctors,paramedics and waste handlers. Statistics involved wereproportions or percentages, assessed by chi square test.Results: about 85% health workers considered needle stickinjury as a matter of concern. 27% were recapping the needleafter use. 12% had suffered a needle stick injury in the last oneyear and only half of them were immunized for Hepatitis B.Conclusion: There is a need of sensitization of the variouscadres of healthcare staff which is necessary to decreasethe risk of occupational exposure of infectious diseaseswith significant focus on waste handlers. There is a needfor enhancing the coverage of Hepatitis B immunizationespecially among the waste handlers who form the mostvulnerable group.

Study on Colorectal Cancer in Kashmiri (Indian) Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum is a relatively uncommon malignancy in Kashmir (north India) when compared with the western world. Colorectal cancer is generally a disease affecting individuals 55 years of age and older and is much less common in persons under 35 years of age. Methods: One hundred and fifty six colonoscopies were performed by a single gastroenterologist in GMC Srinagar. We find the anatomical distribution and age at diagnosis of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed by colonoscopy for evaluation of their symptoms in a teaching hospital in Kashmir India, Records of patients who had complete colonoscopic examination till the cecum, presence of tumor in the colon or rectum, and biopsy showing adenocarcinoma, were scrutinized. Results: Age-stratified incidence of CRC showed that majority of the cases were in the age group 55–65 years (30.76%), followed by 45-55 years (20.5%). There were 19 (12.2%) cases of CRC below the age of 35 years. Conclusion: Colorectal cancer (CRC) in Kashmiri (Indian) occurs at a younger age and is often distal to the splenic flexure.