Emergency contraception: knowledge, attitude and practices among recently married females in a rural area of North India

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent unintended pregnancy and its harmful consequences. Its optimum use can avoid unintended child birth or unsafe abortion which can in turn lower maternal mortality. So, the present study aimed to study the knowledge, attitude and practices of recently married females towards EC in a rural area of Jammu.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among recently married females visiting the OPD in CHC RS Pura during the course of the three months and were willing to participate. Information was obtained using a questionnaire and results were presented as proportions.Results: 90% respondents had ever heard of EC with media being the main source of information. 91% knew oral pills being used as EC and 81% had correct knowledge of time regarding its usage. 85% would recommend it to friend/relative if required and 73% were willing to use EC themselves in case of unprotected sex. 70% of the respondents had ever used EC.Conclusions: High awareness, positive attitude and adequate usage of EC among currently married females is a good sign which is probably due to high literacy among them. But it should not make the authorities complacent, rather interventions intended to combat maternal mortality through use of regular contraceptives besides EC need to be promoted among the target groups

Female gender disadvantage and its impact on Psychological morbidity: A cross- sectional study among married Indian rural women of child bearing age

Background-Male preference is deeply entrenched in the society. Gender disadvantage predisposes to limited education, employment opportunities and healthcare. Aims and objectives: To assess the Gender disadvantage in rural married females and its impact on their psychological morbidity. Methodology: Analytical Cross sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected village of a rural health block. All the eligible women were interviewed using Door Knock Procedure. Psychological morbidity was assessed using 20 items Self Rating Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Statistical Analysis: Data was analysed using SPSS ver 20.0.  Tests of significance applied were Chi square test and ANOVA. P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of Female gender disadvantage was 59.89%. Parental male predisposition and socioeconomic status were found to be statistically associated (p<0.05). The women’s own preference for a male child was strongly predicted by their own gender disadvantage from the parents. Statistically significant difference in psychological morbidity was found amongst women who had both parental male predisposition and lack of empowerment in comparison to those who did not have these (p=0.00). Conclusion: Psychological morbidity due to gender disadvantage is a cause of concern. Social awareness and strongly enforced laws like PC-PNDT can reduce these preferences

Prevalence, patterns and determinants of smoking among migrant workers in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background: Rapid urbanization and industrialization is leading a massive exodus of migrant workers from rural to urban areas and from one state to another in search of green pastures. The migrant workers living in unsafe environments, working in hazardous conditions and in absence of family/friends makes them vulnerable to indulge in substance abuse. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and patterns of smoking in the migrant workers in Jammu region of J and K, India.Methods: All the migrant workers visiting the OPD of Medicine/ Surgery in Government Medical College, Jammu due to any reason were registered. Only those who gave positive history of smoking were interviewed through a questionnaire survey. Data on demographics and details regarding tobacco use were collected.Results: The prevalence of tobacco use was found to be 43.13%. Pattern of tobacco use was found to be significant in relation to the sex of the respondents (p<0.05). Among other variables associated with smoking, monthly income and literacy levels of the migrant workers were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: The prevalence and patterns observed in the present study needs to further elucidate the role of various risk factors among the migrant workers. These risk factors can be targeted for health promotion as well as intervention for the amelioration of the current smokers

Health care providers knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers towards emergency contraception in a sub-Himalayan state of India

Background: Emergency Contraception (EC) is a method of contraception used within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent unwanted pregnancy. More than ten years since its use, a study was conducted among health care providers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers towards EC.Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted among the health care providers (HCPs) in all the health institutions of Jammu city, one of which included a tertiary care teaching hospital. The HCPs for the purpose of the current study included Medical Officers (MOs), Lady Health Visitors/ Staff Nurses (LHV/ SNs) and pharmacists. A 24 item pre-tested questionnaire was administered to the respondents to gather the relevant information.Results: MOs and LHV/SNs were found to have better knowledge than the pharmacists. Higher proportion of LHV/SNs and pharmacists were willing to learn more about EC (p<0.05). About two-third of MOs and LHV/SNs agreed about shortage of time during clinic schedule to counsel the users about EC (p<0.05).Conclusions: Gaps in the knowledge of the respondents need to be taken care of with continuing in-service trainings along with behaviour change communication. Role of pharmacists as health care provider especially in the context of family welfare services needs to be reassessed

