A community based study on dengue awareness and preventive practices among urban slum population in Hyderabad, South India

Background: Dengue is identified as public health problem due to its rapid spread throughout the world. In India raising trend of dengue cases in monsoon is being observed. Objectives were to determine the level of awareness regarding dengue fever and practice of preventive measures and its association with socio-demographic factors; and to find out the association between awareness and practice of preventive measures.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 150 residents of urban slum area, Shaikpet. Mean scores of awareness and practices were found and with a cut off >60% categorized as good. Chi-square test was used to find association with socio-demographic factors. Logistic regression was done for risk estimation.Results: The awareness regarding dengue fever was only 22.7% with a mean score, 8.1 (SD=3.74). Good practices were shown by 55.3% with a mean score of 10.7 (SD=5). Among those who were aware majority belonged to higher educational level (p=0.048). A significant difference was observed between income and occupation with practices. A positive correlation was found between awareness and practices in dengue fever (r=0.511, p<0.001). Females (OR=2.5) and school level education (OR=3.4) were predictors of poor awareness while professionals and low income were predictors of poor practices (p<0.05).Conclusions: Better aware people were found to practice preventive measures. So, grass root level workers can provide health education among households focusing on behaviour change, regarding preventive measures. Appropriate use of information, education and communication through mass media and social network will be beneficial

Assessment of Nutritional Status Using Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) Among Under-Five Children from An Urban Slum of Southern India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: NFHS-5 Telangana reports underweight, stunting, and wasting among under 5 children as 31.8%, 33.1%, and 21.7% respectively. Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure is an aggregate indicator that excludes children with anthropometric failure and includes children who are wasted, stunted, or underweight, and their combinations. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of anthropometric failures and to find its determinants among under-five children in an urban slum area of Hyderabad. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 310 under 5 children residing in the urban-slum area of Hyderabad. Probability proportionate to size sampling was used. Using questionnaire and standard operating procedures, socio-demographic profile, health details and nutritional assessment was done. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26. Results: The prevalence of anthropometric failure is noted to be 39.6%. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were found to be 20.7%, 26.8% and 12%, respectively. The illiteracy of father [AOR:2.94(CI: 1.31-6.62); p-value=0.009], low birth weight [AOR:2.024(CI: 1.253-3.26); p-value=0.004], not exclusively breastfed [AOR:4.291(CI:1.55-11.904); p-value=0.005] and deficient calorie intake [AOR: 2.079(CI:1.103-3.906); p-value=0.023] were found to be the significant predictors of Anthropometric failure. Conclusion: Under nutrition is an important public health problem with 40% prevalence in urban slum of Telangana. Enhancing the literacy of fathers, reduction in low birth weight, better IYCF practices and providing calorie adequate diet will aid in enhancing children's nutritional status

Study of risk factors of obesity and overweight among high school children

Background: Overweight and obesity now rank as the fifth leading risk for mortality worldwide. Although the health consequences of obesity are mostly manifested during adulthood, the factors underlying the disease condition commonly originate during childhood. Overweight and obese children are more likely to grow to become overweight and obese adults with higher chances of developing non-communicable diseases like diabetes and CVDs.Aim of the study: To study risk factors of obesity and overweight among high school children. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study was done for duration of 06 months i.e., from August 2019 to January 2020 in the urban field practice area of Dr.V.R.K. Women’s Medical College, Rangareddy, Telangana, India.Results: In the present study 48% were males (120/250) and females occupied 52% (130/250). Male : female ratio was 2:1. Mean Age ± S.D. of males was 8.82 ± 0.51 and Mean Age ± S.D. of females was 8.97 ± 0.54. 84% were over-weight and 16% were obese.Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity in comparison to overweight, varied significantly among gender (male=4.8% female=11.2%), education and occupation of mother, type of family and frequency of junk food consumption, number of siblings, dietary habits, cold drink consumption and number of hours of watching TV were significantly associated with obesity(P=&lt;0.05)

A cross-sectional study on adherence to treatment and life-style modifications in hypertensive patients attending the urban health centre of a teaching hospital in Hyderabad

Introduction: The burden of hypertension is expected to double by 2025 and adherence to treatment has a key role in disease outcome. The World Health Organization defines adherence as the extent to which a person's behaviour of taking medication, following a diet and/or exceeding life-style changes, corresponds with the agreed recommendations of health care providers. The study tries to assess the level of adherence to medication and life-style modifications in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study among patients attending urban health centres of a teaching hospital. The study population included all hypertensive patients above 30 years. Based on the prevalence of non-adherence to hypertensive medication, 70% of the sample size is calculated as 182. A Morisky medication adherence scale is used to find adherence to treatment. Life-style modification was also assessed. Scoring was done based on their adherence to treatment and life-style modifications and quantified. Results: The mean age of the study population was 55 years (38–80 years). In total, 58.33% were illiterate and 21% were retired from work. Around 87.5% had to spend money on medication. Mean weight, height, hip and waist circumference was 66 kg, 157 cm, 108 cm and 100 cm, respectively. Mean BMI was 26.6. Prevalence of good adherence to medication was 129 (70.83%) and that of good life-style modifications was 127 (70.17%). Conclusion: The adherence to medication and life-style modification was satisfactory. Family physicians have a key role in Non communicable diseases (NCD) management and should focus on ongoing education programmes for treatment adherence and life-style modifications at a community level, and grass-root level workers should conduct regular follow-up activities

Inside the microcluster: antigen receptor signalling viewed with molecular imaging tools

Over the last decade, live cell imaging has revealed the surprisingly complex orchestration of antigen receptor signalling at the immunological synapse. The imaging studies showed that one of the earliest steps in antigen receptor activation is the formation of submicroscopic clusters, which regulate the early signalling events. However, the molecular mechanisms operating inside these microclusters have remained beyond the resolution of optical microscopy. Recent development of imaging techniques that approach molecular resolution in intact cells offers a first view of the molecular processes inside these structures. Here I review the contributions of molecular imaging of the immunological synapse to our understanding of antigen receptor clustering, binding to antigens, and recruitment of signalling molecules. Finally, I provide an outlook on the future prospects of this rapidly advancing technology