Gender Perspectives in Ear Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Delhi

Background: Ear disease in children is a major public health problem in developing countries. There has been scarcity of evidence of any gender differentials, if any exists, with ear care in the Indian context.Objective: To study the gender perspectives in ear care with regard to attitude and health-seeking behavior of caregivers of children 1–10 years of age in Delhi.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban health center situated in the north-east district of Delhi from January to March 2015. 160 caregivers of ill children aged 1–10 years who came to seek medical care in out-patient department (OPD) constituted the study population. Chi square test or Fisher’s Exact test (wherever required) was used to observe the differences between qualitative variables.Results: The study was conducted among 160 caregivers of 87 (54.4%) male children and 73 (45.6%) female children. Mean (±SD) monthly family income was INR 7637.5±1155.30. When inquired about the attitude of caregivers about playing of their child with another child who is suffering from hearing loss, 18 (20.7%) caregivers of male children perceived that their child will also suffer from hearing loss while 30 (41.1%) caregivers of female children, agreed for the same (χ2=7.87, df=1, p value=0.01).

Health Literacy Levels among Outpatients at a Tertiary Hospital in Delhi, India

Background: Health literacy is defined as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. This study was conducted to determine health literacy levels and the associated factors among patients attending the outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Delhi over a period of four months. A total of 150 patients were included in the study. Fifty patients from the Diabetes Clinics, 50 patients from Hypertension Clinics, and 50 patients with anemia from the Antenatal Outpatient Department (OPD) were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was analyzed using Epi Info software. Statistical analysis was conducted with the chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Out of 50 diabetic subjects, 37 (74%) understood the information about their blood sugar levels as explained to them by the doctor. Similar results were found among hypertensive subjects as well. Furthermore, education status was significantly associated with health literacy. In terms of understanding the regimen of medications, significant association was seen with age, sex, and education. Conclusion: Education status, age, and gender are important determinants of health literacy. Our results support that innovative strategies of communication should be used to improve health literacy among patients

Female sterilization failure, consequences and further contraception: a review of cases over ten years

Objective: To study the socio-demographic profile and etiological factors responsible for failure of tubal ligation. Their outcome and further adopted methods of contraception.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study done in a tertiary care centre from January 2009 to December 2018. All cases who came with sterilization failure were reviewed including their demographic patterns, previous methods used and the contraception choices adopted after procedural failure.Results: Over a period of ten years, out of a total of 157 cases of sterilization failure 43.33% (n=68) were laparoscopic interval ligation, 42.60% (n=67) were laparoscopic ligation with termination of pregnancy, 10.20% (n=16) were sterilization done along with lower segment cesarean section and 1.9% (n=3) were mini-laparotomy (minilap) done in postpartum period. Only 63.05% (n=99) got repeat sterilization procedure done despite previous failure. Out of 157 cases, in 50.9% (n=80) recanalization was found, tuboperitoneal fistula was responsible in 5.7% (n=9) women, slipped fallope ring was found in 5.7% (n=9) women, wrong application of fallope ring was seen in 1.9% (n=3) and 35.6% (n=56) did not opted for religation.Conclusion: Failures of sterilization procedures do exist especially in laparoscopic ligation. Counseling prior to adoption of this method, risk of failure and other noninvasive options of contraception must be discussed.

Assessment of Perception and Practices regarding Holistic Health among Medical Students

Introduction: Holistic Health is an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. Holistic Health is related to healthy diet and physical exercise, salutogenesis, health promotion, meditation, yoga, rehabilitation techniques, exercise and trauma care, biosciences in rehabilitation and prevention of diseases. Objective: To determine perception and practices regarding holistic health among medical students. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted among 150 medical students of a medical college in MP state in India. The study was conducted through a questionnaire having questions about our daily life decisions and situations, diet and emotions. All three domains of holistic health were covered i.e. body, mind and spirit and then scored accordingly to grade the level of health. Results: There were 49 males and 101 females in the study sample. The study showed that 15% of the students perceived optimal health, 23% excellent health, 32% good health, 12% fair health, 10% below average heath, and 8% poor health. None of them perceived extremely poor health. 50.0% admitted that they eat healthy diet, and 48.0% agreed that their water intake is adequate while 46.3% get at least seven to nine hours of sleep. In addition, 38.7% admitted that they suffer from increased body weight (obesity), and only 34.0% exercise frequently. Only 37.8% of students were able to meet their financial needs and desires, 56.0% admitted that their job does not utilize all of their greatest talents, and 26% agreed that they have peace of mind and tranquillity. Conclusion: The majority of college medical students have good health but at the same time, it was found that a high percentage of the students are either unaware or are ignorant about the importance of regular physical activities and suffer from increased body weight. TStudents needs to be made aware about concept of holistic health and how to achieve i

