Prevalence and Factors Associated With Depression among School Going Adolescents in Bengaluru: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction:The period of adolescence involves a lot of emotional changes as it is a period of transition to adulthood demanding independence.Adolescents with depression are more likely to have anxiety, disruptive behavior disorder and substance abuse when compared to those who are not depressed. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depression among school going adolescents.and to assess the factors associated with depression among them. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among school going adolescents aged 13-16 years in the urban field practice area of a Medical College. Depression was assessed using Beck’s depression inventory (BDI). Total 896 adolescents were included in this study. Single stage cluster sampling method was done in which schools were considered as clusters and students constituted the sampling units. Schools were selected by simple random sampling technique using lottery method. Results: In this study about 45.2% of the adolescents had depressive disorder, out of which mild depression was reported among 22.2% students, 12.4% moderately depressed and 10.6% severe depression. Factors like mother’s education, lack of communication by father and mother with their children, lack of needs satisfied by the fathers of the adolescents (61.9%), father’s role in adolescents’ life (62%) and domestic violence in family (69.7%) were some of the important reasons for developing depression among adolescents. Adolescent whose parents were having conflict (69.2%) were found be depressed when compared to those adolescents whose parents had no conflicts this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression was found to be 45.2%. Finding of the study emphasizes the need for creating awareness about the early identification of behavioral changes leading to depression among adolescents by the parents and teachers. It is also important to emphasize to the parents on how their relationship and behavior towards the family affects the mental wellbeing of the adolescents

Support for children identified with acute flaccid paralysis under the global polio eradication programme in Uttar Pradesh, India: a qualitative study

Background Cases of polio in India declined after the implementation of the polio eradication programme especially in these recent years. The programme includes surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) to detect and diagnose cases of polio at early stage. Under this surveillance, over 40,000 cases of AFP are reported annually since 2007 regardless of the number of actual polio cases. Yet, not much is known about these children. We conducted a qualitative research to explore care and support for children with AFP after their diagnosis. Methods The research was conducted in a district of western Uttar Pradesh classified as high-risk area for polio. In-depth interviews with parents of children with polio (17), with non-polio AFP (9), healthcare providers (40), and key informants from community including international and government officers, religious leaders, community leaders, journalists, and academics (21) were performed. Results Minimal medicine and attention were provided at government hospitals. Therefore, most parents preferred private-practice doctors for their children with AFP. Many were visited at homes to have stool samples collected by authorities. Some were visited repetitively following the sample collection, but had difficulty in understanding the reasons for these visits that pertained no treatment. Financial burden was a common concern among all families. Many parents expressed resentment for their children's disease, notably have been affected despite receiving multiple doses of polio vaccine. Both parents and healthcare providers lacked information and knowledge, furthermore poverty minimised the access to available healthcare services. Medicines, education, and transportation means were identified as foremost needs for children with AFP and residual paralysis. Conclusions Despite the high number of children diagnosed with AFP as part of the global polio eradication programme, we found they were not provided with sufficient medical support following their diagnosis. Improvement in the quality and sufficiency of the healthcare system together with integration of AFP surveillance with other services in these underprivileged areas may serve as a key solution

Hemoglobin E syndromes in Pakistani population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hemoglobin E is an important hemoglobin variant with a worldwide distribution. A number of hemoglobinopathies have been reported from Pakistan. However a comprehensive description of hemoglobin E syndromes for the country was never made. This study aimed to describe various hemoglobin E disorders based on hematological parameters and chromatography. The sub-aim was to characterize hemoglobin E at molecular level.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a hospital based study conducted prospectively for a period of one year extending from January 1 to December 31, 2008. EDTA blood samples were analyzed for completed blood counts and hemoglobin variants through automated hematology analyzer and Bio-Rad beta thalassaemia short program respectively. Six samples were randomly selected to characterize HbE at molecular level through RFLP-PCR utilizing <it>Mnl</it>I restriction enzyme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the study period, 11403 chromatograms were analyzed and Hb E was detected in 41 (or 0.36%) samples. Different hemoglobin E syndromes identified were HbEA (n = 20 or 49%), HbE/β-thalassemia (n = 14 or 34%), HbEE (n = 6 or 15%) and HbE/HbS (n = 1 or 2%). Compound heterozygosity for HbE and beta thalassaemia was found to be the most severely affected phenotype. RFLP-PCR utilizing <it>Mnl</it>I successfully characterized HbE at molecular level in six randomly selected samples.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Various HbE phenotypes are prevalent in Pakistan with HbEA and HbE/β thalassaemia representing the most common syndromes. Chromatography cannot only successfully identify hemoglobin E but also assist in further characterization into its phenotype including compound heterozygosity. Definitive diagnosis of HbE can easily be achieved through RFLP-PCR.</p

Digital computation of currents and voltages due to lightning strokes to power system components

Presents an equivalent circuit for a lightning stroke to estimate the magnitude and waveshapes of currents and voltages on power transmission system components due to lightning strokes. Results for strokes to towers, mid-spans of overhead ground wire, ground and line conductors are presented. For these cases times to front of voltages are about 1 μs and that for currents are in the range of 8 to 10 $\mu s$. Crest currents are as high as 100 kA whereas voltages are upto 3 MV. Arrester currents can go as high as 1400 A with a front time of the order of 15 $\mu s$, while the arrester voltages are substantially rectangular lasting anywhere upto 60 $\mu s$

Estimation of Voltages and Currents Due to Lightning Strokes to Transmission Lines

This paper presents an improved equivalent circuit representation for the lightning stroke to estimate the magnitudes and waveshapes of currents and voltages through transmission system components due to lightning strokes. Results indicate that arrester currents can go as high as 130kA with a front time of the order of 15us, while the arrester potentials are substantially rectangular lasting anywhere upto 60 us. Transformer potentials are initially oscillatory exceeding the BIL. This could be dangerous. Thus, this work was successful in improving the equivalent circuit representation of the lightning stroke and highlighted interesting areas for further research

Degradation Of Metal Oxide Surge Arresters Under Simulated Natural Conditions

The degradation of metal oxide surge arresters (MOSA) under continous operating voltage (C. 0. V), with time, is a well-known fact. But the contribution of transient overvoltages in the form of lightning surges, switching surges etc. against which the arrester is used as a protection device, to the arrester degradation has not been studied much. The simulation of a situation, wherein the arrester is kept uder C.O.V and different surges are applied on it, is somewhat complex. A method for simulation of field operating conditions of an arrester in the laboratory is presented in this paper. Results of two separate degradation studies on different samples under A.C, and D.C excitations with superimposed transient stresses 9 are given. A comparison of observed data with calculated ones is also made

RF impedance studies in Ni nanocrystalline powders

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