Menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls - A study from urban slum area.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence has been recognized as a special period that requires specific attention as it marks the onset of menarche, an important milestone, and hence good hygienic practices during menstruation are crucial to maintain a healthy life. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to assess knowledge, beliefs, and source of information regarding menstruation, and also to assess hygiene among them. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out in urban slum area. Data were collected using pre-tested proforma during the period of 1st June to 31th August 2017. Among the 100 adolescent girls, 72% were between 15 and 19 years. A maximum of 47% were having high school education. About 47% mothers were illiterate; 27% girls had menarche at 14 years and 82% had regular cycles. About 76% had no knowledge of menses before menarche. The source of information was mother in 84%. Only 16% girls commented that bleeding initiated in uterus. About 60% girls used sanitary pad and the rest used cloth pieces. About 22% used water and no soap for hand washing. Multiple restrictions were practiced. CONCLUSION: This study reported that menstrual hygiene was unsatisfactory among adolescent girls. Therefore, girls should be educated about the facts of menstruation and proper hygienic practices.

Seroprevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution for Hepatitis C infection: A study from rural hospital in Maharashtra.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C is global health problem affecting a significant portion of the world's population. Available data in Western Maharashtra on seroprevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution are very limited. OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence, factors influencing transmission and distribution of genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a hospital-based population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. A total of 25193 serum samples were tested for HCV and HBV infection. All samples from HCV antibody-positive patients were subjected for HCV RNA detection and genotype. Chi-square, unpaired t-test, logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The seroprevalence for anti-HCV-Ab was 0.46%. Backward multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed increasing age; alcoholic, blood transfusion and dialysis were significant risk factors. Of 116 patients with HCV, 8 (6.89%) patients had HCV-HBV co-infection. The most common genotype (61.90%) was 3 followed by Genotype 1 (38.09%). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, significant risk factors were a history of blood transfusion, habit of alcohol, dialysis. The prevention of HCV infection can be achieved by screening of blood and blood products and creating awareness about risk factors. Since the efficacy of current and new therapies differ by genotype, genotype study is essential.

A study of the outbreak of Chikungunya fever.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chikungunya fever occurred in an epidemic form in the state of Maharashtra after a gap of about 32 years. Many cases with symptoms which were suggestive of Chikungunya fever were reported from the village Kasegaon, Dist Sangli, Maharashtra, India. Hence, this study was done to assess the magnitude of the outbreak and to identify the possible socio-environmental factors which are responsible for Chikungunya fever. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was carried out at Kasegaon by a team from the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Primary Health Centre, Kasegaon, Distt. Sangli. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Chikungunya prevalence was 9.6%. There were 154 clinically suspected Chikungunya fever cases. Of these, 54.5% were males and 45.5% were females. About 72.7% of the cases were in the age range of 11-50 years, which is the active age group. The main symptoms were an acute onset of fever with joint pain (100%). Multiple joints were involved in (89.6%) cases. The mean duration of the fever was 3 days (range 1-10 days). About 40.3% people preferred to consult a government health facility. In the affected area, 83.1% people were aware of Chikungunya fever. Only few (1.1%) knew the vectors which were responsible for the Chikungunya transmission. Among the people in the affected area, 33.1% had knowledge on insecticide spraying, 23.2% had knowledge on the use of mosquito nets and repellents, 12.5% had knowledge on source reduction and 0.8% had knowledge on larvicides.