Assessment of anaemia in adolescent girls

Background: The world’s adolescent population is facing a series of serious nutritional challenges which are not only affecting their growth and development but also their livelihood as adults. Yet, adolescents remain a largely neglected, difficult to measure and hard to reach population, in which the needs of adolescent girls in particular, are often ignored. Anemia in adolescent girls contributes to maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity in future. The objective of the study was to estimate the frequency of anemia among adolescent girls, to study the socio-demographic factors associated with anemia and to evaluate the cause and type of anaemia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an urban area in a school. A total of 300 girls (12-18 years) were included in this study. Statistical analysis was done using percentage, standard error of proportion, Chi-square test and student’s t-test.Results: The prevalence of anemia was found to be 90%. A significant association of anemia was found with socio-economic status and literacy status of parents. Mean height and weight of subjects with anemia was significantly less than subjects without anemia. A high prevalence of anemia among adolescent females was found, among those whose parents were less educated.Conclusions: The overall prevalence of anemia among adolescent females was found to be 90%. There is significant association of anemia with socio-economic status and parents' educational status. There is need to increase awareness of anemia in adolescent girls and parents

Contraceptive awareness and practices in women of urban India

Background: With the efforts from government and increase in the literacy of women, awareness about contraceptive methods is increased. The objective of the study was to analyse contraceptive awareness and practices in women and to find out the source of information and reason for non-use of contraception.Methods: In a cross-sectional study 400 women were interviewed from July to December 2016.Results: In our study, majority (43.5 %) of women were between 26-30 years of age followed by women between 22-25 years of age (26.5 %). 92.5% of women were aware of one or other method of contraception. But only 42.5% were practicing contraception. Maximum awareness was about tubectomy (90.5%) followed by CuT (87.5%), Condom 50%, O.C. pills 12.5%, Safe period 5% and injectables 2.5%. Most common method used in our study group was condom (20%) followed by tubectomy 12.5%, CuT 7.5%, O.C. Pills 1.5%, Injectable contraceptive and safe period 0.5% each. 37.5 % woman got information from radio or newspaper, 30 % from hospital doctor, 25 % from friends or relatives, 7.5 % had no information. 100% women were literate, 70% had education till high school, 30% were graduate or postgraduate. In our study, 52.5% had no reason for non-use of contraception.25% were not using due to myths or fears while 22.5% were not using due to family pressure.Conclusions: We concluded that awareness about contraceptive methods is quite high but acceptance is quite low. Condom is the most common method used

Research attitude and practices of medical teachers

Background: The present study was conducted on medical teachers to evaluate their attitudes and practices towards research.Methods: This study was conducted at Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka India. In a cross-sectional study, randomly, 50 medical teachers were selected for evaluation and assessment of attitudes and practices towards research amongst the medical teachers.Results: In this study, 44 (88%) of faculties were interested in research. 36(72%) of faculties said that they were using internet for research regularly while 14(28%) of faculties said that they were using internet for research sometimes. 36(72%) of faculties had attended state conferences, 18(36%) of faculties had attended national conferences while 5(10%) of faculties had attended international conferences. 6(12%) of faculties presented 1-2 papers in Conferences, 8(16%) of faculties presented 3-4 papers in Conferences while 36(72%) of faculties presented 1-2 papers in Conferences. 11(22%) of faculties were involved in research with the aim of purely research.19(38%) of faculties felt that resources are inadequate, 17(34%) of faculties felt that reference material is inadequate, 16(32%) of faculties felt that hospital records were inadequate,Conclusions: In this study, the attitude towards the research was quite healthy. There was a lack of utilization of research facilities and less research output like poster/ paper presentation in academic meets and research publications in the journals by medical faculties

