RESUMO
Background: Hypertension, often referred to as the "silent killer," usually presents no symptoms, making many people unaware of their condition. Fishing, as a profession, poses unique health risks due to harsh environmental conditions, irregular work patterns, and strenuous physical demands. Fishermen are particularly vulnerable due to unhealthy diets, sleep disturbances, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and obesity. Estimating the prevalence of hypertension among fishermen is crucial for understanding the extent of this hidden health issue within this high-risk group and for implementing targeted interventions to improve their health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Chennai's fishermen using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and blood pressure was recorded following JNC criteria. Results: The study included 180 fishermen with a mean (SD) age of 49 (12). The prevalence of hypertension was 38.9%. Significant associations were found between hypertension, age, and years of fishing experience. Notably, 77.2% of fishermen lacked knowledge about hypertension, and 86.1% were unaware of its risk factors. Isolated systolic hypertension was found in 16% of participants, while 36% had isolated diastolic hypertension. Conclusions: In Chennai, hypertension is highly prevalent among fishermen and is significantly associated with age, years of fishing experience and smoking. There was no significant association with family history of hypertension, stress, or fried fish consumption. Awareness and knowledge about hypertension were very low among the fishermen. Although isolated systolic and diastolic hypertension were relatively minimal, regular hypertension screening for this community is essential.
RESUMO
Rabies is one of the fatal zoonotic diseases wreaking havoc on humanity since antiquity. India continues to suffer the greatest rabies burden of any country, both in terms of annual human deaths and disability-adjusted life years. While modern rabies management emphasizes the importance of achieving zoonotic disease control and prevention through a One Health approach, the disease remains challenging as its persistence is invariably multifaceted. Therefore, it is imperative to examine the enduring reasons for the increasing incidence of rabies in India. Between 2012- 2022, a systematic search of scientific publications, popular search engines like Google, as well as in the grey literature regarding rabies was carried out. Since rabies elimination boils down to addressing the reasons, it is first seen related to the large and unvaccinated stray dog population, where 97% of cases are by dog bites. A second finding is that many bite victims resorted to indigenous treatment practices due to insufficient awareness and knowledge about the disease. Incomplete treatment practices also led to some deaths, especially because rabies vaccines are not affordable or accessible to poverty-stricken populations. Rarely, vaccine failures were caused by a lack of vaccine potency, a wound type, or ineffective administration methods. Even with all these data incorporated, there was no information on prevalence/incidence estimates of dog bites in recent years through national data. Therefore, without intensified surveillance, sustained political commitment, enormous mobilization of resources, and rabies education, the epidemic waves of this fatal disease will continue in India.