A study on human risk factors in non-fatal road traffic accidents at Nagpur.

A cross sectional study was conducted among 423 victims of road traffic accidents reporting to Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur for treatment during 1999-2000. Data was collected on pre-designed proforma by interview technique. Majority of the victims were male (85.8%) and of 18-37 years (74%); 64.5% of the subjects were consuming alcohol regularly and 5.9% were drug abusers; 43.7% and 10.2% had visual and hearing impairment respectively; 43.5% were not having any driving experience and 74.4% of the victims with two wheelers were not using any helmets at the time of accidents. Findings highlight the need for sustained health education and enforcement of traffic laws.

A risk scoring system for prediction of haemorrhagic stroke.

The present pair-matched case control study was carried out at Government Medical College Hospital, Nagpur, India, a tertiary care hospital with the objective to devise and validate a risk scoring system for prediction of hemorrhagic stroke. The study consisted of 166 hospitalized CT scan proved cases of hemorrhagic stroke (ICD 9, 431-432), and a age and sex matched control per case. The controls were selected from patients who attended the study hospital for conditions other than stroke. On conditional multiple logistic regression five risk factors- hypertension (OR = 1.9. 95% Cl = 1.5-2.5). raised scrum total cholesterol (OR = 2.3, 95% Cl = 1.1-4.9). use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (OR = 3.4, 95% Cl =1.1-10.4). past history of transient ischaemic attack (OR = 8.4, 95% Cl = 2.1- 33.6) and alcohol intake (OR = 2.1, 95% Cl = 1.3-3.6) were significant. These factors were ascribed statistical weights (based on regression coefficients) of 6, 8, 12, 21 and 8 respectively. The nonsignificant factors (diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, type A personality, history of claudication, family history of stroke, history of cardiac diseases and oral contraceptive use in females) were not included in the development of scoring system. ROC curve suggested a total score of 21 to be the best cut-off for predicting haemorrhag stroke. At this cut-off the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictivity and Cohen's kappa were 0.74, 0.74, 0.74 and 0.48 respectively. The overall predictive accuracy of this additive risk scoring system (area under ROC curve by Wilcoxon statistic) was 0.79 (95% Cl = 0.73-0.84). Thus to conclude, if substantiated by further validation, this scorincy system can be used to predict haemorrhagic stroke, thereby helping to devise effective risk factor intervention strategy.

Knowledge and practices regarding injury care among stone quartz workers.

The present study designed as cross sectional study was carried out to study the knowledge and practice regarding injury care among stone quartz workers of Chhotaudepur. A total of 137 stone quartz workers were included in the study, which consisted of 54.7% males and 45.3% females. 85.4% of the workers were illiterate and almost all the workers belonged to lower socio-economic strata according to the Modified Kuppuswamy's socio-economic scale. Majority of the subjects (56.2%) responded that they would consult doctor if they get injured while 32.2% responded that they would neglect the wound, as it will heal spontaneously. Thus the present study suggests that the knowledge regarding injury care among stone quartz workers was poor. Even the attitude and practice regarding injury care was also inappropriate.

Environmental risk factors: a study in Kutch region.

The environment risk factors particularly drinking water status and vector breeding status. In the earthquake--affected villages in Kutch region are presented.

Delayed immunization against vaccine preventable diseases--factors responsible among children under 5 years of age.

In the present case-control study, out of the the eleven risk factors of delayed immunization, only seven, namely family size, sex, number of children < 5 years, material education, paternal education, distance from health centre and low socio-economic status were found to be significantly associated. The common causes for delayed immunization were negligence on part of parents, unawareness about the use of vaccine and sickness of child. Thus, health education of the parents is recommended.

Peak expiratory flow rate in flour mill workers.

The current cross-sectional study with a comparison group was undertaken to investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in flour mill workers and to study relationship between reduction in PEFR and age, smoking, exposure to grain dust and respiratory morbidity. The study included 286 flour mill workers and equal number of neighbourhood controls group-matched for age. PEFR was measured by using Wright's Peak Flow Meter. PEFR was significantly reduced in flour mill workers as compared to comparison group. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with grain dust exposure, duration of exposure, tobacco smoking and presence of respiratory morbidity.

Obesity: as rural females perceive it.

Out of 318 rural females studied, 17.3% were found to be obese. Most of them are aware of their obese status except for 10.9% who were unaware. Majority of the females considered eating more, childbirth and reduced activity as the possible cause of their obesity and also obesity in other persons. Though 48.1% and 33.6% of the females mentioned dieting and exercise/walking respectively as the method of prevention still 52.5% mentioned that medicine is the only method for prevention of obesity. Regarding remedy of obesity again 48.4% females mentioned medicine as the method.

Peak expiratory flow rate in handloom weavers.

The present cross-sectional study with a comparison group was carried out to investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in handloom weavers and to study relationship between reduction in PEFR with age, smoking, duration of cotton dust exposure and respiratory morbidity. This study include 319 handloom weavers and equal number of individuals (group matched for age and pair matched for sex) in comparison group. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with advancing age, longer duration of exposure to cotton dust, tobacco smoking and presence of respiratory morbidity on univariate analysis, whereas on multivariate analysis longer duration of exposure to cotton dust and tobacco smoking was found to be non significant.

Effectiveness of bacillus of Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination against tuberculous meningitis: a case-control study.

A hospital-based pair-matched case-control study was carried out at Government Medical College Hospital, Nagpur to estimate the effectiveness of bacillus of Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination against tuberculous meningitis. The study included 92 cases of tuberculous meningitis in the age group of 0-12 years and equal number of controls, matched for age, sex and socio-economic status. The protective effectiveness and prevented fraction were higher for the subjects in the age group of 0-6 years, males and subjects from upper strata of socio-economic class. The overall vaccine effectiveness and prevented fraction were estimated to be 86.54% (70.38-93.88%) and 65.54% (39.22-80.64%) respectively. Results of this study thus indicated that BCG vaccination was highly effective against tuberculous meningitis and played significant role in its prevention, in this population.