Swine flu awareness in pregnancy

Background: Swine influenza outbreaks are common in pigs year-round and infection in humans is a result of close contact with infected animals. Understanding the perception of the public and their potential resources would help public health agencies in developing educational programs to increase the awareness of the public. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on different aspects of swine flu.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 pregnant women was conducted at Varun Arjun Medical College, Banthara, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India to test their knowledge, attitudes, and use of precautionary measures against influenza infection.Results: In this study, 98 (98%) of pregnant women were aware of swine flu infection, 85 (85%) of pregnant women knew that swine flu is due to viral infection while 65 (65%) of pregnant women were aware that swine flu infection spreads through air while sneezing and coughing. In this study, 95 (96%) of pregnant women knew fever as symptom of swine flu, 83 (83%) of pregnant women knew cough and cold as symptoms while 64 (64%) of pregnant women knew headache and body ache as symptoms. 94 (94%) of pregnant women were aware that vaccination against swine flu can prevent swine flu infection. 80 (80%) of pregnant women knew that covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing can prevent spread of swine flu infection while 52 (52%) of pregnant women knew that frequent hand washing helps in preventing spread of swine flu infection. 76 (76%) of pregnant women received vaccination against swine flu while 24 (24%) of pregnant women did not receive vaccination against swine flu.Conclusions: Learning more about the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the public during swine flu and other infectious disease outbreak can be crucial to improve efforts by public health officials and clinicians

Menstrual hygiene practices in young girls of urban India

Background: Menstrual hygiene is an important aspect in the life of young girls.The present study aims at assessing the knowledge regarding menstruation and hygienic practices and perceptions during menstruation.Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted among 100 young girls of 20-22 years age to assess the awareness of menstrual hygiene. Data was collected by pre-tested questionnaire. Statistics was calculated in percentages.Results: Out of 100 girls, 71 (71%) knew about menstruation before menarche while 29 (29%) did not have any knowledge. 71 (71%) girls knew the cause of menstruation as physiological, 18 (18%) girls didn’t know the cause, 11 (11%) girls still believe it as curse of God. 68 (68%) girls knew the source of bleeding during menstruation as uterus, 20 (20%) girls thought it as vagina while 12 (12%) thought it as urethra. 64% girls use sanitary pads during menstruation, 19% girls used old cloth while 17% girls used new cloth during menstruation as adsorbent material. 9% girls dispose pads or used cloth in dustbin, 19% girls flush them in toilet while 12% girls throw them roadside. 96% girls avoid going to temple, 68% girls restrict their daily activities, 56% girls avoid going to functions, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen while 45% girls avoid touching things at home.Conclusions: It is very important that young girls should be educated about the importance of maintaining hygiene during menstruation to prevent the risk of reproductive tract infections

Health awareness in female doctors

Background: Managing the hectic schedule, female doctors often neglect their own health. In the present study, we evaluated the awareness, attitude and practices of breast, cervical and ovarian malignancies and also hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and osteoporosis in female doctors.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 female doctors of M.B.B.S. and higher degrees of various subjects. Selection of female doctors was done randomly.Results: In present study, out of 100 female doctors, 90 (90%) were doing their self breast examination regularly and 31 (31%) had done their mammography. 54 (54%) female doctors had their own pap smear done while 72 (72%) female doctors had their own ultrasound got done. 82 (82%) had their own blood pressure check up, 74 (74%) had their own blood sugar checked, 62 (62%) had got their own lipid profile done while only 44 (44%) female doctors had their ECG done and 48 (48%) had their bone mineral density done. 23 (23%) female doctors were diagnosed as hypertensive, 14 (14%) as diabetes, 4 (4%) as coronary artery disease, 5 (5%) as breast cancer, 2 (2%) as ovarian cancer, 18 (18%) as thyroid disease while 15 (15%) were detected as having osteopenia.Conclusions: In spite of knowing about all diseases, their complications, screening methods and preventive care, practice of applying screening or preventive methods to themselves is not universal in doctors

