Psychosocial Maladjustments among Adolescent School Students in Delhi, India

Background: Accumulating evidences are showing that strengthening protective psychosocial factors in adolescents make important contributions in improving developmental outcomes. Hence the present study was conducted to study the psychosocial maladjustments and their determinants among adolescent school students in Delhi, India.Materials and methods: Questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted from February 2013 to September 2013 in four schools in South Delhi. All students studying in class 11 and 12 were included. Complete enumeration of the study subjects was done. Pareek’s Pre Adolescent Adjustment Scale (PAAS) was used to find psychosocial maladjustments among adolescent school students in five psychosocial domains (Home, School, Teachers, Peers and General). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.Results: The prevalence of home, school, teacher, peer and general psychosocial maladjustment were found to be 12.6%, 13.2%, 13.4%, 18.9% and 31.5% respectively. The risk of psychosocial maladjustment in all psychosocial domains was found to be higher among males, students studying in class twelve and belonging to lower socio-economic class. Conclusion: The study has revealed that psychosocial maladjustment in different psychosocial domains is present among adolescent school students in Delhi. This demands behavioral interventions in several psychosocial environments like home, school, peers and public places

A study of visual and musculoskeletal health disorders among computer professionals in NCR Delhi

<b>Objective:</b> To study the prevalence of health disorders among computer professionals and its association with working environment conditions. <b> Study design:</b> Cross sectional. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> A sample size of 200 computer professionals, from Delhi and NCR which included software developers, call centre workers, and data entry workers. <b> Result:</b> The prevalence of visual problems in the study group was 76&#x0025; (152/200), and musculoskeletal problems were reported by 76.5&#x0025; (153/200). It was found that there was a gradual increase in visual complaints as the number of hours spent for working on computers daily increased and the same relation was found to be true for musculoskeletal problems as well. Visual problems were less in persons using antiglare screen, and those with adequate lighting in the room. Musculoskeletal problems were found to be significantly lesser among those using cushioned chairs and soft keypad. <b> Conclusion:</b> A significant proportion of the computer professionals were found to be having health problems and this denotes that the occupational health of the people working in the computer field needs to be emphasized as a field of concern in occupational health

Psychosocial Determinants of Tobacco Use among School Going Adolescents in Delhi, India

Background. Tobacco use is one of the major preventable causes of premature death and disease in the world. Many psychosocial factors were found to influence tobacco use. Therefore the present study was designed to determine the role of psychosocial factors associated with tobacco use among school going adolescents in Delhi, India. Methods. Cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2013 to September 2013 in four government schools in South district of Delhi, India. The questionnaire contains questions adapted from GYTS (Global Youth Tobacco Survey) to find the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use among adolescents. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results. The prevalence of ever and current tobacco use was found in 16.4% and 13.1%. Current smoking and current tobacco chewing were found in 10.2% and 9.4% students, respectively. The risk of current tobacco use was found to be higher among males (P value = 0.000) and in those who got higher pocket money (P value = 0.000). Psychosocial factors like lower general self-efficacy and maladjustments with peers, teachers, and schools were also found to be significant predictors of current tobacco use. Conclusion. The study has revealed higher prevalence of ever and current tobacco use among adolescent students in Delhi, India

Updated BG Prasad socioeconomic classification, 2014: A commentary

Modified BG Prasad socioeconomic scale is widely used to determine the socioeconomic status of study subjects in health studies in India. It is an income-based scale and, therefore, has to be constantly updated to take inflation and depreciation of rupee into account. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for industrial workers (IW) is used to calculate updated income categories for January 2014. Details of the calculations involved will enable young researchers to calculate specific income categories for their research work. State-specific CPI values are also available on the Department of Labour website and should be used to determine more accurate income categories for the study area

Mycobacterium indicus pranii is a potent immunomodulator for a recombinant vaccine against human chorionic gonadotropin

The objective of this work was to identify a human use-permissible adjuvant to enhance significantly the antibody response to a recombinant anti-hCG vaccine. Previous Phase II efficacy trials in sexually active women have demonstrated the prevention of pregnancy at hCG bioneutralization titers of 50 ng/ml or more. Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP), a non-pathogenic Mycobacterium employed as an autoclaved suspension in aqueous buffer, significantly increased antibody titers in the FVB strain of mice. Three other genetic strains of mice: SJL, C3H, and C57Bl/6 responded with antibody titers several-fold higher than 50 ng/ml, which is the protective threshold in women, although there were differences in the peak titers attained. In addition, the duration of the antibody response was lengthened. The vaccine hCGβ-LTB, given together with MIP, induces both a Th1 and Th2 response, which is reflected in the production of not only IgG1, but also a high proportion of IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies