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October-December 2007 Volume 32 | Issue 4
Page Nos. 239-307
Online since Thursday, December 27, 2007
Accessed 127,369 times.
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EDITORIAL |
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Strengthening research in community medicine |
p. 239 |
Anton N Isaacs DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37684 |
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CME |
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Ex-servicemen contributory health scheme |
p. 241 |
BS Deswal, Rakhi Dhawan DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37685 |
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VIEW POINT |
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Do we really need to shift to pedestal type of latrines in India? |
p. 243 |
Amarjeet Singh DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37686 |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
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A study on performance, response and outcome of treatment under RNTCP in a tuberculosis unit of Howrah district, West Bengal |
p. 245 |
Sukamal Bisoi, Amitabha Sarkar, Sharmila Mallik, Anima Haldar, Dibakar Haldar DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37687 Objectives: To evaluate the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) through assessment of performance, response and outcome of treatment of patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Materials and Methods: In Domjur Tuberculosis Unit of Howrah district, West Bengal. Two hundred and eighty-six cases registered in the first two quarters (1 January to 30 June 2001) were selected for the study. Data were collected by review of records from all peripheral health units with a pre-designed and pre-tested schedule. Results: Sputum-positive among chest symptomatic were 89 (11.5%). Overall 78.3% were new cases and among them 67.1% were pulmonary, 48.4% were sputum-positive among new pulmonary cases detected. Sputum conversion rate of new sputum-positive cases at 2 or 3 months was 74.2%. Cure rate for new sputum-positive pulmonary TB cases was 53.8% and out of all smear-positive cases was 56.5%. Default among new smear-positive cases was 24.7%. Conclusion: Low sputum conversion rate after intensive phase of treatment, high defaulter rate and low cure rate among new sputum-positive cases in comparison to RNTCP norm have been reflected in this study. |
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Evaluation of operational efficiency of the national anti-malaria program in "High-Risk" rural areas of Vadodara district |
p. 249 |
DM Solanki, Shobha Misra DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37688 Background: Malaria was and is a major scourge in India contributing more than three-fourths of the total cases in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. Malaria is largely infl uenced by the local environmental conditions but can be kept in check if the operational implementation of the National Antimalaria Program: (NAMP) is effective. Keeping in mind the context of the situation in Gujarat, there was an urgent need to carry out a study to assess the operational aspects of the ongoing malaria control program. Objectives: To assess the operational aspects of NAMP in "highrisk" areas of rural Vadodara, seeking bottlenecks and possible correlation to the malaria situation in those areas. Materials and Methods: From 269 "high-risk" villages, 20 villages were selected randomly from 10 Talukas. 40 slide (smear-)-negative, 19 slide (smear-)-positive, 10 laboratory technicians, 10 MultiPurpose Workers (MPW) Supervisors and 18 MultiPurpose (MPW) and 18 Voluntary Workers were interviewed. The performance of the malaria clinic and the NAMP staff was evaluated using a point system. Results and Conclusions: The monthly blood examination rate (MBER) targets could not be achieved in 8 out of 10 primary health centers (PHCs) by active surveillance workers (AS) workers. The mean time interval between blood smear collection (BSC) and its receipt in the laboratory was 7.1 days. 46% of smear-negative patients having received presumptive treatment (PT) and 22% of smear-positive patients receiving radical treatment (RT) were supervised. Administration of "adequate" presumptive treatment and radical treatment to the above two sets of individuals was 65% and 58% respectively. Overall, the performance of 50% of malaria clinics and 94% of villages was poor to average. The study has found enough evidence to conclude that there were lapses in the operation of the NAMP. |
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A study of health problems and loneliness among the elderly in Chandigarh  |
p. 255 |