PC-PNDT act: perspectives of medical undergraduates in a Sub-Himalayan state

Background: Sex selective abortions have grossly distorted the child sex ratio in India. Role of medical technology in declining sex ratio at birth cannot be undermined. To combat this social evil, PC-PNDT (Pre-conception Prenatal Diagnostic Test) was promulgated in 2003 by Government of India. Enhancing the knowledge of medical fraternity with focus on undergraduate students can imbibe an enduring commitment towards this predicamentMethods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Government Medical College of Jammu. Students of 1st year MBBS of Batch 2016-2017 were administered the pre-designed and pretested questionnaire. Information was collected regarding sex determination as well as PC-PNDT Act.Results: 80% respondents knew about the declining sex ratio and 95% knew that sex determination is possible during pregnancy. Only 24.29% had heard about PC-PNDT Act although 95% knew that prenatal sex determination is punishable. Higher proportions of female respondents were aware of both fine and imprisonment as punishment under the act. (p<0.05). Regarding technique used for sex determination, males had better knowledge about ultrasonography than their female counterparts (p<0.05). More females would like to have male child as preferred first child (p<0.05) and 87.14% of respondents preferred that sex determination be punished more vigorously.Conclusions: Awareness about some of the parameters about PC-PNDT Act among the medical undergraduates was poor and it would be pertinent to hold more educational sessions for them

Antibiotic use: evaluating knowledge, attitude and practices among medical students in a sub Himalayan state

Background: The growing concern about antibiotic resistance, of late, led World Health Organization to declare it as World Health Day theme in 2011. Knowledge spreads awareness and understanding by melting the barriers of ignorance while attitudes and practices have a bearing on the health related behaviour. The present study aims at evaluating the knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical students towards antibiotic usage.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among the Pre-final medical students (6th / 7th semester) who participated in the questionnaire survey on knowledge, attitude and practice towards antibiotics usage. The data was analysed and Chi-square was used as test of significance.Results: Overall, 132 students were interviewed. Majority (96.2%) had heard of antibiotic resistance. About 22% of the sample stated that antibiotics can cure viral infections, among them female being in the higher proportion (p90%) agreed that antibiotic resistance is a serious problem and had positive attitude about population awareness campaign regarding antibiotic resistance. Among practices, higher proportion of male respondents preferred antibiotics in case of cough and sore throat. (p<0.05).Conclusions: Despite being Pre-final MBBS students, the results have revealed that knowledge and attitude of the respondents were not up to the desired levels. The practices regarding use of antibiotics were more or less adequate. For effective curriculum, thorough knowledge and rational prescription of antibiotics needs to be reinforced among medical students both before and during internship

Climate change: what people living in Jammu city of India know?

Background: Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest challenges of the present century. The current study explores the knowledge, attitudes and practices about climate change of the adults aged 18 years and above in Jammu city of North India.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among attendants of the patients visiting medical OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital. A pilot tested questionnaire eliciting information on knowledge, attitudes and practices about climate change was administered to those who were willing to participate.  The data collected was presented in proportions.Results: Majority (95%) of the respondents had heard of the term climate change, and 43.9% of them related it to changes in the weather pattern. Plastic use as a major cause of climate change was agreed upon by 95% of the respondents. About half of the respondents were very much concerned about climate change and 80% of them were very much interested in knowing more about climate change and its impact. Only 24.8% of the respondents read/watch stories on climate change.Conclusions: Knowledge levels of the respondents were found to be reasonably good but the same cannot be said about their attitude and practices. Role of NGOs, social communities and media is of utmost importance to make people aware of the harmful effects of climate change on both the environment as well as the health of the people

