ABSTRACT
Introduction: The concerns of inaccessibility to essential medicines in India are well-studied and documented. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Priyojana (PMBJP) is one of the policy initiatives to address the inaccessibility of essential medicine. Janaushadhi Kendra (People's Medicine Centre), which is part of PMBJP is being enquired in a limited way to understand its effectiveness. The province of Odisha has been chosen as the study area for the evaluation of People's Medicine Centres. Objective: The present study intends to inquire into the nature of People's Medicine Centre ownership, pharmacists' motivations and incentives to engage in business, perceived customers' trust and satisfaction, scheme beneficiaries, and challenges. Methods: A qualitative research approach has been adopted to evaluate the broader subjective accounts of the pharmacists and People's Medicine Centre. An open-ended interview guide was used. The topics of ownership, motivation, incentives, trust, satisfaction, perceived benefits, and challenges has been recorded from the participants. A total of seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted in the province of Odisha, India. Results: The study found that the ownership of People's Medicine Centre was of two types in the province of Odisha: public-NGO-owned People's Medicine Centres and public-private-owned People's Medicine Centres. The financial incentive provisions in the scheme attracted the private pharmacists. Pharmacists highlighted about the lower price of generic medicines compared to branded medicines, which is very popular among patients. They also pointed out that there is no difference in the efficacy of both medicines. The attitude of physicians, especially private physicians, were considered problematic for popularity and acceptance. Conclusion: The People's Medicine Centres in Odisha established themselves as trusted outlets despite physicians' unfavourable attitudes. Although the centres have not reached the required geographical coverage, economically developed regions have large number of centres, while backward regions have minimal presence. The scheme needs to be more conducive to the welfare of the masses living in remote and rural areas.
ABSTRACT
Background: Workplace hygiene is vital in controlling infectious diseases in industries. The factors like unhealthy environment, unhygienic workplace, and contact between healthy and disease-affected employees cause industrial hazards in workplaces. Objectives: This study assessed various components of workplace hygiene among industrial workers. Materials and Methods: A quantitative survey has been conducted in a steel, and power industry limited in Odisha. The study surveyed 425 male contractual workers for primary data on workplace hygiene. Probability proportion to sample technique adopted for justification of the sample. The univariate and bivariate analysis models have been done according to the study's objective. Results: Nearly 92% of respondents reported proper use of washing facilities, and 97% used toilet and urinal appropriately. One-fourth of respondents use personal disinfected clothing, and 92.2% have access to safe drinking water. The factors such as education, technical education, and occupation are significantly associated with respondents' use of washing facilities, dining hall, personal protective clothing, safe drinking water, proper cleaning, and sanitation at the workplace. Conclusion: Workplace hygiene strengthens the safety measures at the workplace and reduces the incidences of occupational hazards.
ABSTRACT
This study aims to assess the preventive measures and self-protective rights of employees at the workplace. A survey has been conducted in a steel and power industry of Angul district of Odisha (India) using a semi-structured interview schedule to assess the determinants of occupational hazards. Occupational health practices among 425 male workers were assessed from the steel and power industry using the population proportion to sample technique (PPS). Respondents from the higher educational background, skilled workers, Hindu religious group, general category, and employees with high-household income were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with self-protective rights at the workplace. Industrial workers are considered a vulnerable group with respect to the power of self-protective rights in the industry. The factors such as job insecurity, financial hardship, less education, and unskilled profession make them vulnerable, which forces them to settle with a lower level of rights at the workplace.
Subject(s)
Occupational Exposure , Occupational Health , Humans , India , Male , Steel , Surveys and Questionnaires , WorkplaceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The behavioral aspects of human beings influence the incidences of cancer cases directly and indirectly. The factors like positive thinking and motivation were found to change the behavior toward knowledge and awareness of cancer. The main objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of select Indians about reproductive cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The online survey method assessed various components of knowledge and awareness about reproductive cancer. A Google Form has been distributed through social media platforms such as e-mail, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The coded data has been computed in SPSS (version 25) by IBM (USA) for the analysis. Univariate and bivariate data analysis has been drawn to justify the objective. RESULTS: Nearly 68 percent of the respondents were aware of reproductive cancer. Among them, 17 percent know about cervical cancer, and 12.5 percent have awareness about breast cancer. Electronic and print media (41.2 percent) were major sources of information about reproductive cancer. Nearly 48 percent of respondents reported that multiple sexual partners and poor sexual hygiene were risk factors for reproductive cancer. Around 57 percent of respondents reported reproductive cancer is preventable, 59 percent knew about cancer screening, and 63.5 percent knew the treatment process. The gender of the respondents was associated (p-value = 0.002) with awareness of reproductive cancer. It has been found that there is a significant association between knowledge of screening tests and the treatment process of reproductive cancer. The marital status of respondents is strongly associated (p-value = 0.000) with the awareness of reproductive cancer. CONCLUSION: The factors like knowledge of reproductive cancer and awareness proceed as an important role in cancer prevention. A gender-neutral cancer awareness program is needed to increase cancer awareness irrespective of marital status.