SPS Bhatia, HM Swami, JS Thakur, V Bhatia DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37689 Research Question: What are the health-related problems of the aged and why do they feel lonely? Objective: To study the health-related problems and loneliness among the elderly in different micro-environment groups. Participants: Aged persons of age 65 years and above. Setting: Urban and rural area of Chandigarh. Design: Cross-sectional. Statistical Analysis: t-test and Z test. Results: During the study, it was found that out of the total 361 aged persons of Chandigarh, 311 (86.1%) persons reported one or more health-related complaints, with an average of two illnesses. The illness was higher among the females (59.5%) as compared to males (40.5%). The main health-related problems were disorders of the circulatory system (51.2%), musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (45.7%). It was also found that loneliness was prevalent more in females (72.8%) as compared to males (65.6%). Loneliness was more prevalent among persons who lived alone (92.2%) as compared to those who lived with their spouse (58.9%) or when husband and wife lived with the family (61.4%). It was higher among the widows (85.2%) and widowers (75.8%) who lived with the family as compared to the aged who lived with the spouse (58.9%) and the aged husband and wife who lived with the family (61.4%). Conclusion: Special geriatric services should be started in the hospitals as the majority of the aged have one or more health-related problems. The aged persons should be involved in social activities to avoid loneliness among them. |
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Investigating causes of perinatal mortality by verbal autopsy in Maharashtra, India |
p. 259 |
Ragini Kulkarni, Sanjay Chauhan, Bela Shah, Geetha Menon, Chander Puri DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37690 Objective: To investigate the causes and contributory factors of perinatal mortality by verbal autopsy in Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: Rural and urban areas in six districts in Maharashtra were selected by Probability proportional to size sampling. Verbal autopsies for perinatal deaths were conducted using standard tools and by visiting households; cause of death was assigned according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 using a standard algorithm. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS-11 version software. Results: A total of 83 perinatal deaths (31 stillbirths and 52 early neonatal deaths) were investigated out of which cause of death for perinatal deaths could be assigned in 96.4% deaths. The leading causes of perinatal deaths were prematurity (19.3%) and complications of placenta, cord and membranes (12.9%) among stillbirths, while low birth weight (36%) and prematurity (26%) accounted for early neonatal deaths |
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Effect of maternal factors on nutritional status of 1-5-year-old children in urban slum population  |
p. 264 |
A Mittal, J Singh, SK Ahluwalia DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37691 Objective: To study the effect of various maternal factors on the prevalence of underweight and stunting among 1-5-year-old children in urban slum population. Design: Cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in three urban slums of Tripuri Town, Patiala. All 1-5-year children living in these slums were included, whose mother's demographic profile, weight and height were recorded. Results: Out of 482 children who participated in the study, 185 (38.38%) had low weight for age whereas 222 (46.06%) had low height for age. Both kinds of malnutrition were common in females than in males. Prevalence of malnutrition was more where mother's age was less than 20 years. Children of educated mothers were better nourished as compared to illiterate ones. Conclusion: Maternal factors significantly affect a child's nutritional status, thus encouraging the improvement in the social status of women so as to have healthy children and thereby a healthy future. |
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A comparative study of air pollution-related morbidity among exposed population of Delhi |
p. 268 |
A Sagar, M Bhattacharya, Vinod Joon DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37692 Background: Vehicular pollution is increasing in Indian cities, which may lead to increased number of patients with diseases related to air pollution. Present study was undertaken to assess the pattern of morbidity in two areas of Delhi, one highly polluted area (HPA) and the other low polluted area (LPA). Materials and Methods: Subjects were interviewed regarding socioeconomic status and exposure history. Symptoms during the last month were recorded in a questionnaire and weight, height and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured. Air pollution data were obtained from the monitoring stations of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Results: A total of 640 subjects participated in the study. Majority of the patients in both the areas were educated till primary but 24% in HPA and 13% in LPA were graduates. Current levels of all pollutants (except SO2 and NOx) were above the safety levels prescribed by CPCB in both the areas, but the values were much higher in HPA. The values of PEFR amongst study population were more compromised in HPA. The difference in mean PEFR values among the populations in LPA and HPA were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean number of symptoms experienced by subjects of HPA was more as compared to LPA (P < 0.05). Frequency of occurrence of symptoms varied with duration of stay in the study area. Children were affected more than the adults. Conclusion: Air pollution has a deleterious effect on various systems of the body. |
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Dietary intake in third trimester of pregnancy and prevalence of LBW: A community-based study in a rural area of Haryana |
p. 272 |
