ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Although free and subsidized sanitary pads are provided by the government, proportion of adolescents availing this service remains low. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the proportion of adolescent girls availing supply of sanitary napkins from a rural health training center (RHTC) in Puducherry; to assess the level of satisfaction with government supply; and to identify reasons for not accessing the same. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The mixed-method cross-sectional study done in July 2017 included 240 adolescent girls living in the RHTC service area of a tertiary care institute. Quantitative data were collected house to house with a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and qualitative data from a focused group discussion. RESULTS: Sanitary pads were used by all of the participants who achieved menarche. Of them, 87 (40.2%) used pads purchased outside and 127 (58.8%) used both government supply and private purchase. Reasons for not availing government supply were insufficient quantity and low quality, lack of information about the government provision, and accessibility issues. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring better quality and adequate quantity of sanitary pads supplied by the government along with increased awareness about the government provision can increase the utilization of the same by rural adolescents.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Diabetes self-management education plays a critical role in improving patients' clinical outcome and quality of life. AIMS: This study aims to study the effectiveness of a structured diabetes educational program on improvement of self-care behavior among type 2 diabetics in urban Primary Health Centres (PHCs) of Puducherry. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A community-based open-label parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in two randomly selected urban PHCs of Puducherry during December 2015-February 2017. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using systematic random sampling, 157 eligible participants were recruited in intervention and control PHCs each. Sociodemographic, disease characteristics, and anthropometric measures were captured using a pretested questionnaire at baseline. Self-care behavior was recorded with Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities scale. Intervention consisted of structured diabetes education sessions with distribution of information leaflets and self-care kits to the intervention-arm participants, while control arm received standard care. At the end of 6 months, endline assessment was done for both groups. Data were analyzed by intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and difference-in-difference analysis using STATA. RESULTS: Footcare increased significantly by 1.95 days/week compared to control arm, while a moderate change of 0.49 days/week in diet compliance and a minimal change of 0.10 days/week in physical activity were observed. Medication adherence, regular blood sugar testing, and smoking behavior also showed improvement in intervention arm. CONCLUSIONS: A structured education program that is culturally tailored showed an overall improvement in self-care behavior. This research supports the need for structured education program for diabetics to empower them and improve self-care practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2017/06/008772.
