ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine the severity of deficiency and the presenting features Introduction: Vitamin D insufficiency affects almost 50% of the population worldwide. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide, across all ethnicities and age groups, have a vitamin D deficiency (VDD). This pandemic of hypovitaminosis D can mainly be attributed to lifestyle and environmental factors that reduce exposure to sunlight, which is required for ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced vitamin D production in the skin. The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is a particularly important public health issue because hypovitaminosis D is an independent risk factor for total mortality in the general population. Many health care providers have increased their recommendations for vitamin D supplementation to at least 1000 IU. Methodology: this study was done over a span of 10 months from September 2021 to July 2022 This was a retrospective descriptive study in which data were recorded for all patients aged from 6 months to 12 years of age with features suggestive of vitamin D deficiency seen in Dr DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune for a period of 10 months The Health Research and ethics committee of Dr DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune approved the study and waived the requirement for the informed consent. A total of 69 patients were included in this study. Result(s): 69 patients were included in the study out of which 39 were males { 56.52%} and 30 were females { 43.48%}. the main presenting feature was bowing of legs { 31.9%} followed by difficulty in walking in 15.9% Out of 69 children 53 had severe deficiency, 13 had mild to moderate deficiency and 3 had optimum levels of vitamin D. 28 children belonged to the age group of 1-5 years followed by 18 children in age group of 5-10 years and 11 children in age group less than 1 year and 10-15 years Out of the entire study group 56 children had bony deformities and 13 had neurodevelopmental presentation Conclusion(s): the above results emphasise the fact that due to covid most of the children were restricted to stay indoors for several months leading to vitamin D deficiency in them. it also emphasis the fact that regular screening of children should be done with respect to vitamin D levels and also other micronutrients and children should be encouraged to have some amount of sun exposure to get natural supplementation of vitamin D and also be supplemented at desired intervals so that they adequate amount of vitamin D levels. Copyright © 2023 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Context: The study aimed to understand the perception of faculty and undergraduate students toward E-learning and its acceptance and feasibility during the corona pandemic. Aim: It aimed at collecting suggestions to improve the teaching-learning process. Settings and Design: This was an online survey conducted using Google Forms. Subjects and Methods: Responses were sought from participants through Google Forms and their feedback was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire which had 14 items including demographic profile, platform used for online teaching-learning, advantages, comfort level, usefulness of platform, challenges faced, and suggestions for improvement. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Analysis was done by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Results: Responses were sought from a total of 447 (436 + 11) participants through Google Forms. Out of 447 participants, 321 responses (71%;95% confidence interval [CI];67.5-75.8) were recorded and their feedback was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire which had 14 items including demographic profile, platform used for online teaching-learning, advantages, comfort level, usefulness of platform, challenges faced, and suggestions for improvement. The response rate was 71.4%% (95% CI;67.5-75.8). About 81% (95% CI;67.5-75.8) of participants were happy with the ongoing online teaching-learning. About 52.9% (95% CI;47.3-58.6) are using Google Classroom, 32.2% (95% CI;27-37.6) are using video-based platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. About 53.6% (95% CI;48-59.2) of participants viewed Google Classroom as the best platform, whereas 44.1% (95% CI;38.5-49.7) favored video-based platforms for teaching-learning. Conclusions: Online classes were found acceptable by most of the students and faculty. The positive feedback and suggestions helped in the planning of E-learning classes in the existing curriculum for future.