Internet Addiction and Its Correlates among College Students of Surat City: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: The number of internet users in 2018 was 4.021 billion, increased 7 percent year-on-year. More than nine-tenths of Indian teens use Internet. Due to social distancing norms put forward due to COVID-19 dependency and availability of Internet usage has increased. Objective: To assess the extent of Internet addiction and determine its predictors among college students of Surat city. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from March-September 2021 among 400 first- and second-year students selected by systematic random sampling from four colleges selected purposively. Outcome variables were Young's Internet addiction Test and Duke Health Profile Score which were assessed in terms of mean score. Univariate analysis was done, followed by t-test, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation to establish associations. Predictors were determined by Binary Logistic Regression. Results: Around one-tenth (12.8%) participants were seen with no Internet addiction, with majority being mild (44.8%) and moderately (36.5%) addicted. Severe addiction was seen in around one out of twenty participants (6.1%). Social networking (32%) and education (34.5%) were the major reasons for use of Internet. Higher pocket money (aOR=4.3), greater monthly internet expenditure (aOR=2.8), ownership of internet enabled mobile phone (aOR=3.9), lying down posture while accessing internet (aOR=4.8) and evening (aOR=2.2) or night time (aOR=8.7) of internet access were significant predictors for Internet addicts. Conclusion: In this study more than four fifth of the college students had Internet Addiction even at young age. Physical, Mental, Social and General health were significantly negatively correlated with internet addiction.

A Cross Sectional Study on Impact of Anti Tuberculosis Treatment in Tuberculosis (TB) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Co-Infection

Introduction: TB is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV positive people. HIV-TB co-infection is a fatal combination with higher death rates in developing countries. In cured TB cases in HIV positive people, chances of recurrent also high. ART prevents the progression of HIV, reduces the chances of another opportunistic infection that could make management of care more complicated, and reduces the chances of TB recurring. Objectives: To document the profile of HIV positive TB patients availing both Anti-Retroviral (ART) and Anti Koch's Treatment (AKT) at a tertiary care hospital. Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using available records of 198 HIV positive TB patients enrolled at an ART Centre of South Gujarat from November 2016 to November 2017. Age at enrollment at ART Centre, sex, native place, ART status, CD4 count were recorded along with detection, category, previous history and treatment of TB. Test of significance (t test) was applied to analyze the difference between CD4 count before and after treatment with AKT. Results: Mean age of male (n=123) and female (n=75) patients at the time of HIV detection was mean 37.62 (SD±11.61) years and mean 34.05 (SD±8.85) years respectively. Majority (86.87 %) were migrants from states other than Gujarat, of which 31.31% were from Maharashtra. Among them, 66% patients were on CAT-I AKT and 10.6% had previous history of TB. Among 56.1% patients who had extra-pulmonary TB, common were abdominal TB (47.75%), lymphadenopathy (18.02%) and pleural effusion (16.22%). While 32% of patients had completed their AKT regimen, 68% were on AKT. Among those were missed out (8.6%) and lost to follow up (3.5%) from ART, almost half (41.67%) had been initiated under CAT-II AKT. Mean CD4 count for 84 patients who completed their AKT was increase, this was statistically significant (p=0.001). Conclusion: Majority of patients were migrants and extra pulmonary TB was more common in this study group. Mean CD4 count increased significantly after completion of AKT. Prompt treatment and preventing loss to follow up are key to successful treatment completion and cure.

Patient Satisfaction Survey: To Improve Quality of Care at Tertiary Care Center, South Gujarat

Introduction: Mismatch between patient expectation and the service received is related to decreased satisfaction Aims and Objectives: To measure level of satisfaction and identify the obstacles in availing services among the patient at Tertiary Care Center, South Gujarat. Method: It was a cross sectional study, included 800 respondents, 400 each from indoor and outdoor facilities. Respondents from all the department have been taken by proportion to their OPD and IPD load (PPS) after informing and taking their consent. Data has been collected by using android smart phones Results: General perception of the clients for the OPD services were 60% believed that the time to get services is appropriate, 98% respondents satisfied with staff behavior, 60% satisfied with the cleanliness OPD at the same time few dissatisfied with public utilities (16%), 70% patient satisfied with available water and other amenities in, around the hospital and 77% felt that the space in OPDs was crowded. All the patient whom examination required reported that the privacy has been maintain. As many as 92% wish to return every time for the treatment from our hospital. General perception regarding the IPD services shows that more than 95% patients were satisfied with various services like quality of medical care, nursing care, diagnostic and referral service, admission process, discharge process and physician services. As far as the staying is concerned at people ranked lowest to the availability of drinking water and cleanliness of toilet and bathroom Conclusion: The findings of the present study can be utilized to improve the services

Sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections in female sex workers.

The present study was conducted in 300 female sex workers (FSWs) from Surat city in 2005-2006. Vaginal swabs, endocervical swabs and serum samples were collected from each of these FSWs. Vaginal samples were screened for bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis and Trichomonas vaginalis . Endocervical swabs were screened for gonococcal infection. Serological tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis were performed. From a total of 300 FSWs, BV was detected in 40 (13.33%), trichomoniasis in six (2%), candidiasis in 31 (10.33%), HIV seropositivity in 35 (11.66%), HBsAg reactivity in 10 (3.33%) and rapid plasma regain (RPR) reactivity in 20 (6.66%) cases. RPR-positive serum samples were confirmed by the treponema pallidum hemaglutination test. Gonococcal infection was not found in any of the FSWs. Of the total of 35 HIV-positive patients, 20 patients had associated coinfection. Of the 35 HIV-seropositive FSWs, BV was detected in six (17.14%), candidiasis in six (17.14%), syphilis in five (14.28%) and HBsAg in two (5.71%). One (2.85%) HIV-positive FSW was positive for both candidiasis and syphilis.

A case control study to explore the risk factors for acquisition of leptospirosis in Surat city, after flood.

BACKGROUND: Between August and November 2006, a population-based case control study was conducted to identify the probable risk factors for leptospirosis during flooding in Surat city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two laboratory confirmed cases out of 129 suspected cases, and 253 age and sex matched fever and healthy controls were interviewed with the help of predesigned questionnaire. The association of risk factors with acquiring leptospirosis was assessed by adjusted OR with the help of logistic regression model to control confounders. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, factors identified were, walking barefoot (OR = 10.34, 95% CI 5.09-21.31, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS :Prompt and vigilant fever surveillance activities in pre-monsoon preparedness plan, intensive IEC messages, rodent control programs and improvement of environmental sanitary conditions may help to greatly reduce the incidence of leptospirosis.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in and around Surat.

Trichomonas culture method was used for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis along with gram staining and wet mount preparation. We selected 51 urban women and 51 rural women in this study. Samples were taken from both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Out of 102 samples 35 samples were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis by culture method. 20 women were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis by wet mount and 15 by gram staining technique. So it is a fact that culture of Trichomonas vaginalis is a "gold standard" in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis. As we had the opportunity to compare both urban and rural women in our study we were able to come to the conclusion that incidence of Trichomonas vaginalis is more in urban women than in rural women.