A Study of Stress among Students of Professional Colleges from an Urban area in India

Objectives: Various studies across the globe have emphasised that students undertaking professional courses, such as medical and dental studies, are subjected to higher stress. Excessive stress could lead to psychological problems like depression and anxiety. The objective of the current study was to assess stress among students of various professional colleges and its association with various academic, social and health-related factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2011 to February 2012 among students of medical, dental and engineering colleges from the urban area of Sangli district, Maharashtra, India, using a convenience sampling technique. The calculated total sample size was 1,200. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Analysis was done using percentage, the chi-square test, binary logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Out of the 1,224 respondents, 299 (24.4%) experienced stress. Among them 115 (38.5%), 102 (34.1%) and 82 (27.4%) were dental, medical and engineering students, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between stress and the field of education. Stress was observed in 187 (27.7%) females and 112 (20.4%) males; the association with gender was statistically significant. By applying binary logistic regression, medical studies, health and lifestyle factors, and academic factors were the significant predictors for stress. Conclusion: Students from all the three fields studied were exposed to stress. Academic factors were one of the most important stressors. The introduction of stress management education into the curriculum could prove useful in combatting this problem

A cross-sectional study of correlation of body image anxiety with social phobia and their association with depression in the adolescents from a rural area of Sangli district in India

Background: Prevailing socio-cultural influences lead females to desire a thin body and males a muscular body, especially in adolescents. This results in body image anxiety which may lead to social phobia. Together they can develop depression. The aim was to study the correlation of body image anxiety with social phobia and their association with depression, among adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in randomly selected colleges from a rural area of Sangli district Maharashtra, India. Stratified random sampling technique used with sample size 805. Pretested self-administered questionnaire used. Percentage, Chi-square test, binary logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of 997 study subjects body image anxiety, social phobia and depression were observed in 232 (23.3%), 193 (19.4%) and 326 (32.7%) participants, respectively. Binary logistic regression showed that body image anxiety (OR = 1.849 [1.22, 2.804]; P = 0.004) and social phobia (OR = 4.575 [2.952-7.09]; P < 0.001) were significant predictors for depression. Conclusions: Body image anxiety and social phobia are linked with the development of depression. This impresses the need for timely counseling and education among adolescents

Knowledge about diabetes and relationship between compliance to the management among the diabetic patients from Rural Area of Sangli District, Maharashtra, India

Introduction: Diabetes is an important public health problem of India. Studies have shown that increase in patients′ knowledge regarding the disease results in better compliance to treatment and decrease in complications. This study was planned to assess the knowledge about diabetes and its correlation with pharmacological and non-pharmacological compliance, among the diabetic patients attending rural health center from Sangli District, Maharashtra (India). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted during September to November 2014. The study subjects were all willing adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus attending a selected rural hospital. The study tool was pretested and self-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and SPSS-22. Results: Total study participants were 307 in number, with the mean age of 55.6 years. The mean morbidity with diabetes was 10.7 years. Only 23.8% had good knowledge regarding diabetes, while 19.2% participants had poor knowledge. Knowledge was significantly associated with the compliance to the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Conclusion: Although most of the patients were suffering with diabetes for many years there is lack of knowledge regarding the disease and self care. The compliance to the management of diabetes was better in patients with good knowledge. Seminars, counseling sessions and workshop should be arranged periodically for diabetic patients to increase their awareness

The prevalence and health impact of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers

Context: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is common among farmers as agriculture work is highly physically demanding. India's 54.6% of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. There is a need for accurate measurement and assessment of the impact of musculoskeletal conditions for public health action. Hence, in order to obtain prevalence and health impact of these problems as well as to evoke interest of researchers in this area, this study was conducted. Aim: To study the prevalence and health impact of MSD among farmers. Subjects and Methods: Study settings: Village from Sangli district. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study. Study subjects: Farmers of both sexes. Exclusion criteria: Farmers having history of arthritis or having MSD due to accidents. Sample size and sampling technique: Calculated sample 1150 from randomly selected village. Study tools: (a) Pro forma developed by investigator, (b) Modified Nordic Questionnaire, and (c) Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequencies, percentages, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis was done with the help of SPSS software. Results: A total of 964 (83.8%) farmers experienced MSD in the last 1 year. Knee was the most commonly affected body part. Weeding with squatting position was most common posture. MSDs were significantly associated with age, addiction, and associated diseases. Binary logistic regression analysis concluded age, weight, height, and body mass index as strong predictors of MSD. Duration of disability as a result of MSD ranged from 1 to 190 days. Mean expenditure on medication was Rs. 3040.82. Conclusions: Prevalence of MSDs in farmers was high. MSDs had affected farmers adversely in terms of long disability days resulting into economic loss in terms of failure to work to earn and expenditure on treatment

Parental Use of Antibiotics as Self Medication to Their School Going Children: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics constitutes a major form of irrational use of medicine and it is associated with risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Parents many times use antibiotics as self medication for their children which is hazardous. There is a need to find out such practices if they are happening. Aim and Objectives: to find out the prevalence and practices of antibiotics use as self medication in children amongst the parents and reasons for the same. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Schools from Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Corporation area were the study place. Parents of primary and secondary school students were the study subjects. The sample size was 1407. Cluster sampling method was used. The study duration was of 6 months. The questionnaire was used as a study tool. Results: The prevalence of non prescriptional parental use of antibiotic for school going children was 22.8%. Most common symptom treated was runny nose (41.43%). Majority parents (35.51%) selected antibiotic by using their own experience. Commonest reason was 'convenience' (27.72%). Gender and type of family are the strong predictors for self-medication with antibiotic for children. Conclusion: Parental use of non prescribed antibiotic was high. Risk for parental use of self medication was high with nuclear families and mothers

