A cross-sectional study on self-medication practice and attitude towards self-medication among medical students of GMERS Medical College, Valsad

Background: Self-medication is becoming a most prevalent practice among educated people across the world. In today’s era, internet and media is one of the most important sources for promoting self-medication practice. Medical students are highly influenced with this practice as their future medical preference and the fact that medical students find themselves having more knowledge about drugs this may lead to irrational usage of drugs. Aim and Objectives of the study were conducted to know the 1. Self-medication practices among medical students 2. Common, indications and reasons for self-medication practice. 3.Attitude of medical students towards self-medication practice.Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of GMERS Medical College Valsad. The study was carried out in the months of October to December 2017. Medical students of first and final year MBBS participated voluntarily in this study after being briefed in detail about the goals & method of the study.Results: In this study, 91.50% of medical students were practiced self-medication. The common indication for self-medication was fever (76.50%) and cough (75.96%). Acquaintances (67.76%) are main source of information for self-medication. Common reasons they know the medicine (78.14%) and previous exposure (64.48%). 12.5% student perceived self-medication is harmless and 21.0% of medical students advise other to take self-medication.Conclusions: It was concluded that more than half of strength of students practice self-medication for various illnesses; the reason might be the awareness of drugs due to easy accessibility of information through books, internet as well as availability of medicine without prescription from pharmacist. So, essential measure should be taken to reduce the practice of self-medication among students to avoid development of drug dependence, resistance and drug interactions

A cross sectional study on menstruation and menstrual hygiene among medical students of Valsad, Gujarat

Background: In many developing countries, a culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and menstruation related issues, as results many young girls lack appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual period So, Good hygienic practices such as the use of sanitary pads and adequate washing of genital area are essential during menstruation.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among medical students of GMERS Medical College, Valsad. A total 203 girls of first, second and third MBBS medical students between age group of 16-22 years were participated in this study. Data was collected by using pre-designed, pre-tested Questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed by using Microsoft excel 2010 and appropriate statistical test were applied.Results: Out of 203 Girls 84.24% girls had knowledge about menstruation before they experienced first menstruation (menarche) and Mother was found to be the main source of information. Mean age of menarche was 14.5 years.  86.70% girls use sanitary napkins where as 13.3% girls use clothes and reuse them. Most of the girls perceive that sanitary napkin is comfortable and cause adequate absorption but having disadvantage of an expensive and not being easily available at all places.Conclusions: Menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for all adolescent girls as it related with health consequences. More number of girls in the urban area was using commercially available sanitary pads as compare to the rural girls. To improve the menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls sanitary napkins should be made universally available at affordable price

Characteristics of Fatal Cases of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) from September 2009 to January 2010 in Saurashtra Region, India

Background: India reported first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in May, 2009 and Saurashtra region in August, 2009. We describe the characteristics of fatal cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection reported in Saurashtra region. Methods: From September, 2009 to January, 2010, we observed 71 fatal cases that were infected with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and admitted in different hospitals in Rajkot city. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm infection; the clinico-epidemiological features were observed and documented. Results: Median age of the deceased (71) was 29 years, and 57.7% were females. Median time observed was 5 days from onset of illness to diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1), and 57.7% were referred from general practitioner (OR=0.42, CI=0.24-0.74). Median hospital stay reported was 3 days. All admitted patients received oseltamivir, but only 16.9% received it within 2 days of onset of illness. The most common symptoms were cough (97.2%), fever (93%), sore throat and shortness of breath. Co-morbid conditions were present in almost half of the patients who ultimately died, the most common of which was pregnancy (OR=0.15, CI=0.04-0.52). Radiological pneumonia was reported in 98% patients. Conclusion: Residing in urban area, delayed referral from general practitioner, presence of co-existing condition, especially pregnancy was responsible for mortality among influenza A (H1N1) infected positive

Title of article: a cross sectional study on menstruation and menstrual hygiene among medical students of Valsad, Gujarat

Background: In many developing countries, a culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and menstruation related issues, as results many young girls lack appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual period So, Good hygienic practices such as the use of sanitary pads and adequate washing of genital area are essential during menstruation.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among medical students of GMERS Medical College, Valsad. A total 203 girls of first, second and third MBBS medical students between age group of 16-22 years were participated in this study. Data was collected by using pre-designed, pre-tested Questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed by using Microsoft excel 2010 and appropriate statistical test were applied.Results: Out of 203 Girls 84.24% girls had knowledge about menstruation before they experienced first menstruation (menarche) and Mother was found to be the main source of information. Mean age of menarche was 14.5 years.  86.70% girls use sanitary napkins where as 13.3% girls use clothes and reuse them. Most of the girls perceive that sanitary napkin is comfortable and cause adequate absorption but having disadvantage of an expensive and not being easily available at all places.Conclusions: Menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for all adolescent girls as it related with health consequences. More number of girls in the urban area was using commercially available sanitary pads as compare to the rural girls. To improve the menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls sanitary napkins should be made universally available at affordable price

A two wave comparison of characteristics of hospitalized patients with severe and non-severe pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (H1N1pdm09) in Saurashtra Region, India

Objective: The primary objective of the following study was to determine and secondarily to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized patients with severe and non-severe pandemic influenza A (H1N1) during two waves from September 2009 to January 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 274 cases were hospitalized during the first wave from September 2009 to March 2010 and from June 2010 to February 2011, 237 cases hospitalized in different hospitals of Rajkot during the second wave. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction testing was used to confirm infection. Two wave′s comparison was made for factors associated with disease severity. Results: During the first wave 87 (31.8%) patients had severe disease with mortality of 81.6% while during the second wave there were 53 (22.36%) patients having severe disease with higher mortality (94.3%) than the first wave. There were more children up to 15 years of age that required intensive care during the second wave (30.2%) compared to the first wave (20.7%). First wave reported more females and cases from an urban area. Presence of co-existing condition, especially pregnancy was a significant risk factor during the first wave, but not during the second wave. All patients have received antiviral drug oseltamivir during both waves. During the second wave, 39.6% of patients with severe cases received it within 2 days of onset of illness. This was higher than the first wave (19.5%). Conclusion: Higher mortality was reported during the second wave of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (H1N1pdm09). There were more cases among the younger age group than adults during the second wave

Apple Fruit Quality Identification using Clustering

An apples a day keeps doctor away" this proverb gives us important of apple in our healthy life. Apples fruit is consist of plenty of nutrition's therefore, doctors are always prefer to advice to eat the apple in most of the diseases. Hence, there is a huge demand of apples in market. To fulfill this demands suppliers need to provide the good quality fruit. There is a need of quality fruits in market. In this work studied various types of apples quality by using clustering approach. Comparative analysis is performed and given results are much better as compare to earlier work