Résumé
Background & objectives: Malaria is a serious public health concern in several parts of India, particularly in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Dindori district inhabitated by Baiga tribe, contributes about 15 per cent to the total malaria burden in MP. The tribal and other local inhabitants believe in magico-religious treatment of malaria and use modern health facilities only as second line of treatment. The present study was planned in the villages of one of the particularly vulnerable tribal group of MP, the Baigas. The objective of the study was to generate awareness and utilization of health services for malaria by establishing a communication strategy using local students and unemployed youths as agents of change. Methods: The study was undertaken in 47 villages and the need based IEC (information, education and communication) intervention was evaluated within four months of initiation by adopting before and after with control design. For both baseline and resurvey the households covered each time were 2350. Results: The baseline data generated revealed that around 53 per cent of the people in the study villages were aware of malaria. Among the non Baigas, 59 per cent were aware of malaria, while among the Baigas it was 49 per cent. IEC intervention could raise the level of awareness to malaria significantly with a net intervention effect of 23 per cent. The IEC intervention also improved the utilization of modern health services significantly. Interpretation & conclusions: The IEC strategy designed by using local children and youths was effective as the malaria was on decline in the study area. The same strategy with necessary modifications may be replicated in other areas pandemic for malaria.
Résumé
Background and objectives: Tribal men’s reluctance in sharing responsibilities as supportive partners in reproductive and sexual health matters debar women from their sexual rights coupled with their negligence in health care and lesser utilization of reproductive health facilities. As a matter of fact a large proportion of ill health particularly related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) suffered not only by men but also by their spouses. The present study was planned among one of the primitive tribes of Madhya Pradesh to understand the knowledge of males about reproductive tract infection (RTI)/STI/HIV/AIDS, RTI symptoms suffered, perception on sexual health, utilization of health services and to improve the knowledge by intervention of need based IEC (information, education, communication) strategy. Method: The study was conducted among 400 currently married men in the age group of 15-40 yr in one of the primitive tribes, Baigas of Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. Eighteen villages were explored in the study. The IEC intervention was made by using quasi-experimental before and after with control design. Result: The baseline data generated indicated that Baigas male were poorly informed about RTI (18%), STI (21.5%) and HIV/AIDS (10%). Further, men also projected misconception on different aspects of sexuality. Women’s views recorded also suggested a disturbing trend regarding male involvement in reproductive health particularly related to STIs. Interpretation & conclusions: After intervention of IEC targeting male population in age group 15 - 40 yr by adopting a before and after with controls design the awareness was improved significantly. The utilization of the health services was also improved significantly. The study recommends replication of the IEC strategy designed in other Baiga villages for improving the reproductive health of the tribe.
Résumé
Background: Many studies showed that food safety handling practice is limited in many subjects, especially employees of public canteens and street restaurants. Objective: Strengthen the knowledge on food safety handling practices for staffs of canteens surrounding Hanoi medical university. Subject and Method: An IEC intervention was carried out from December, 2006 to June, 2007 in order to improve food safety handling practices among the personnel of 7 canteens surrounding Hanoi Medical University. The sample size of 34 employees was collected and interviewed with regards to their handing practice on food by using a checklist and a structured questionnaire. The utensils hygiene was assessed by a quick biochemical test. Result and Conclusion: There were significant changes in food handling practices among staffs after the intervention which proved by the regular medical examination, the improvement in hand-washing habits; dish cleaning; ways of picking up cooked-foods; however, almost all of the observed canteens did not follow the rules of food sources management and daily storage sample of foods. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'