Mental health status and its correlates among people living with HIV/AIDS in a tertiary care center of West Bengal

Background: People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability and mortality. Bidirectional link between mental illness and HIV/AIDS accelerates the disease progression, reduces willingness to access health care, promotes high risk behavior, leads to low medication adherence, and ultimately results in poor disease outcome. The present study was conducted with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Burdwan medical college and hospital and to find out the association if any, between sociodemographic characteristics and CMD among the study population. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 410 adult PLWHA, selected through systematic random sampling, registered at ART clinic of Burdwan medical college and hospital, West Bengal during October 2022 to February 2023. Interview of each study subject, with a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured schedule was done to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and CMD was assessed using WHO’s self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ)-20. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict the factors associated with CMD. Data were analysed using SPSS v23.  Results: Prevalence of CMD was 30.2% among PLWHA attending ART clinic. In univariate logistic regression, female gender, persons not living with partner (un-married, widow/widower, divorced/separated), current smoker, pre-ART cases and persons with WHO stage 3 disease were found to be significantly associated with presence of CMD. But in multivariable logistic regression, persons not living with partner [AOR 2.114 (95% CI: 1.228-3.641)] and pre-ART cases [AOR 8.909 (95% CI: 4.770-16.640)] were remained statistically significant. Conclusions: Screening and treating the PLWHA suffering from CMD, should be considered to be an integral part of HIV care, support and treatment at the primary level

How aware are we regarding vector borne diseases? A community based study in a slum of Kolkata, India

Background: Vector borne diseases (VBDs) form a major part of the communicable diseases in India. Ignorance and impoverished conditions of people contribute in creating source and spread of vector borne diseases and hinder disease control strategy. Slums are more vulnerable to vector borne diseases because of poor environmental condition, standard of living, poverty and ignorance of the people. This study is a small endeavour to highlight the awareness of residents of slum area of Chetla, Kolkata, West Bengal, India regarding vector borne diseases. Objectives were to assess the awareness of the study population regarding different vector borne diseases and to find out the association of awareness with relevant demographic variables.Methods: A community based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population in a slum area of Chetla, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Multivariate logistic analysis was done to find out association of awareness with relevant variables.Results: Awareness regarding malaria was good and that of dengue was satisfactory while awareness regarding other vector borne diseases was poor. Age, sex, caste, education and social class were found significantly associated with satisfactory awareness. Younger population i.e. age ≤35years, males, general caste people, literacy status above primary school and social class III and above had better awareness regarding vector borne diseases.Conclusions: This study uncovered the lacunae regarding awareness of the study population regarding vector borne diseases. It can be concluded that intensified efforts towards creating public awareness and mobilizing the community regarding the identified issues should be addressed

Sexual practices of people living with HIV/AIDS attending school of tropical medicine, Kolkata

A hospital-based, cross-sectional, observational study of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) attending the School of Tropical Medicine (STM), Kolkata was carried out for a period of 6 months from May 2006 to October 2006, to assess the sexual practices of PLWHAs. Past sexual practice of PLWHAs revealed that 93.4% males were polygamous, compared to 16.4% females. Of them, 45.7% males and 92.8% females reported sex with a nonregular sex partner (NRSP) in 1 year. Consistent condom use was low in both sexes. Current sexual practice showed that more than four-fifth (87.9%) of the new patients and two-thirds (68.9%) of the indoor patients were currently sexually active in 1 month recall period (P=3.79, Z=0.0000). However, consistent condom use was found only in 35.5% indoor patients and 15.5% of new patients and the difference was statistically significant

Tobacco abuse among school going adolescents in a rural area of West Bengal, India

Adolescents are vulnerable targets of tobacco industry with all consequences of usage. Studies reveal that tobacco abuse is rising in this age group in India. A cross sectional survey was carried out in two coeducational high schools of Anandanagar village of Singur block, Hooghly district, West Bengal among 276 students of VIII-IX standard to study the knowledge and abuse of tobacco and to find out influencing socio-demographic factors. Knowledge score was higher in females, students from nuclear families, and those with literate parents. Low prevalence of tobacco intake was obtained among the students, with 9.8% reported having ever used smokeless tobacco and 4.3% ever smoked. Tobacco intake was higher among those with a history of parental tobacco intake. Continued information education and communication (IEC) activities should be conducted by the school authorities, with involvement of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and parents for primary prevention

Assessment of nutritional status by composite index for anthropometric failure: A study among slum children in Bankura, West Bengal

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the prevalence of composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) among 117 slum dwelling under-five children in Bankura town, West Bengal and its relation with some common socio-economic factors. Among study population, the prevalence of underweight was 41.6%, whereas CIAF was 80.3%. CIAF gave a near complete estimation of undernutrition unlike underweight. Children who were unimmunized, with more number of siblings, living in a nuclear family, or with illiterate mothers were more likely to be undernourished