Résumé
Background: Health-care workers are at increased risk of infection with blood borne pathogens because of occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids. Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are major cause of blood borne infections transmitted among health care personnel. More than 90% of these infections occur in developing countries but most of these NSIs remain unreported. It is also found that 37.6% of Hepatitis B, 39% of Hepatitis C and 4.4% of HIV/AIDS in Health-Care Workers (HCWs) around the world are due to needle stick injuries. Aims & Objective: (1) To determine prevalence of needle stick injuries among health care workers. (2) To study circumstances under which they occur among health care workers in tertiary care hospital of Rural India. Material and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among HCWs of rural tertiary care medical college and hospital. A total of 220 health care workers were included in the study. A self-designed, semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Results: A total 130 (59.09%) HCWs reported having occupational exposure to blood and body fluid in last one year, out of these 108 (49.09%) had NSIs and 22 (10%) had history of splash of blood and body fluid. Maximum exposure of NSIs was found among nurses (50%), followed by resident doctors (25.93%). Conclusion: NSIs were common occurrence among health care workers and they are grossly underreported.
Résumé
Background: Sex ratio, an important social indicator measuring extent of prevailing equity between males and females in society. Aims & Objective: To find out awareness regarding sex determination and attitude towards gender preference among pregnant women. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based, descriptive study was undertaken among pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic. Information recorded regarding on the sociodemographic factors viz. education of study subjects, socioeconomic status; residence (rural / urban); religion and type of family etc. Information was also collected on the obstetric details. Socioeconomic status of family was calculated by using modified BG Prasad Classification. Views of pregnant women regarding awareness of sex determination and attitudes toward gender preference and female feticide were also recorded. Results: Total 840 pregnant women were interviewed during study period. It was observed that 622 (74%) pregnant women aware about availability of sex determination facility. Among all 496 (59.05%) had knowledge about the method of sex determination. In our study 294 (35%) of pregnant women gave preference to male child. A preference to male child was significantly associated with education of mother, socioeconomic class and sex of the last child whereas insignificant association with religion and gravida of women. Conclusion: Awareness regarding availability of sex determination facility and different methods of sex determination was found to be raised, but it is still not reflected in attitude and practice. This situation calls for two pronged strategy i.e. by women empowerment and by ensuring effective implementation of PCPNDT Act so that families found it difficult to undertake sex determination and selective abortions.
Résumé
Background: From the moment scientists identified Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), social responses of fear, denial, stigma, and discrimination have accompanied the epidemic. Aims: To assess the rate of disclosure of HIV serostatus, reactions by the HIV/AIDS patients and their spouse, and discrimination faced by the patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted at Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) center of a rural tertiary care hospital, situated in Marathawada region of Maharashtra state from November 2008 to October 2010. Totally, 801 HIV-positive patients coming to ART center for treatment were included after ensuring confidentiality and taking informed consent. A preformed questionnaire was used to enquire about reaction after diagnosis, disclosure, and discrimination faced by the patients. The data analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Results: The most common immediate reaction by the HIV patients after getting diagnosed as seropositive was fear (593, 74.03%) followed by depression (385, 48.06%) and suicidal thoughts (98, 12.25%). Out of 801 patients, 769 (96%) had spouse and of these maximum number of patients (653, 84.92%) had disclosed HIV status to their spouses. Most common immediate reaction by spouse after disclosure was crime (324, 42.13%) followed by horror (294, 38.23%) and anger (237, 36.29%). Maximum number of patients were discriminated by friends (120, 71.01%) followed by discrimination at workplace (49, 67.12%), by neighbors (32, 56.14%), and by relatives (53, 43.80%). Conclusion: Male positives were granted greater acceptance, care, and support by their spouses. More percentage of females discriminated by neighbors, relatives, and friends and at workplace which might be due to factors like customs, morals, and taboos.