Factors influencing implementation of mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis elimination: a mixed-method study in Odisha, India.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) persists as a public health problem in India. Despite more than ten rounds of mass drug administration (MDA), LF continues to be endemic in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha. Hence, we assessed the coverage and compliance of the MDA program and explored the factors affecting it in the Dhenkanal district. Methods: An explanatory mixed-method study was conducted, wherein for the quantitative survey, 552 participants aged 2 years and above were recruited following a multistage cluster random sampling during February 2022. In-depth interviews were conducted among purposively selected key stakeholders and program implementers. Descriptive statistics were used to report coverage and compliance, along with a 95% confidence interval. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: We observed coverage of 99.28% and compliance of 85.87% for MDA drugs. Supervised drug administration proved to be a major pillar in increasing compliance. There was difficulty in administering drugs in urban areas due to gated societies, the absence of individuals during the day, and the perspective toward healthcare providers. Participants reported a lack of confidence in drug distributors and a fear of side effects as major causes for non-compliance. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen MDA, especially in urban areas. An urban-specific strategy, along with surveillance, behavioral change communication, and the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams, is required.

Surgical Correction of Brodie Bite in Adults: A Novel Surgical Splint.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of telescopic bite is a rare occurrence. Brodie bite malocclusions manifest with severe skeletal and dental transverse, sagittal and vertical problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A patient presenting with a telescopic bite and mandibular retrognathism was treated by orthognathic approach. A unique surgical splint was used as an aid in performing the maxillary constriction and segmental osteotomy. CONCLUSION: The telescopic bite was corrected successfully and occlusal rehabilitation was achieved.

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR IDENTIFICATION OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC EXPOSURE USING CCD IMAGING TECHNIQUE FOR Caso4:Dy TL DOSEMETERS.

The occupational exposure incurred by the radiation workers due to the external radiation is estimated using personal dosemeter placed on the human body during the monitoring period. In certain situations, it is required to determine whether the dosemeter alone was exposed accidentally/intentionally in radiation field (static exposure) or was exposed while being worn by a worker moving in his workplace (dynamic exposure). The present thermoluminscent (TL) based personnel monitoring systems are not capable of distinguishing between the above stated (static and dynamic) exposure conditions. The feasibility of a new methodology developed using the charge coupled device based imaging technique for identification of the static/dynamic exposure of CaSO4:Dy based TL detectors for low energy photons has been investigated. The techniques for the qualitative and the quantitative assessments of the exposure conditions are presented in this paper.

DEEP, SHALLOW AND EYE LENS DOSES FROM 106Ru/106Rh-A COMPARSION.

106Ru/106Rh is unique amongst other commonly used beta sources such as 147Pm, 85Kr, 204Tl, 32P, natU and 90Sr/90Y in the sense that it is capable of simultaneously delivering shallow/skin, eye lens and deep/whole body doses (WBDs) and they differ from each other substantially. In view of this, the investigation of various quantities defined for individual monitoring is possible and this makes 106Ru/106Rh beta source, a classical example in radiation protection and dosimetry. This led us to estimate skin, eye lens and WBDs for 106Ru/106Rh beta source. Optically stimulated luminescence based ultra-thin α-Al2O3:C disc dosimeters were used in the present study. Typical values (relative) of the eye lens and whole body/deep doses with respective to the skin dose (100%) were experimentally measured as ~66 ± 4.6% and 17 ± 3.9%, respectively. The study shows that 106Ru/106Rh beta source is capable of delivering even WBD which is not the case with other beta sources.

Overview of the Quality Assurance Programme Implemented for TLD Based Individual Monitoring in India.

The effective implementation of a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) programme in any individual monitoring service plays a key role in attaining and sustaining the level of performance at par with international standards. In India, individual monitoring of more than 120 000 radiation workers is provided through 16 laboratories using a CaSO4:Dy based thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) badge system. In such a wide-spread programme, the harmonization of procedures and regular QA check on the dosimetry system are utmost important to ensure the uniform standard of accuracy and reliability of the service. This paper discusses some aspects of the QA programme implemented at different stages of the TLD monitoring system and provides the results of the performance test of monitoring laboratories.

BETA DOSE EVALUATION ALGORITHM FOR CaSO4:Dy BYSED TLD BADGE USED IN COUNTRYWIDE PERSONNEL MONITORING PROGRAMME IN INDIA.

The prevalent algorithm for the estimation of beta dose, which in turn is used for estimation of skin dose for exposures involving beta radiations was observed to significantly overestimate the dose in individual monitoring based on CaSO4:Dy TLD badge in India. A new algorithm has been developed by estimating the correction factor from the response of dosemeter to different beta sources at various angles of incidence. The correction factor was observed to vary linearly with the ratio of the responses of dosemeter element without filter (D3) and dosemeter element under Perspex filter (D2). The correction factor determined using the ratio of D3 and D2 was applied to the response (D3) of dosemeter element without filter for estimation of beta dose. Protocol for identification of beta in the mixed gamma beta fields was defined such that it resulted in nearly same correction factor for given beta source in both gamma beta mixed fields and pure beta fields. The beta dose evaluation algorithm has provided the beta dose estimation within the required accuracy for >90% cases obtained from national quality assurance test data from different laboratories.

Assessment of well-water quality for drinking purpose--a case study in Nari area, Nagpur District, Maharashtra (India).

The water from 20 wells of Nari area was assessed for different quality parameters. The nitrate (NO(-)3) concentration ranged from 57 to 80 ppm which is above the BIS limit while nitrite (NO(-02) concentration was within the BIS limit of 0.02 ppm. The pH of the water samples varied from 7.3 to 8.2. The concentrations of micronutrient cations, namely Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn, were below the toxic level in all the samples but some of the samples of the water had high and infinite growth of E. coli, Coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas aerugilosa, Yeast and molds count makes the well water of poor quality for drinking purpose.

Changes in soil properties due to irrigation with paper industry wastewater.

The effect of irrigation by the effluent of paper industry versus well water on properties of soils in three seasons was studied in Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The effluent had high total dissolved salts and biological oxygen demand than well water. pH, EC and availability of N, P, K, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, particularly in surface layer of paper industry effluent irrigated soil at different seasons found to increase compared to well water irrigated soils, but heavy metals (non-essential nutrients) were within the permissible limits.

Effect of sugar factory effluent on some physico-chemical properties of soils--a case study.

The effect of irrigation by sugar factory effluent (spentwash) and the well water from adjoining area has been studied in Wardha district, Maharashtra. The effluent had high TDS (422-608 mgL(-1)), COD (1152-17680 mgL(-1)) and BOD(380-650 mgL(-1)) than well water (TDS 240 mgL(-1), COD 3.8 mgL(-1) and BOD 1.2 mgL(-1)). There found some nutrients, viz. N, P, K, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn in surface layer of soil in different seasons. Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb) were found to be within the permissible limits.