International Journal of Contemporary Medicine

J. Venkatachalam ¹, Arun Kumar Aggarwal ², Madhu Gupta ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Community Medicine, PIMS, Pondicherry, IN
2 Institute of Medical Education and Research, IN
3 School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research,, IN

Abstract

Background: Childhood morbidity and mortality rates are high in India as compared to other Asian countries. These health indicator rates vary between states and are dependent on prevailing sociocultural factors and the health care delivery system; also both have a bearing on the health seeking behavior on community. Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) envisions that family and community health practices, especially health care-seeking behaviors, are to be improved to reduce child morbidity and mortality. So this study was carried out to ascertain the treatment seeking practices of parents of under- fives in two blocks (plain and hilly areas) of Panchkula.

Material and Method: A cross sectional study was carried out in a district of Panchkula in 2010 (July- December). Multistage random sampling was used for selection of study population. 588 parents of under-five children were interviewed by using a pretested validated questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.

Result: IMNCI was implemented in a district of Panchkula in 2007. Following which, in 2010 the treatment seeking behavior of the parents of under-five children were assessed. More than 80% of the children were shown to Health service providers (HSP) for ARI, 93% for diarrhea,92% for fever. More than 70 % of the under five children were taken to health facility in appropriate time whereas remaining 30% had primary and secondary delay. Majority (70 %) of them were taken to private health facilities. Health seeking behavior was better in hilly than plain region (P<0.005).

Conclusion: IMNCI strategy had significantly improved health seeking behavior of parents of underfive children in both the study regions but more in hilly region.

Keywords

Health Seeking Behavior, Under- Five, IMNCI

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J. Venkatachalam ¹, Anil J. Purty ¹, Zile Singh ¹, S. B. Abraham ², S. Narayanan ³, G. R. Sathya ², Natesan Bhumika ², Joy Bazroy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Community Medicine, PIMS, Puducherry,, IN
2 PG Department of Community Medicine, PIMS, Puducherry,, IN
3 Department of Physiology, PIMS, Puducherry,, IN

Abstract

Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which also bear the greatest morbidity and mortality, is rising in developing countries. Demographic and epidemiological transitions taking place in the developing countries of Asia is shifting the disease burden from communicable towards non-communicable disease. India's poor are at heightened risk of acquiring NCDs owing to high rate of smoking and tobacco use. So this paper analyses the links between socioeconomic status and non communicable diseases in rural area.

Objectives:

1. To study the prevalence of NCDs among study population.

2. To study the association between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of NCDs.

Material and Method: Cross sectional study was carried out in our field practice area of Chunampet, Kancheepuram district among 1200 consenting population who were above 20 years with the help of semi structured and pretested questionnaire. Association between NCDs risk factors and socio economic status was studied. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version.

Results: Out of 1200, 100(8.6%) of the respondents were found to have diabetes. 149(12.4%) were hypertensive, 82(6.8%) had cardiovascular diseases, 259(21.6%) were obese and 285(23.8%) were overweight. 899 (74.9%) of the study population had high salt intake in diet, 126(10.5%) were smokers, 178(14.8) consumed alcohol. Ischemic heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, high salt intake were statistically higher in lower socioeconomic group (p<0.05) than upper and also high burden was found among illiterate population than literates (p<0.005).

Conclusion: NCDs were high in lower socioeconomic groups and illiterates. Hence policy and programme should focus among these populations.

Keywords

Non-communicable Diseases, NCDs Risk Factors, Diabetes And Hypertension

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D. Dimri ¹, J. Venkatachalam ¹, Z. Singh ¹, S. Joyce ¹, Anil J. Purty ¹, Joybazroy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Community Medicine, PIMS, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

Background: Premature death is the main cause of the burden of TB, as measured in terms of DALYs lost. Besides the disease burden, TB also causes an enormous socio-economic burden to India. TB primarily affects people in their most productive years of life with important socio-economic consequences for the household and the disease is even more common among the poorest and marginalized sections of the community. Almost 70% of TB patients are aged between the ages 15 and 54 years of age. The prime cause for MDR-TB, and EXDR TB is failure to adherence to the treatment of DOTS. Poor adherence is due to insufficient knowledge, poor attitude, inadequate practices towards to tuberculosis and that leads to Treatment failure and default. So this study was planned to know about knowledge and attitude and practices in the study population.

Material and Method: A cross sectional study was carried out in Kancheepuram, a district belonging to the field practice area of RHTC-Chunampet, Department of Community Medicine. Systemic random sampling was used for selection of study population. 2005 adults were interviewed by using a pretested validated questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.

Result: Total of 2005 respondents were interviewed out of which 1196(59.7%) were females and remaining 809 (40.35) were males. Maximum (35.3%) respondents belonged to the age group of 15-30 years followed by 31-35 years age group(28.7%). Only 4.9% (98) respondents knew that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent and 13.4% (268) of the respondents knew smoking as a risk factor, 5% (100) knew that malnutrition and overcrowding as risk factor for Tuberculosis. More than half of the respondents 1092(54.5%) were aware that cough was the main symptom of tuberculosis and also they knew that fever(11.8%), loss of appetite(5%) and loss of weight(23%) as symptoms of Tuberculosis. About one fourth of the respondents knew that sputum examination is investigation of choice to diagnose TB. Majority (80%) of respondents agreed that BCG vaccination would protect against Tuberculosis. Two third of the study population knew that sputum examination is essential if cough persisted for more than two weeks. About 66% of the respondents felt that 6 months anti tuberculosis treatment was essential.

Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge about tuberculosis among study respondent Hence proper IEC &BCC was planned to increase knowledge of the community.

Keywords

Tuberculosis, Knowledge and Attitude and Practice Plasmodium Knowlesi

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J. Jayakumar ¹, J. Venkatachalam ², R. Krishnamurthy ³, G. R. Sathya ⁴, Zile Singh ², Punitha Kumary ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology and Advance Biotechnology, Govt Arts College, Nandanam, Madras University, Chennai,, IN
2 Dept of Community Medicine, PIMS, Pondicherry, IN
3 Dept. of Dept. of Zoology and Advance Biotechnology, Govt Arts College, Chennai, IN
4 Dept of Physiology, PIMS, Pondicherry, IN
5 Dept of Community Medicine,PIMS,Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

Fifth strain of human malaria is plasmodium knowlesi which is mimicking like plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Malariae. It is fatal disease in human which is common in Southeast Asia. The incubation period for P. knowlesi is about 12 days - the shortest known malaria of all the known malarias that infect humans and primates. P knowlesi has a 24 hour asexual cycle and the clinical features are Headache, fever -quotidian, chills and cold sweats, respiratory distress and it extent to renal failure, liver failure. The disease can be treated using already existing anti-malaria therapy such as mefloquine and chloroquine. Chloroquine is specifically preferred for non-complicated infections. Prevention -Stop deforestation and avoid Jungle travelling. The vector for plasmodium knowlesi is anopheles group of mosquito and the reservoir is long tailed monkeys. In Indian context the vector is present in south and northeast part of India and the reservoir is present in Nicobar Islands. There is possibility of fifth strain of human malariae in India.

Keywords

Plasmodium Knowelsi, Anopheles Leucosphyrus,Long Tailed Macaques

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