Analysis of indications and route of hysterectomy for benign conditions

Background: Hysterectomy is the most common operation performed by gynecologist, next to caesarean section. The primary focus of this study was to review the indications and surgical technique of hysterectomy.Methods: This retrospective study was performed in the department of Obstetrics and gynecology, in collaboration with Department of Pathology.  All women in the reproductive age group and post-menopausal age who underwent hysterectomy with or without salpingo-oophorectomy were included in this study.Results: In our study, out of 100 patients, clinical indication was fibroid in 45 (45%) patients, menorrhagia in 15 (15%) patients, adenomyosis in 25 (25%) patients, uterovaginal prolapse in 5 (5%) patients, endometrial polyp in 5 (5%) patients and ovarian tumor in 5 (5%) patients. Histo-pathological diagnosis was leiomyoma in 55 (55%), adenomyosis in 30 (30%), endometrial polyp in 5 (5%), endometrial hyperplasia in 5 (5%) and serous cystadenoma of ovary in 5 (5%). Abdominal hysterectomy was performed in 46 (46%) patients, vaginal hysterectomy in 44 (44.33%) patients while laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed in 5 (6.66%) patients.Conclusions: In this study, most common indication for hysterectomy was fibroid uterus and it was correlated well with histopathology. Abdominal & vaginal hysterectomies were performed in almost equal number

Weight awareness among medical students

Background: Overweight and obesity is a global issue. It needs to be tackled at adolescent and young age. Aim of our study was to evaluate weight awareness, prevalence of overweight and obesity in medical students.Methods: 200 medical students of 18-20 years were included in this cross-sectional study.Results: Out of 100 girls, 51 (51%) girls had normal BMI, 19 (19%) were overweight, 17 (17%) girls were obese while 13 (13%) girls were underweight. Out of 100 boys, 66 (66%) boys were having normal weight, 16 (16%) boys were underweight, 14 (14%) boys were overweight and 4 (4%) boys were obese. Sixty-one (61%) girls were doing exercise >3 times in a week while 39 (39%) girls were doing exercise 3 times in a week.Conclusions: Issue of overweight and obesity needs to be focused more

Health awareness, attitude and practices in male doctors

Background: Studies of doctors’ health have emphasised psychological health. Limited data is available on their physical health status. Doctors very often fail to follow recent preventive health guidelines for their physical health. Here, we collected the information available about physical health of male doctors. We stress how important it is for all doctors to have screening and regular check up.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 male doctors of M.B.B.S. and higher degrees of various subjects. Selection of male doctors was done randomly.Results: In present study, out of 100 male doctors, 40 (40%) male doctors had normal BMI, 34 (34%) male doctors were overweight, 26 (26%) male doctors were obese while 0 (0%) male doctors were underweight. 89 (89%) had their own blood pressure check up, 88 (88%) had their own blood sugar checked, 85 (85%) had got their own lipid profile done while 85 (85%) male doctors had their electrocardiogram (ECG) done. 29 (29%) male doctors were diagnosed as hypertensive, 10 (10%) were diagnosed as diabetic, 7 (7%) had hyperlipidemia, 4 (4%) as having coronary artery disease, 1 (1%) were detected as collhaving Hodgekin’s Lymphoma.Conclusions: In spite of knowing about all diseases, their complications, screening methods and preventive care, practice of applying screening or preventive methods to themselves is not universal in doctors

Cervical cancer screening and prevention: how aware is the Indian woman?

Background: Carcinoma of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. It is the commonest cancer among Indian women. Awareness regarding cervical cancer and its prevention is quite low amongst Indian women. The Pap test is a simple and cost-effective technique for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted in the months of September and October 2018. We included 200 women between 30 and 60 years of age.Results: In present study, out of 200 respondents, 160 (80%) respondents got married after 21 years of age while 40 (20%) respondents got married below 21 years of age. 148 (74%) respondents had 2 children, 30 (15%) respondents had one child while 22 (11%) respondents had 3 children. 166 (83%) had heard about cervical cancer, 24 (12%) knew that cervical cancer can be cured if detected in early stage while only 10 (5%) knew that it can be prevented. 54 (27%) respondents knew that pap smear test should be done as screening test to detect cervical cancer in early stage while 22 (11%) respondents knew about HPV vaccine as preventive measure.Conclusions: In present study, though women have heard about cervical cancer, proper knowledge was very less. Also, awareness about HPV vaccine and Pap smear was less. There is need for proper information and facilities for pap smear and HPV vaccination