RÉSUMÉ
Background: Early menarche is always a challenging one for adolescent girls since it is often associated with inadequate knowledge regarding puberty, adverse reproductive health outcomes and mental health problems. The objective of this study was to explore the perception and attitude of adolescent girls towards early menarche. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the rural field practice area of a Medical College in Puducherry during January to March 2022. The study participants (adolescent girls) were selected by means of purposive sampling. Four Focus Group Discussions were conducted among adolescent girls using an interview guide. The contents were transcribed and codes were derived. The codes were combined to form categories and finally, themes were generated and were interpreted. Results: Menarche was a shocking experience for the adolescent girls and there was no mental preparedness for accepting it and attaining menarche even earlier, made it still worse. They felt that they lost their childhood identity at a younger age as they looked more matured compared to their peers. They were unable to adjust themselves and it affected their psychosocial state. According to them, factors such as obesity, improper dietary habits, physical inactivity, and also mothers with early age of menarche were the causes of early menarche. Conclusions: The study participants felt that they had an inadequate knowledge about early menarche and they also found it difficult to cope up with ‘sudden changes into womanhood’. Assuming gender specific roles in their families made them stressed and feels helpless.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: Road traffic accidents are India’s sixth leading cause of mortality, with a substantial share of physical, psychosocial and economic losses in the productive age group. Objectives: To explore the victims’ and stakeholders’ perceptions on quality of life among road traffic accident victims in India. Methods: A qualitative study incorporating in-depth interviews among road traffic accident victims and key informant interviews among stakeholders was conducted from June to August 2019 (3 months) in Puducherry. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected till the point of saturation with a semi-structured interview guide through six in-depth interviews among accident victims and six key informant interviews among stakeholders. Content analysis of the data was performed, and a conceptual framework was developed. Written informed consent from each participant was sought. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institute Ethics Committee. Results: Four themes were identified: reasons for road traffic accidents, problems faced by the victims, problems faced by the caretaker or family member, and preventive measures for road traffic injuries. Conclusion: Physical, psychological, and financial problems were encountered by the victims, caretakers, and family members after a major road traffic accident. Accident victims felt that support from family members was indispensable in returning to normal life.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: RTA are the sixth leading cause of death in India with a greater share of hospitalization, disabili-ties, deaths and socio-economic losses. The study was conducted to assess the socio-demographic determi-nants associated with households’ economic burden among RTA victims. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted for 2 years in Puducherry employing simple random sampling to include 169 accident victims. Baseline data was collected with a semi-structured questionnaire on socio-demographic details, direct and indirect costs towards road traffic injuries. Follow up was at 6th and 12thmonth from the day of accident. Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi-data. Written informed consent from each participant was sought. Ethical clearance received. Results: Mean age of the accident victims was 36.2 (11.4) years. The median (IQR) for direct, indirect and to-tal expenses were INR 1500 (1000-22100), 18000 (2400-46500) and 3000 (1037-47125) respectively. Asso-ciation between the median (IQR) indirect expenses and marital status as well as socio-economic status of vic-tims were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Accident victims and their family faced financial burden, as a large proportion of victims were from productive age group belonging to lower- and middle-class income group