Community perception of Dengue in slum areas of metropolitan city of West Bengal.

Dengue is one of the major public health problems which can be controlled with active participation of the community. A cross sectional study was conducted in urban field practice area of Calcutta National Medical College to determine perception of general population on the disease Dengue. A total 161 individuals were interviewed regarding the different aspects of the Dengue fever. The result showed that out of total respondents, majority (68.9%) had knowledge that fever is the main symptom of the disease, though only 6.2% knew of retro-orbital pain as the pathognomic symptom of the disease. Out of total respondents 83.3% were unaware regarding modes of transmission of disease and the level of awareness is significantly higher among educated group (p < 0.05). 69.6% were unaware about the prevention of disease but there is no significant variation in relation to literacy status. Regarding awareness about vector control 60% of the respondents belonging to the lower socio economic class were unaware followed by 58.6% of the upper lower class. Only 39.1% had knowledge about breeding places of Aedes aegypti. The main source of information was found to be mass media (65%) and 7% of the respondents did not get any information about Dengue. Specific intervention measures such as Information Education Communication to be provided to the urban slum community for prevention and control of Dengue/Dengue haemorrhagic fever.

A medico-social appraisal of commercial sex workers in a metropolitan city from eastern India.

This cross-sectional study of 146 commercial sex workers (CSWs) selected by stratified sampling, in a red light area of Kolkata, showed that 25.3% were teenagers and 37.0% were forced into the profession due to poverty. White discharge was present in 42.5% of the CSWs. Only 65.1% had the proper knowledge of the causes of disease, but 49.3% preferred to go to "quacks" for treatment, while 42.5% preferred traditional medicine. Knowledge of the prevention of sexually transmitted infections by condom use was correct in 44.2% of the CSWs, but 17.8% used condoms regularly. One fourth of the CSWs having 5 or more clients per day used condoms regularly.

Acute lower respiratory tract infection among under- fives in urban eastern India--an appraisal of risk factors.

200 under-fives children diagnosed as having ALRTI in pediatric OPD and indoor ward were sampled using standard case definition, and bodyweight was noted for each. All relevant factors of ALRTI were studied using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. 90 (45%) were underweight and 143 (71.5%) had >5 episodes of ALRTI. Socio-economic status was inversely related to the percentage having >5 ALRTI episodes. 93.0% of children whose parents were up to primary education level suffered from >5 episodes of ALRTI as compared to 55.3% whose parents had higher literacy levels (Z=7.0, P<0.05). Odds ratio for absence of exclusive breastfeeding (14.1), absence of measles vaccination (6.1), attached kitchen (6.9) were very high.

Life events as risk factors for myocardial infarction: a pilot case-control study in Kolkata, India.

This case-control study was conducted in the Cardiology Department of Medical College, Kolkata, India, during 2000-2001, to explore the link between stressful life events and subsequent myocardial infarction (MI). One hundred consecutive confirmed MI patients were selected as a case group. One hundred age-, sex- and income-matched controls were selected from visitors other than relatives who attended these patients. The subjects were interviewed and asked to rate 61 life events with a number between 0 and 20. They also noted which of these they had experienced in the last one year. The main exposure variables included life events as per E.S. Paykel, smoking, alcohol consumption, chewing of tobacco, marital status, literacy, employment, and monthly per-capita income. The results showed that an MI patient was likely to experience 4.16 stressful life events, which were twice as much as the control group (2.24). The total stress score was the highest for serious personal illness followed by illness of family members and unemployment for the MI patients. For the controls, conflict between husband and wife, death of friends, and personal illness had the highest total stress score. The mean stress score for the MI patients was 35.5 compared to 17.35 among the controls. The MI subjects were more likely to have experienced stressful life events than the controls.

Perception of general population about hepatitis B: a cross-sectional study.

Hepatitis B, is one of the major public health problems can be controlled with the active participation of the community. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the immunization clinic of Burdwan Medical College to identify the level of people's perception on the diseases Hepatitis B. A total of 210 individuals accompanying the children for routine immunization were interviewed. The study result showed that majority (65.3%) of the respondents were unaware that the diseases is caused by virus and 46.2% were unaware on transmission of disease. 38% of the respondents were unaware regarding the future consequences of the diseases. The knowledge on the preventive measures against Hepatitis B was high (76.2%) among the respondents. Incorrect knowledge in relation to vaccination like interval of vaccination, necessity of re-vaccination was 88.6%, 86.7% respectively. 49% had no idea about ideal age for vaccination. Significant difference of knowledge was found between illiterate and just-literate group with primary, secondary & above group (p< 0.05). Receipt of vaccine (15.6%) also significantly more (p< 0.05) in case of higher income group.

Intensified pulse polio immunisation coverage in slums of a metropolitan city: an appraisal.

A study was conducted by house-to-house visit during 2nd and 3rd round of IPPI in Nov and Dec 2000 in two slums adjacent to Medical College Kolkata. Total houses visited in these two rounds were 2836 and 611 children were immunised at home. Mothers of 503 children (who did not receive IPPI dose at booth on NIDs) were interviewed. For rest 104 children, mothers were not available during the time of visit. The result showed that infants were the largest group (30.6%) to receive vaccine at home. Majority (84.1%) was permanent residents of the locality. Only 4.2% were Bengali-speaking Hindus while most other were Hindi or Urdu speaking Muslims. "Health workers will bring vaccine at door steps" was the reason of non-attendance at booth by 30.2% parents. No routine immunisation was received by 14.9% children. The source of information regarding IPPI was, 45.4% from medical students, 28.5% from health workers, 15.1% from TV, 5.6% from relatives and neighbours, 3.6% from miking and 1.8% from newspapers respectively.