Letter to the Editor

Background Adolescents account for nearly one fifth of the world’s population. Anaemia in this group attributes to high maternal mortality, high incidence of low-birth weight babies, high perinatal mortality and foetal wastage and consequent high fertility rates. An interventional study was carried out to ascertain the impact of three months iron supplementation along with deworming & health education on anaemic adolescent girls in rural area Method The study was conducted at one of the residential school in rural India. All the residential girls of this school (total 209) included in the study. Their haemoglobin status was done and all anaemic girls were treated with 100 mg of Mebendazole two times a day for 3 days. Then all these anaemic girls were randomly allocated in experimental group & control group using random number table. The experimental group was supplemented with 100 mg of iron and 0.5mg of folic acid per day for a period of 3 months. No supplements were given to the control group. For both control & experimental groups, health education regarding anaemia & personal hygiene was given Results Overall prevalence of anaemia in present study was 51.67 %.After 3 months of iron supplementation, mean haemoglobin level in experimental group was increased from 8.93 gm% to 12.51 gm %.( z = 11.5,p < 0.01) .Among control group also there was significant increase in mean haemoglobin status from 8.78 gm% to 9.49 gm %.( z = 2.08, p< 0.05). Conclusion The study proves that anaemia is a very high magnitude of problem in adolescent girls. There is need for anaemia prophylaxis measures for adolescent girls in India including nutrition education in schools. This prophylaxis should be along with periodic deworming. Word count: [2588] Figures and Tables: [4

Reported incidence and risk factors of childhood pneumonia in India: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Pneumonia is responsible for high morbidity and mortality amongst children under five year of age. India accounts for one-third of the total WHO South East Asia burden of under-five mortality. There is a paucity of epidemiological studies indicating the true burden of pneumonia. Identification of the risk factors associated with pneumonia will help to effectively plan and implement the preventive measures for its reduction. Methods It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 16 randomly selected clusters in two districts of Maharashtra state, India. All mothers of under-five children in the selected clusters were included. A validated pretested interview schedule was filled by trained field supervisors through the house to house visits.WHO definition was used to define and classify clinical pneumonia. Height and weight of children were taken as per standard guidelines. Quality checks for data collection were done by the site investigators and critical and noncritical fields in the questionnaire were monitored during data entry. For continuous variables mean and SD were calculated. Chi-square test was applied to determine the association between the variables. Level of significance was considered at 0.05. Results There were 3671 under five-year children, 2929 mothers in 10,929 households.Unclean fuel usage was found in 15.1% of households. Mean birth weight was 2.6 kg (SD;0.61). Exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age was practiced by 46% of mothers. Reported incidence of ARI was 0.49 per child per month and the reported incidence of pneumonia was 0.075 per child per year. It was not associated with any of the housing environment factors (p > 0.05) but was found to be associated with partial immunization (p < 0.05). Poor practices related to child feeding, hand hygiene and poor knowledge related to signs and symptoms of pneumonia amongst mother were found. Conclusions Very low incidence of pneumonia was observed in Pune and Sangli districts of Maharashtra. Partial immunization emerged as a most important risk factor. Reasons for low incidence and lack of association of pneumonia with known risk factors may be a better literacy rate among mothers and better immunization coverage. Trial registration Registration number of the trial- CTRI/2017/12/010881; date of registration-14/12/2017

Model package of Behavioral Change Communication regarding childhood pneumonia and its risk factors: a pre-post assessment

Background: Many risk factors contribute to high morbidity and mortality due to childhood pneumonia. Mostly the risk factors are modifiable and related to behavior. Imparting knowledge to mothers about risk factors, early recognition of danger signs and importance of timely seeking health care is an accepted strategy for control. Aims &amp; Objectives: To assess improvement in knowledge and perceptions about childhood pneumonia, risk factors and hand washing skills among mothers after sequential use of different media. Materials &amp; Methods: This community based, pre and post assessment study was conducted in eight randomly clusters from two districts. Specially field supervisors assessed mothers for their ‘knowledge’, ‘perceptions’ and ‘skills’ about nutrition including breast feeding and malnutrition, indoor pollution, pneumonia and hand washing. Knowledge was assessed pertaining to all four aspects, perception was assessed for first three and skills were assessed only for hand washing. Three rounds of BCC using pictorial booklet, audio-visual film and flash cards consequently were completed, spread over about one year. Marks pertaining knowledge, perceptions about risk factors of childhood pneumonia and hand washing skills etc. were separately measured. Results: A total of 1,321 mothers participated. The mean pre-test marks were 22.31 out of 38 marks which significantly improved and retained to 35.24 after undergoing three BCC rounds. Highly significant improvements, 2.27 times in hand washing skills to 1.15 times for knowledge about indoor air pollution was observed. Conclusions: Consecutive use of different media at appropriate interval spread over a long period certainly yields desired results at diverse places