Dynamics of contraceptive use among women attending multi-speciality hospital in Faridabad district of Haryana

Background: Population of India is growing at a very fast rate while its resources are limited which will lead to decrease in per capita availability of resources. Contraceptive methods are the simplest way to address this issue of population explosion by preventing the unwanted pregnancies. The objective of this study was to assess awareness and practices regarding contraceptive use and its determinants among women attending gynecology OPD of multi-specialty hospital in Faridabad district of Haryana.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned among 200 patients from gynecology OPD in a multi-specialty hospital of Faridabad district of Haryana. The questionnaire consisted of questions about socio-demographic data and data related contractive awareness and practices. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 21.0.Results: Mean age of study subjects was 29.4±4.3 years. Out of 200 participants, about one fourth (77.5%) were aware about contraception and more than half (59.5%) of them were using contraception methods. Factors like age and education status, occupation and area of residence were found to be statistically significantly (p<0.001) associated with contraception knowledge and practice. Barrier method was most common method of contraception followed by Oral contraceptive pills.Conclusions: This study concludes that knowledge about contraception was high as about one fourth (77.5%) were aware about contraception while practice of contraception was relatively low as compare to knowledge as two fifth (40.5%) of them were not using any contraception methods. So, there is a need to increase awareness about importance of contraception practice among study population

Tobacco smoking habits and nicotine dependence among the college students of University of Delhi, India

Background: According to the report on tobacco control in India, tobacco use causes eight to nine lakh deaths annually in India. Tobacco use is on the rise among youngsters especially the college students. The Government of India has made a mandatory display of pictorial health warnings for both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco products under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Product Act, 2003. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of tobacco smoking and to assess nicotine dependence among the college students of the University of Delhi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 college students of Delhi University from October to December 2019. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire method was used to collect data on smoking; pictorial warnings and Fragerstrom criteria were used to assess nicotine dependence. Result: Out of the 400 study participants 92 (23%) participants were ever smokers. Among 62 current smokers, the mean age (±SD) of initiation of smoking was 17.3 years (±2.07), median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of cigarettes smoked per day was 3 (2–6), a majority (80.7%) used to smoke after 30 min of waking up in the morning, majority (59.7%) had low nicotine dependence. About half of the past smokers 47% (14 out of 30) and the current smokers 58% (36 out of 62) told that they had no effect of pictorial warning for quitting or decreasing smoking. Conclusion: The present study revealed the tobacco smoking pattern among college students of Delhi. The majority of smokers and non-smokers perceived that pictorial warning is ineffective in driving to quit smoking

Comparative evaluation of marginal accuracy of different provisional restorative materials fabricated by direct technique: An in vitro study

Objective: The most essential requirement of a provisional crown is an adequate marginal fit which is necessary for maintaining optimal periodontal health and protect the tooth from physical, chemical, thermal, and bacterial injuries. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the vertical marginal accuracy of provisional crown materials using four different material systems (Autopolymerized PMMA powder-liquid system, light-activated UD single paste system, chemically activated Bis-GMA two paste auto mix system and dual cure polymerized resin two paste auto mix system) using a direct technique. Materials and Methods: Two customized stainless-steel dies, simulating prepared and unprepared tooth were used to fabricated a total no. of 48 provisional crowns. A vacuum-formed polypropylene sheet was used as a matrix. Twelve crowns, each of the four material systems used in the study (n = 12 × 4) were fabricated using the direct technique. The vertical marginal accuracy was analyzed by using stereomicroscope 20X magnification at four different points.&nbsp

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose-response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15-95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15-39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0-0) and 0.603 (0.400-1.00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0.002 (0-0) and 1.75 (0.698-4.30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0.114 (0-0.403) to 1.87 (0.500-3.30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0.193 (0-0.900) and 6.94 (3.40-8.30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59.1% (54.3-65.4) were aged 15-39 years and 76.9% (73.0-81.3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background: The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods: For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings: The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation: There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation