RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Environmental factors play an important role in development of risk factors. Hence, the study was done to assess the neighborhood environmental factors related to NCDs in urban area. METHODOLOGY: This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among three selected wards of urban Puducherry. All shops/establishments related to the risk of NCDs within the study area were study units. Information regarding tobacco, alcohol, diet, and physical activity-related establishments was assessed using pretested semi-structured pro forma. Shops/establishments were labeled either as "favorable" (prevents the risk of NCDs) or "unfavorable" (increases the risk of NCDs). RESULTS: Among 655 establishments, 372 (56.8%) belonged to favorable and 283 (43.2%) to unfavorable category, respectively. Tobacco-related establishments amount to 15.1% (95% confidence interval: 12.6-18.1) of the total establishments. Among these tobacco establishments, almost one-third were selling tobacco to minor and located within 100 m of school. Fruits and vegetable markets contributed to 21.8% of the total establishments. About 22% of the establishments were fast-food outlets. Public health sports facilities were only 6.8% of the total establishments. CONCLUSION: The current study reported almost equal distribution of favorable and unfavorable establishments. However, among unfavorable establishments, tobacco establishments raised concern as one-third of those were selling tobacco to minors. Healthy diet and physical activity related establishments were also found to be less. Hence, corrective measures are to be implemented which will reduce the burden of behavioral risk factors.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: India is currently having a deceased donation rate of 0.05-0.08 per million population. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Programme have planned strategies to improve organ donation by creating awareness and capacity building. There is great need to assess the knowledge regarding organ donation among general population. OBJECTIVE S: Among the adult population (≥18 years) residing in urban slum of Puducherry to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding organ donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during April to May 2017 among 257 randomly selected participants in selected wards of urban Puducherry. Data regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice were collected through pretested semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) age of the study participants was 45 (15) years and majority (57%) were female, 41% of them were educated more than secondary. Almost 90% of the study participants have heard about organ donation. However, only 28% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.9-33.8) had adequate knowledge regarding organ donation. 58% (95% CI: 51.5-63.5) had positive attitude toward organ donation. Practice regarding registration for organ donation was only 2.3%. Knowledge regarding organ donation was more among joint family (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86, P = 0.02) and middle socioeconomic status (OR = 2.40, P = 0.01). Positive attitude was more among those who were educated above secondary (OR = 3.47, P = 0.001) and less among Muslim/Christian religion (OR = 0.49, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Less than one-third of the study population had adequate knowledge regarding organ donation. Even though more than half of them had positive attitude toward organ donation only six individuals registered for organ donation.
