Psycho-social dysfunction: Perceived and enacted stigma among tuberculosis patients registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

Objective: To examine the perceived and enacted stigma experienced by TB patients and the community. Methods: We interviewed 276 TB patients registered for treatment during January-March 2004 in government health facilities of two Tuberculosis Units of south India. Data on perceived and enacted stigma were collected after two months of starting treatment, using a semi-structured interview schedule. In addition, four Focus Group Discussions were conducted among Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) providers and community members. Narrative summaries were also taken down to collect additional qualitative information. Results: Of the 276 patients, 190 (69%) were males. There was no significant difference between the genders in relation to social stigma. Perceived stigma was higher than enacted stigma in both genders and significantly higher among males (Low self esteem p<0.05), change of behavior of community (p<0.05), ashamed to cough in front of others (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the social and emotional impact of the disease, it is essential to adopt support strategies to enhance acceptance and for a successful health programme

Experimental cultivation of Gracilaria edulis at Valinokkam Bay

Experimental field cultivation of the agar yielding red alga Gracilaria edulis was carried out at Valinokkam Bay from May 1992 to April 1994 at 1.5 to 3.0 m depths using 2x2 m size coir rope nets fabricated with 1" thick coir ropes and 1" thick long line coir ropes. The seedlings cultured on nets and long line ropes during May to December in 1992 and 1993 degenerated due to sedimentation and low light intensity. The growth of G. edulis seedlings from January to April during 1993 and 1994 was good and reached harvestable size of 14.4 cm and 22.9 cm (mean length) after 45 and 90 days respectively. Harvest could not be made, as many of the grown up plants were grazed by fishes. Data collected on environmental and hydrological parameters from the culture site at fortnightly interval were correlated with the growth of cultured seaweed. The result obtained in this experiment is compared with the results on the experimental field cultivation of G.edulis carried out in the near shore areas of Mandapam and lagoon of Minicoy and Lakshadwee

Feasibility of community DOT providers for tuberculosis treatment in HIV infected individuals - A pilot study

Background: This paper summarises our experiences about the role of community DOT providers in management of TB treatment in HIV infected persons in a mainly rural population of Tamilnadu. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of employing Community DOT providers for the treatment of tuberculosis in HIV infected persons, to study patients’ acceptance of Community DOT providers in the closely-knit village communities and to find out the attitude and awareness of DOT Providers on TB and DOT. Method: A total of 62 tuberculosis patients (58 males and 4 females) with HIV infection attending the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram and Chennai between July 1999 and July 2002 were selected for this study. Patients were given all the doses under supervision (clinic-based DOT) during the initial intensive phase and through Community DOT providers in the continuation phase. Data was collected both from the patients and their DOT providers about their views on DOT, advantages of DOTS, drug intake, treatment adherence, problems faced by the patients and their DOT Providers in addition to the level of awareness of Community DOT Providers on tuberculosis and DOTS. Results: Regarding treatment adherence, 95% of 62 patients had taken >75% of drugs and 39% had taken 100% drugs. DOT was appreciated both by the patients and their DOTS Providers since it is cost-effective and patient-friendly. Conclusions: Community contribution to TB care even among HIV infected population is feasible, affordable and costeffective. There is a need for greater health education and training on tuberculosis and DOTS for community DOT Providers

Seaweeds

Research works oti various aspects of seaweeds have been caried out since last five decades. They inchide resources survey, studies on distribution, Uixonomy, ecology, biology, phycocolioids, biochemicals, culture and utilisation of marine algae growing in Tamil Nadu, Kercda, Lakshadwe^p and Andaman-Nicobar Islands. Information was also gathered since 1978 on the quantity of seaweeds commercially exploited from the natural seaweed beds occurring in Tamil Nadu coast. The results obtained on these aspects are reviewed in this paper. The prospects of seaweed research, industry and utilisation in India are also briefly described

Occurrence and growth of the commercially important red algae in fish culture pond at Mandapam

The red algae Gracilaria edulis, Hypnea valenliae, Acanthophora spicifera ard Sarconema irdica have been observed to occur arrl grow in a culture pard. Ove- a period of eight month s, the algae grew to lJ4 kg in the pard of 800 sq m. The hyd rological cordilions in the porn are compared to those in the sea containing natursl beds of these algae during the periro of observations. This occurrence ard growth may open up the ,,4. possibility of growing these algae in culture pards providing the requisite hyd rological ard nutrient corditions

Seaweed resources off Tamil Nadu coast: Sector II. Alanthali - Manapad and Vembar – Nallathanni Thivu

The seaweeds are used for the production of polysaccharides such as agar, algin, carragennan and they are harvested from intertidal regions along the southeast shores of India. The resource potential from intertidal regions was estimated (Anon 1978

Seaweed resources off Tamil nadu coast, Sector - IV Kilakkarai - Rameswaram island (Dhanushkodi

Survey of the deep water area from Kilakkarai (Appa Tivu to Rameswaram Island (Dhanushkodi) was undertaken from December 1990 to January 1991 in the IV Sector survey of Deep water Seaweed Resources off Tamil Nadu coast, which formed the last phase of the survey from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari carried out during 1986-91. An area of 417 .5 sq.km. was surveyed yielding a total biomass of 18,162.5 tons (wet) seaweeds. Out of 167 stations surveyed in 13 transects, vegetation occurred only in 12 stations. Of the 29 species of marine algae recorded 8 belonged to Chlorophyta, 8 to Phaeophyta, 12 to Rhodophyta, and I to Cyanophyta, One species of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata was also recorded. Twenty species were found in estimable quantities, of which the following 8 species were abundant: Halimeda macr%ba, Spatog/ossum asperum, Zonaria crenata, Sargassum ilicijolium, Amphiroa jragilissima, Hypnea muscijormis, Botryocladia /eplOpoda and Lyngbya majuscula with a biomass of 1325, 9775, 650, 1550, 1925,300,862.5 and 1012.5 tons (wet) respectively. The species of Hypnea and Sargassum could be exploited for the manufacture of phytochemicals

Growth of Gracilaria edulis in relation to environmental factors in field cultivation

Field cultivation of Gracilaria edulis was carried out in the nearshore areas of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay near Mandapam to determine the various environmental factors which affect the growth of this agar yielding seaweed. These culture experiments were conducted in Gulf of Mannar from October to April during the years 1986-89 and in Palk Bay from April to October during the years 1987-88 when the sea was calm at both places. The epiphytes, epifauna, Low light intensity and sedimentation caused by turbulence of water and grazing by fishes were found to be the primary factors hampering the growth of cultured G. edulis. There was no good growth of G. edulis in Palk Bay during the entire period of this study. But in Gulf of Mannar the growth of G. edulis was good between November and March with maximum yield during the months December to February1 March. The suitable period for field cultivation of G. edulis in Gulf of Mannar is from December to March

Environmental factors influencing the growth of Gracilaria edulis in culture

The present investigation indicates that G. edulis can be successfully cultivated on commercial scale in the nearshore areas of Gulf of Mannar during the five months period from November to March when the sea is calm. The shallow waters near CMFRI fish farm in Palk Bay are not suitable for G. edulis cultivation as the growth of the plant was affected by various environmental factors mentioned above. The culture experiments of G. edulis conducted earlier by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in 3 - 4 m depth area at Palk Bay near CMFRI fish farm showed good growth of plants as there was less sedimentation, fouling organisms and predators. Hence G. edulis could be cultivated in deep waters in Palk Bay side and attempts may also be made to culture G. edulis in shallow waters at other areas of Palk Bay in order to select the suitable culture sites and period of good growth