BT Rao, Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Rajesh Kumar DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37693 Objectives: (1) To assess the magnitude of the problem of low birth weight (LBW) in a rural area of Haryana (2) To study the association of caloric and protein intake in third trimester of pregnancy with birth weight. Study Design: Longitudinal study. Sample Size: One hundred and forty pregnant women. Study Area: Ten purposively selected villages in the rural area of Naraingarh block in Haryana. Study Tool and Data Collection: Pre-tested questionnaire was administered to record information regarding socioeconomic status, antenatal care, nature of physical activity and dietary intake in 24 h between September 2001 and August 2002. Data Analysis: For categorical variables, Chi-square test was used, and for numerical variables, t-test was used. Multivariate analysis was done for variables that were significant in bivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of low birth weight (less than 2500 g) was 24.3% (95% CI 17.4-32.2%). The mean caloric intake during three dietary assessments was 1695 ± 182.8 kcal. The mean protein intake during three dietary assessments was 50.8 ± 9.27 g. The higher prevalence of LBW babies was observed in pregnant women with mean caloric intake of less than 1500 kcal and mean protein intake of less than 40 g (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the association of caloric intake (P < 0.01) and weight of the mother (P = 0.02) was independently associated with LBW. Conclusions: Low caloric intake in the third trimester of pregnancy and maternal weight are significantly associated with the birth weight of babies. |
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SHORT ARTICLES |
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Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of infectious hepatitis in Dakor town |
p. 277 |
A Bhagyalaxmi, M Gadhvi, BS Bhavsar DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37694 |
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Disclosure among people living with HIV/AIDS |
p. 280 |
Pranita Taraphdar, Aparajita Dasgupta, B Saha DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37695 |
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Knowledge and practice of oral polio vaccine-vaccine vial monitor among health personnel in India |
p. 283 |
Kamlesh Joshi, JS Thakur, Amarjeet Singh DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37696 |
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Chikungunya fever outbreak in Vellore, South India |
p. 286 |
TS Selvavinayagam DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37697 |
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Prevalence of HIV infection among patients of pulmonary tuberculosis attending chest diseases hospital, Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) |
p. 288 |
R Bahl, B Singh, R Singh DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37698 |
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Treatment seeking behavior of mentally ill patients in a rural area: A cross-sectional study |
p. 290 |
Pragya Sharma, AK Vohra, H Khurana DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37699 |
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Disease characteristics and treatment outcome in elderly tuberculosis patients on DOTS |
p. 292 |
Geeta Pardeshi, Dilip Deshmukh DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37700 |
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Access to quantity and quality water: Problems perceived by residents of village Palwa in Ujjain district |
p. 295 |
Kirti Deshpande, Rakesh Kakkar, Vishal Diwan DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37701 |
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Prevalence of stigmatizing attitude among urban middle class in Maharashtra: Implications for HIV/AIDS education strategy |
p. 297 |
Aarti Kaulagekar, Amruta Godbole DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37702 |
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Study on knowledge, attitude and practices regarding gender preference and female feticide among pregnant women |
p. 300 |
BN Vadera, UK Joshi, SV Unadakat, BS Yadav, Sudha Yadav DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37703 |
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Self-reported prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in an urban area of Chandigarh city |
p. 302 |
Sitanshu Sekhar Kar, JS Thakur DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37704 |
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LETTERS TO EDITOR |
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A cross-sectional study of the profile and percentage of institutional deliveries among currently married women of 15-45-year
age group in the villages of Veerapandi panchayat union of Salem district, Tamil Nadu |
p. 304 |
C Kannan DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37705 |
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District public health services: Cost-benefit analysis |
p. 305 |
C Kannan DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37706 |
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Morbidity pattern among prisoners of central jail, Hindalga, Belgaum, Karnataka |
p. 307 |
Asha A Bellad, Vijaya A Naik, MD Mallapur DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.37707 |
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