Ocular morbidity among diabetics attending the preventive ophthalmic clinic of a tertiary care institute with special reference to diabetic retinopathy

Background: Non communicable diseases have taken over previously life threatening infections in the demographic transition. As the burden of NCDs including diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate the complications related to these diseases are also increasing leading to huge morbidity. Likewise, blindness/ visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy is now slowly and steadily replacing refractive errors and cataracts as a cause of morbidity.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried over a period of one year in an ophthalmic unit of a tertiary health care institute in which known diabetic patients were screened for diabetic retinopathy besides various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.Results: Overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in our study population was found to be 29.0%. Among various risk factors duration of diabetes, hypertension, HbA1C >6.5% and serum creatinine >1.1 mg/dl were found to be significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy.Conclusion: Regular screening for diabetic retinopathy besides prevention and strict control of risk factors is key to prevention and progression of blindness/ visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy

Assessment of knowledge and practices of tuberculosis health care providers under revised national tuberculosis control program in Kashmir valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background Although Tuberculosis (TB) is both preventable and curable; but it still remains a leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Low case detection rate is still a problem in few states of India which to some extent could be attributed to provider’s lack of knowledge, inadequate skills, callous practices and not following RNTCP guidelines. Objectives To assess the knowledge level and practices of health personnel providing TB care. Methods This Cross sectional study was conducted in Kashmir Valley .50% DMC’s from each RNTCP operated district were selected. Public health personnel (Doctors, Laboratory technicians and DOT providers) working under the program and private practitioners providing TB care in these districts were assessed for their knowledge and practices. Results 215 health providers of different cadres were studied. 38.6% of public health doctors, 29.0 % of DOT providers and 50% of Laboratory technicians were contractual workers. 52.0% private practitioners and more than 3/4th public health personnel were trained under RNTCP and working for 1-3 years for the program. Knowledge of public health medical officers regarding operational component of program e.g. for TB diagnosis(100.0%), TB defaulter (100.0%), number of sputum samples required for case detection (91.0%) a TB suspect (80.0%) and on other components was better than those of private practitioners. Lab technicians and DOT providers were also well versed with operational component of program. Good practices were reportedly observed in all types of health workers regarding tuberculosis. Conclusions Despite having good knowledge and practices of TB among health personnel case detection rate is low in the valley which needs to be introspected as less number of patients are sent from PHI’s and general OPD’s for sputum examination to DMC’s thus stressing the need for modular training or CME for all health personnel