Perspectives of students in a medical school regarding Hepatitis B and C in North West India

Background: Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are among the major public health problems in the world and students in the medical schools as a group is highly vulnerable to these infections. The current study aimed to assess the perspectives (knowledge, attitude and practices) of these students about both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical school in northwest India using a self administered questionnaire. This study was carried out in the month of July 2017 using a convenience sample of Pre-final MBBS students.Results: The knowledge of the respondents was found to be good on most of the parameters except for living with Hepatitis B/C patient being a risk factor for disease and Hepatitis B being curable. On the same pattern, attitudes were also found to be positive on most of the parameters except willingness to undergo screening for the diseases. Practices of the respondents were also adequate except for use of gloves while examining a patient/collecting blood sample. An important positive practice observed was that 92.8% of the respondents were protected against Hepatitis B.Conclusions: The study has concluded that perspective of medical students towards Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are reasonably good and areas of concern need to be taken care of. Both these diseases remain a challenge for health community in general and medical students in particular due to their being an occupational hazard, so the need for infection control training before they start clinical education is strongly recommended

Epilepsy: what do Indian public living in Jammu know?

Background: Epilepsy, a neurological disorder, still remains one of the most stigmatising disease. Myths, beliefs and negative attitudes associated with the disease have been ascribed to the low levels of awareness and knowledge among the public. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the public regarding epilepsy visiting a tertiary care hospital in Jammu city of Jammu and Kashmir, India.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of three months among adult persons (aged 18 years and above) visiting OPD in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jammu city, J&K, India. A 29-item questionnaire was pilot tested and then distributed to 410 adults during the survey period and 30 of them were excluded as they had never heard about epilepsy.Results: About 92.6% of the surveyed respondents had heard about epilepsy with mass media and family/ friends as the major sources of knowledge. 59.7% knew a person suffering from epilepsy and 30.7% had actually witnessed an attack of seizure. Only one-fourth of the respondents knew the disease to be a neurological disorder. More than half of the respondents would object to their children being associated with epileptic person in the school but surprisingly 63% would accept to work/become a friend with epileptic person. About 41% respondents would take patient in seizure to hospital while 43.5% would put a shoe on his nose.Conclusions: The public knowledge was found to be reasonably good, but attitudes were found to be of mixed type while practices were also not up to the desired levels. Need is for persistent and effective information campaigns to change public attitudes towards person with epilepsy

Domestic violence in rural currently married women: effects on utilization of reproductive and maternal health services

Background: Domestic violence remains a public health concern in India due to its high prevalence and adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes. Domestic violence in low and middle income countries has emerged as a priority among researchers and policy makers who are primarily concerned with women s health and empowerment. The study aimed to assess the relationship between domestic violence and women’s use of reproductive and maternal health services.Methods: The present study was conducted among currently married rural women in reproductive age group (15-49 Years). Four villages in Kot Balwal Block were selected randomly and all the currently married women who were willing to give informed verbal consent were administered the questionnaire. The questionnaire was pilot tested by the authors. Data was analysed using proportion sand chi square test was used as a test of significance.Results: Prevalence of domestic violence was reported to be 49.12%. Regarding empowerment, the results revealed that while 65.3% of the respondents were able to decide on their health, only 20.7% had say in household purchases. Attitude towards wife beating was strongly negative as 95.7% rejected wife beating. Levels of education, exposure to media, intake of alcohol by partners and spousal age difference were statistically significant (p<0.05) in relation to use of reproductive and maternal health services.Conclusions: The study has revealed that women’s empowerment has a positive impact on use of reproductive and maternal health services. Multi-sector collaboration in initiating programs and interventions to improve women’s empowerment, increase educational attainment and reduction of gender based violence should be a priority for the health planners