Screen Time Of Child And Its Association With Parent-Child Relationship During Covid-19 Pandemic

Background:During the Covid-19 pandemic, schools have started online schooling which increased screen time of children that can have a negative effect on parent-child relationship. The current questionnaire based survey aimed to evaluate the increase in screen time of child and its association with parent-child relationship. Material And Methods:Hundred parents having children in standards 7-12 participated in the survey. The questionnaire evaluated the change in parent-child relationship (before and after online schooling began) based on four important parameters -parental worry about child, child’s behavior towards parent, trust and communication and, quality of time spend together.Result:Out of 100 parents, 1) 26 were satisfied, 54 were neutral and 20 were dissatisfied with method of learning.2) 44 found no noticeable effect, 22 found positive effect and 34 found negative effect on child’s learning due toonline classes.Out of 100 children, 1) 31 spent 1 -5 hours, 61 spent 5-9 hours and 9 spent more than 9 hours on screen. 2) Screen time of 69 –increased, 10 –remained same and 21 –decreased.3) 11 were caught sleeping, 26 were found playing games, 37 watching videos, 24surfing net and 30 using social media during online classes. Conclusion:The present study concludes that: 1) The screen time of child has increased due to online study.2) Out of four parameters evaluated for parent-child relationship only parental worrywas negatively affected i.e. increased due to increase in screen time, while other parameters like child’s behaviour towards parents, trust and communication and quality of time spent together were not negatively affected.

Inequity & burden of out-of-pocket health spending: District level evidences from India

Background & objectives: Numerous studies have highlighted the regressive and immiserating impact of out-of-pocket (OOP) health spending in India. However, most of these studies have explored this issue at the national or up to the State level, with an associated risk of overlooking intra-State diversities in the health system and health-seeking behaviour and their implication on the financial burden of healthcare. This study was aimed to address this issue by analyzing district level diversities in inequity, financial burden and impoverishing impact of OOP health spending. Methods: A household survey of 62,335 individuals from 12,134 households, covering eight districts across three States, namely Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan was conducted during 2014-2015. Other than general household characteristics, the survey collected information on household OOP [sum total of expenditure on doctor consultation, drugs, diagnostic tests etc. on inpatient depatment (IPD), outpatient depatment (OPD) or chronic ailments] and household monthly consumption expenditure [sum total of monthly expenditure on food, clothing, education, healthcare (OOP) and others]. Gini index of consumption expenditure, concentration index and Kakwani index (KI) of progressivity of OOP, catastrophic burden (at 20% threshold) and poverty impact (using district-level poverty thresholds) were computed, for these eight districts using the survey data. The concentration curve (of OOP expenditure) and Lorenz curve (of consumption expenditure) for the eight districts were also drawn. Results: The distribution of OOP was found to be regressive in all the districts, with significant inter-district variations in equity parameters within a State (KI ranges from ?0.062 to ?0.353). Chhota Udepur, the only tribal district within the sample was found to have the most regressive distribution (KI of ?0.353) of OOP. Furthermore, the economic burden of OOP was more pronounced among the rural sample (CB of 19.2% and IM of 8.9%) compared to the urban sample (CB of 9.4% and IM of 3.7%). Interpretation & conclusions: The results indicate that greater decentralized planning taking into account district-level health financing patterns could be an effective way to tackle inequity and financial vulnerability emerging out of OOP expenses on healthcare.

KAP study on early diagnostic signs of risk factors for cancer.

Background: - Risk factors for cancer are also risk factors for other non-communicable diseases. The studies were done for knowledge, attitude & practice on risk factors of oral cancer, breast cancer and risk factors of cervical cancer and early diagnostic techniques for oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. Objectives:(1) To assess the knowledge of administrative staffs of New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar regarding the risk factors for cancer and the awareness level among them on cancer prevention and treatment. (2)To assess their attitude towards cancer risk factors identification and early self diagnostic techniques. (3)To assess their behaviour towards practicing regarding self examination technique of oral cavity, self breast examination and cervical screening. Methods:- Detail list of all administrative staffs were obtained from General Administrative Department after the permission letter from Commissioner of Health & Secretariat of General Administrative Department of Sachivalaya. All 3429 staffs of New Sachivalaya were included in Simple random technique. Out of them 350 (10%) participants were taken for this study by their consent. Results: Study result showed knowledge were mix type of because 79.7% (n=279) had answer lump in breast or bleeding from nipple of breast were early signs for breast cancer, but 48.9% had answer on painful lump in breast is an early signs for diagnosis. 64.4% were had belief on cancer that cancer is a deadly diseases and cancer means cancel. Only 34.6% had belief as cancer can be prevented if early diagnosed. Knowledge level was different as they were on different position but the attitude and the practice to cancer risk factors identification and early diagnostic signs were almost same. They had more attitude and practice towards hospital visit rather than doing Self-Examination technique 93.7% (n=328) were willing to create awareness on cancer risk factors and its screening tests and early diagnostic signs for early identification of cancer.

Chromium exposure study in chemical based industry.

176 chromium-exposed and 30 control subjects were selected for this study. Blood samples (3 ml) were collected for the estimation of chromium. The data on chromium concentration indicated a significant higher level of chromium in the blood of the exposed workers as compared to the control. There was no significant correlation between the mean blood and environmental chromium level. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. Study also indicates that the environmental levels to Cr are well below the permissible levels at all the sites of the industry at the time of survey even though the blood Cr levels were observed high in 14.8% of workers and some of them were having Cr related morbidity. Therefore, preventive and engineering control measures are suggested to minimize the chromium exposure in the chromium based industry located in Gorwa industrial estate at Baroda, Gujarat. About three months period was taken to complete this study.