RESUMO
Background: Adolescents are one sixth of the world’s population and account for 6% of the global burden of disease and injury. The unique health issues associated with adolescence have been little understood. Adolescence is a period when many behaviours are consolidated which have major effects on future adult health. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a total of 8 schools in order to assess the magnitude of various behavioural risk factors among school going adolescents. 614 students in the age group of 10-19 years were included in the study. Data was collected using modified WHO global school-based health survey questionnaire. Weight and height of the adolescents were also taken to assess their nutritional status. Results: In the present study 45% of the participants resorted to diet restriction. 19.2% of the adolescents felt lonely. 18.2.5% of the participants had disturbed sleep and 8.8% of them reported having had suicidal thoughts. 3.9% of the participants had ever smoked cigarettes, 3.9% had ever consumed alcohol and 1.8% had ever used drugs. 28.3% of the adolescents reported having been physically attacked and 12.5% reported having been bullied. 29.5% had a screen time of 3 hours or more. Conclusions: It was observed that behavioral risk factors like unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity and substance abuse were quite prevalent in the adolescents. Health education on all these behavioural risk factors and incorporation of life skills education in the school curriculum will help in improving the overall health of the adolescents.
RESUMO
Background: Hypertension is an important health problem globally. One of the main causes of uncontrolled hypertension is the failure on the part of the patient for not taking the prescribed drugs. Objectives: This study was conducted to study the level of adherence to antihypertensive medication and to determine multiple factors which affect it. Materials and Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of the department of community medicine. The study subjects were 700 patients aged 18 years and above diagnosed with hypertension for at least 1 year who had been prescribed antihypertensive treatment. Results: In this study, it was found that of the 700 participants, 57.3% were adherent to antihypertensive drugs. Factors significantly associated with adherence to hypertensive medication included being literate, socioeconomic Classes 1 and 2, taking only one hypertensive medication, monthly cost of drugs <500, being aware of hypertensive complications and complications of not taking drugs regularly, perception of current health status, and knowledge about worsening of health condition on stopping the treatment. Conclusions: Many factors such as literacy, socioeconomic factors, and awareness of consequences impact the adherence to treatment and hence the treatment outcomes. Community support and financial help can improve the same. It is imperative that all hypertensive patients receive repeated counseling to continue therapy. Financial support is an important issue which needs to be addressed.
RESUMO
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes from the genus Schistosoma that can infect humans and animals. S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. mekongi all causes intestinal schistosomiasis except S. haematobium that causes urinary schistosomiasis. It is only specie which effects urinary system, it can affect liver, heart, lungs also but very rarely. Schistosoma haematobium is endemic to over 50 countries in Africa and the Middle East and Western Asia and may be fatal in HIV positive people. A number of reports from the African countries like Nigeria have been reported. A few cases are reported 9but in Pakistan it has never been reported before in native people. It is first time reported in Pakistan in the intestine of Rahu (Labeo rohita). The purpose of this study is to elaborate the approach of zoonotic agent by various other routes including the commonly available fish
RESUMO
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Persistent diarrhea is a known cause of childhood mortality, morbidity and malnutrition in developing countries. This study was conducted to find out the host and environmental risk factors associated with persistent diarrhea in Bangladeshi children below 5 years of age. DESIGN: Prospective analytic case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS: Fifty children with persistent diarrhea and 50 controls with acute diarrhea (matched for age and sex) comprised the study subjects. RESULTS: Most of the children (82%) were aged below 2 years. Among the risk factors, Grade III malnutrition (p<0.008), irrational antibiotic use during acute diarrheal episode (p<0.0000005), use of unsafe drinking water (p<0.004) and lack of exclusive breast-feeding up to the first four months of life (p<0.004) were significantly associated with persistent diarrhea. Logistic analysis showed irrational antibiotic use (p<0.0001) during an episode of acute diarrhea and lack of exclusive breast-feeding (p<0.05) during the first four months of life as independent risk factors associated with persistent diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Improvement of nutritional status, encouraging exclusive breast-feeding during the first four months of life, discouraging the irrational use of antibiotic for the treatment of acute diarrhea, and provision of safe drinking water may be important for the prevention of persistent diarrhea as these have been identified as risk factors in Bangladeshi children below five years of age.