ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The immunization coverage is not uniform in India. In Karnataka, except for Uttar Kannada District (very high immunization coverage of 95%) and 14 districts that have shown a better immunization coverage (>85% coverage), the remaining 15 districts (including Bijapur District) have poor coverage. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 2002 report on Bijapur district shows that only a little over one fourth of the children were fully immunized (25.8%). The state's fully vaccinated figure was more than two and a half times higher than that of the district. In this prevailing scenario, it becomes the need of the hour to find factors which influence routine immunization in Bijapur district, which will help the planners in implementing the immunization programme in a better way, to achieve >85% coverage. OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of respondents among guardians of children aged 12-23 months with respect to immunization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums of Bijapur city, India. Out of the 20 enlisted slums, 7 slums were chosen by using convenience sampling. House to house survey was done. After obtaining oral consents, information regarding knowledge, attitude and practices was collected by using a semi-structured proforma. RESULTS: A total of 155 mothers/ responsible guardians of children in the age group of 12 to 23 months were included in the study. Children of 54 out of 155 respondents (34.84%) were fully immunized, 97 (62.58%) were partially immunized and 4 (2.58%) were unimmunized. The main reason for partial and non-immunization was found to be lack of information. CONCLUSION: Immunization coverage in the urban slums of Bijapur is still way short of the 85% coverage mark. A lack of information and motivation among the parents is the main reason for this dismal scenario, that needs to be rectified at the earliest.
ABSTRACT
The study describes an attempt to record leptospirosis in Raichur taluk/district, in Karnataka, by serological test such as microscopic test and IgM by ELISA. A house to house survey was done in six villages of Krishna river basin. Cases were interviewed regarding chief complaints like, fever, headache and oliguria, age, sex and treatment given with diclofenac, doxycycline, tetracycline and vitamin B complex. A total of 1516 cases were treated. The age of the patients ranged between 10 and 71 years. Most of them were agricultural workers. Out of 15 blood samples 12 samples sent to DHO Office, 3 were negative for leptospirosis, the density of rats were increased in all villages, the mode of transmission was food and water contamination, duration of incubation period was 5 to 10 days. Health education, for the community was undertaken to take measures against rats. Causative agent may be Leptospirosis interrogans, 3 cases were referred to Civil Hospital, Raichur and Navodaya Medical College, Raichur. Community participation was excellent. This study showed the presence of leptospirosis among the community of 6 villages, the disease is posing health hazards for agricultural workers in Raichur taluka villages.
