RESUMO
An adequate food intake, in terms of quantity and quality, is a key to healthy life. Malnutrition is the most serious consequence of food insecurity and has a multitude of health and economic implications. India has the world’s largest population living in slums, and these have largely been underserved areas. The State of Food Insecurity in the World (2012) estimates that India is home to more than 217 million undernourished people. Various studies have been conducted to assess food insecurity at the global level; however, the literature is limited as far as India is concerned. The present study was conducted with the objective of documenting the prevalence of food insecurity at the household level and the factors determining its existence in an urban slum population of northern India. This cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban resettlement colony of South Delhi, India. A pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting socioeconomic details and information regarding dietary practices. Food insecurity was assessed using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with food insecurity. A total of 250 women were interviewed through house-to-house survey. Majority of the households were having a nuclear family (61.6%), with mean familysize being 5.5 (SD±2.5) and the mean monthly household income being INR 9,784 (SD±631). Nearly half (53.3%) of the mean monthly household income was spent on food. The study found that a total of 77.2% households were food-insecure, with 49.2% households being mildly food-insecure, 18.8% of the households being moderately food-insecure, and 9.2% of the households being severely food-insecure. Higher education of the women handling food (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.92; p≤0.03) and number of earning members in the household (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.98; p≤0.04) were associated with lesser chance/odds of being food-insecure. The study demonstrated a high prevalence of food insecurity in the marginalized section of the urban society. The Government of India needs to adopt urgent measures to combat this problem.
RESUMO
Aims: In India, annual incidence of animal bite is estimated as 1.7 per 100 population and that of human rabies as 1.7 per 1,00,000 population. Since rabies is universally fatal it requires prevention through timely management by wound care, Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin. Study Design: Retrospective record review. Place and Duration of Study: Animal Bite Management (ABM) clinic of a Primary Health Centre in rural Pondicherry, south India, between January and December, 2011. Methodology: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected at an Animal Bite Management (ABM) clinic in a primary health centre in rural Pondicherry. The study population was mainly rural and agrarian. All victims of animal bite, who sought treatment from the ABM clinic between January and December, 2011 were included. Wound washing and administration of ARV through intramuscular route was provided for all victims. Data on factors like age, gender, place of residence, biting animal was collected. Means and proportions were calculated. Chi square test for categorical and t-test for continuous variables were applied. Results: A total of 767 victims sought treatment from ABM clinic. The mean age was 29 years (1 to 84 years). Mean distance of travel to ABM clinic was 2.1 km. About a third of all cases occurred during summer (March to May). Majority of victims were bitten by dog (85%) followed by cat (9%) and monkey (6%). Only 61.7%, 32.2%, 0.8% and 0% turned up for day 3, day 7, day 14 and day 28 doses of ARV schedule. Of those who came, only 70% came on due day. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment seeking based on gender and distance from ABM clinic. Conclusion: The high dropout rate for Day 3 and subsequent doses of the ARV and the delayed administration of Day 3 and Day 7 are worrying facts because only a full and timely ARV course will provide complete protection against rabies. Aims: In India, annual incidence of animal bite is estimated as 1.7 per 100 population and that of human rabies as 1.7 per 1,00,000 population. Since rabies is universally fatal it requires prevention through timely management by wound care, Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin. Study Design: Retrospective record review. Place and Duration of Study: Animal Bite Management (ABM) clinic of a Primary Health Centre in rural Pondicherry, south India, between January and December, 2011. Methodology: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected at an Animal Bite Management (ABM) clinic in a primary health centre in rural Pondicherry. The study population was mainly rural and agrarian. All victims of animal bite, who sought treatment from the ABM clinic between January and December, 2011 were included. Wound washing and administration of ARV through intramuscular route was provided for all victims. Data on factors like age, gender, place of residence, biting animal was collected. Means and proportions were calculated. Chi square test for categorical and t-test for continuous variables were applied. Results: A total of 767 victims sought treatment from ABM clinic. The mean age was 29 years (1 to 84 years). Mean distance of travel to ABM clinic was 2.1 km. About a third of all cases occurred during summer (March to May). Majority of victims were bitten by dog (85%) followed by cat (9%) and monkey (6%). Only 61.7%, 32.2%, 0.8% and 0% turned up for day 3, day 7, day 14 and day 28 doses of ARV schedule. Of those who came, only 70% came on due day. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment seeking based on gender and distance from ABM clinic. Conclusion: The high dropout rate for Day 3 and subsequent doses of the ARV and the delayed administration of Day 3 and Day 7 are worrying facts because only a full and timely ARV course will provide complete protection against rabies.