RESUMO
Objective To assess efficacy and compliance of prescribed 9 days cyclic menu on hypertensive subjects (40 to 70 yr) of urban Baroda. Method Sixty four confirmed hypertensive subjects were purposively selected. Anthropometry and baseline blood pressure values were measured on basis of which subjects were divided into stage 1 and stage 2 hypertensive categories. Subjects were then divided into experimental and control group after matching for age, initial blood pressure levels and body mass index. Experimental group was given 9 days prescribed cyclic menus (low sodium<3 gm/day, high potassium-4gm/day, calcium- 1200mg/day, magnesium-500 mg/day with partial substitution of LONa salt) earlier checked for acceptability, while control group did not receive any of these. Compliance of diet was checked using compliance card. Post intervention data - blood pressure and weight of subjects was collected after 12 weeks of intervention. Result Experimental group subjects belonging to Stage 1 and Stage 2 category demonstrated fall in mean blood pressure levels by 4/1.13 mm Hg and 5/1.13–1.97 mm Hg respectively and a mean weight reduction of 1kg and 0.5 kg respectively. In contrast, control group subjects showed little change in blood pressure values and no change in mean weight. Conclusion Prescription of low sodium, high potassium diet proved to be effective in reducing blood pressure levels of hypertensive subjects and the resulting positive changes in their weight and blood pressure serve to encourage them to adopt the healthy diet on long term basis.
RESUMO
The present study was a situational analysis of household and community practices as per IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) framework in rural Baroda, Gujarat. One PHC (Primary Health Centre) was purposively selected and out of the 17 AWCs (Anganwadi Centers) under this PHC, 6 were randomly selected. All households under these 6 AWCs having children less than three years of age were enrolled in the study. Data for knowledge, attitude and practices regarding 12 key family & community practices, nutrition & health services utilization for children and existing perceptions about infant feeding practices was elicited from mothers using a pretested questionnaire and focus group discussions. Results revealed that 38% mothers did not feed colostrum to the child in spite of most of them being advised to do so by TBA and Doctor/ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife). Most households used open areas for waste disposal. Proper disposal of children’s feces was practiced only by 7% of the households. While few mothers knew about ORS packets, none of them knew the correct method of preparation and only 17% of the children with diarrhea in the past 2 weeks were given ORS. About 31% of the pregnant women did not get themselves immunized for TT and most of the deliveries took place at home. Supplementary food was the most frequently used service followed by growth monitoring while other services like preventive health check up were not used at all. The study thus indicates an urgent need to impart appropriate nutrition health education using behaviour change communication strategies.