ASHA Workers and Adolescent Health: An Explorative Study

Introduction: Adolescents constitute around 1.2 billion population of the world. Despite the fact that adolescents represent almost one quarter of the Indian population, their health needs are poorly understood and ill served. ASHAs being front line workers may play a significant role in addressing adolescence health issues at community level.Objective: To assess awareness and practices of ASHA workers regarding adolescent health issues.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 1650 ASHA workers in Sonepat District of Haryana who had gathered for a training session on adolescent health. Before the session, a questionnaire in local language was distributed to assess their understanding about adolescent health issues. Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version 17). Results were presented in simple proportions and means (+SD).Results: Mean age (+SD) of ASHAs was 38.74 + 8.7 years. Maximum 1178 (71.4%) belonged to age group of 25-45 years. 1582 (95.9%) ASHAs were aware that adolescence age group was constituted by 10-19 years. 435 (26.4%) knew of anemia, 368 (22.3%) knew of vaginal discharge, 292 (17.7%) knew of menstrual problems as common problem in adolescence age group. 1297 (78.6%) reported condoms, 58 (3.5%) tubectomy, 139 (8.4%) oral pills as contraceptive methods for adolescence.Conclusion: ASHA workers should be trained adequately about adolescence health issues so that continuum of care under RMNCHA plus can be achieved. Training should provide complete knowledge about the same

Awareness and Practices of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers about Child Health: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Use of community health workers as a strategy for improving the health of individuals and communities is increasingly getting attention worldwide. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) has been introduced in National Rural Health Mission. Are they aware of what is expected from them for child health?Objective: To assess the awareness and practices of ASHA workers regarding child health.Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in north east district of Delhi among 55 ASHA workers. Data was collected using a pre tested semi-structured questionnaire that consisted of items on socio-demographic profile of ASHA workers, and knowledge and practices about child health. The data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 17.Results: Mean age of ASHAs was 31.84 + 7.2 years. Most of them were married (96.4%) and Hindu (85.5%). Fifty two (94.5%) ASHA workers knew that exclusive breastfeeding should be continued till 6 months of age. 54 (98.2%) ASHAs were aware of their role of mobilizing children for immunization and 43 (78.2%) knew about their role in counseling mothers about child nutrition. Thirty seven (67.3%) ASHA workers reported that they used to visit the newborn in their area within a week of birth. None of the ASHA workers were provided with drug kits.Conclusion: The present study showed knowledge is good in certain areas, but improvement is needed in other areas and skills and administrative support is needed to deliver child health services effectively

Effect of an Educational Booklet on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Major Depressive Disorder in Medical Students in Delhi

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting people in the world. It is also a growing concern in younger population particularly medical students. There are many pharmaceutical interventions for treatment of depression but there is paucity of data to determine the effect of educational intervention on the knowledge, attitude and help seeking behaviour regarding depression among medical students. Methods: An interventional study was carried out among randomly selected 100 medical students except interns over a period of 6 months from March-August 2011 in a medical college in Delhi to assess the effect of educational booklet on knowledge and attitude about depression. Data was collected using pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. Statistical significance in pre and post intervention proportions was determined using Mc Nemar test (MN) and for other proportions Chi-square test.Results: The study shown that only 71% of subjects knew that depression is a disease in pre intervention phase, which rose to 88% in post intervention phase (p=0.01). Knowledge of symptoms and treatment significantly improved such as trouble falling asleep or too much sleep (p=0.03), feeling tired or decreased energy (MN=17.6, p=0.01), feeling bad about self (MN=21.8, p=0.01), speaking slowly other can notice (MN=19.1, p=0.01) and can be treated by improving awareness (MN=8.6, p=0.03), and anti-depressants do not cause much of side effects (MN=17.3, p=0.01). Most common reasons for not seeking help were thinking that there is lack of understanding by other people about the depression (63%), ..

Menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in a resettlement colony of Delhi: a cross-sectional study

Background: Menarche is an important milestone in the life of a girl which signifies the onset of fertility in a woman. To understand the health consequences and importance of menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls, it is important to study the current practices about the same so that future interventions can be planned accordingly.Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional study design. A total of 85 adolescent girls (10-19 years old) were interviewed by the investigator over a period of 3 months (Jan-Mar 2015). Data were analyzed using the software SPSS version 17.Results: Out of 85 adolescent girls studied, the majority was between 15 to 19 years. In our study 71(83.5%) out of 85 adolescent girls had already started their menstruation. The mean (±SD) age of menarche in the study subjects was 11.4±5.3 years. Around 33 out of 71 (46.4%) girls practiced different restrictions during menstruation. Out of 71 (85.9%) girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. In cases of reused cloth, the place of its drying was observed, responses stated were; outside the house in sunlight in 1 (5.8%) girl, 14 (82.2%) dried them inside the house, and 2 (11.7%) girls dried them outside in a dark place.Conclusions: It is imperative to strengthen the menstrual hygiene management (MHM) programs of the country and have a greater outreach. Multiple strategies need to be used to address this such as education on reproductive health and menstruation provided in schools, media campaign’s and improving water and sanitation for improving school retention of adolescent girls and their overall health