Communication and mobilization campaigns for immunization (CMCI): need of time for strengthening Immunization services in India

After 65 years of independence India’s growth in health sector is remarkable which is result of flexibility in changes in strategies for achieving goal .Still there is not so well organized and recognizable growth in field of routine immunization. There is not much progress in strategies for communication and social mobilization; communication strategies always was major component in changing behavior of community and change in communities vaccine acceptance which help in preventing disease by improving immunization coverage. Many studies did so far indicate barriers for immunization as fear of AEFI, lack of knowledge of immunization, its benefits and information regarding where to get vaccination. These all barriers can be combined under one roof as communication and social mobilization barriers. When India had launched polio eradication program it had faced same difficulties due to cultural and social differences in India. As there were many regions where refusal and acceptance of vaccine with less coverage over booth observed, so India had revised its strategies of communication and social mobilization and implemented house to house activity through strategic approach to families with refusal and improved acceptance of polio vaccine through communication by house to house visits thus targeted intervention for improving communication and social mobilization for polio eradication initiative. India had achieved polio eradication mainly through revising its strategies for communication and mobilization. So there is urgent need for revising communication and mobilization strategies for strengthening immunization services in India. As India had shown its success through targeted intervention in strategies and we can use current polio work force available for strengthening routine immunization. As done in polio campaign we can use the targeted house to house activity strategy for identifying and planning for identified gaps in communication and mobilization for immunization. This Communication and Mobilization Campaign for Immunization (CMCI) can be planned for states with low percentage of full immunization coverage based on health survey as NHFS or AHS.

Over the counter (OTC) sell of sex enhancer drugs: an emerging public health issue in India

Background: As a result of lack of skilled service providers/doctors, there is increasing trend of over the counter (OTC) sell of medicine in India. Among these OTC drugs, sell of sex enhancer medicine is an emerging problem as these medicines are being advertised on large scale using mass media like Television, newspapers and Radio without any approval from drug controlling authority ‘Central Drugs and Standards Control Organization’. Purpose of current study was to study the trend of over the counter sell of sex enhancer drugs in India & to study health seeking behavior of patients with self-diagnosed ED in terms of self-medication.Methods: This cross-sectional study include interview schedule of 74 patients coming on 10 medical stores selected randomly in Jodhpur city in September 2013.Results: So 10% were found to buying sex enhancer drugs. Thirty eight percent among those buying sex enhancer medicines were Unmarried and 62% were married.92% buying sex enhancer medicine were Hindu and 8% were Muslim patients. Only 9.46% patients had consulted allopathic doctors and 12.16% consulted to Ayurveda Vaidya, 4.05% consulted local Quack and 8.11% consulted to friends but 66.22 % patients had not consulted anybody for Medication; but they are buying by self for self-diagnosed EDConclusions: This study therefor confirms that there is significant association between self-diagnosed ED and OTC sell of sex enhancer medicine in India. TV & newspapers, poster/banners are significantly important in providing information of sex enhancer medicines to self-diagnosed patients of ED.

Assessment of prevalence of domestic violence and mental health profile of adolescents exposed to domestic violence in an urban slum in Mumbai

Background: Domestic violence in adolescent age group with prevalence of 22.5% is a major cause for causing depression and other behavioral changes. These changes caused due to domestic violence in adolescent age group may persist or worsen in later life as adult resulting in substance abuse or criminal mentality or depression or phobias. Purpose of current study was to assess the prevalence of domestic violence among the adolescents and to compare the mental health in terms of behavior, self-identity & depression among those with and without domestic violence and assessment of the contributory factors fueling domestic violence in the family.Methods: The study was conducted in Cheetah camp, an urban slum of Mumbai during Jan-March, 13. Study population includes subjects aged from 15-19 years fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria, a sample size of 74 (99% CL) was derived, using EPI Info software. Subjects were selected by random sampling & 7 households were visited for data collection from each sector. Scales such as AAMR-ABS, Hamilton depression scale and memory recall of the subjects were used in the study. Results: The prevalence of domestic violence in adolescence in cheetah camp urban slum was found to be 38.15% with various reasons. As the maladaptive behavior in the adolescent population increased the emotional violence against them also increased and was found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Domestic violence is a major causal factor for causing depression of varying degree from mild to severe in adolescents. This depression or behavioural changes occurred during adolescent age group may persist life long and affects their life as adult resulting in failure for social and economic growth of them and of their family.