Self-reported oral health status and self-care practices among mid-life women at a secondary care hospital in a rural area of Delhi, India

Background: Poor oral health status is more likely among socioeconomically disadvantaged women and low literacy due to poor oral hygiene. Onset of menopausal symptoms also triggers hormonal changes, adversely influencing oral health. The study objective was to determine the self-reported oral health status and self-care practices among perimenopausal women attendees of the medical outpatient department of a government hospital in Delhi, India  Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a secondary care hospital among 136 women aged 40-59 years, having either perimenopause symptoms or with menopause. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Hindi version of the WHO Steps Module on Oral Health. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Sixty-nine (51.2%) participants had not received any schooling. Oral health status was reported as average or poor by 61 (44.85%) and 59 (43.4) participants for their teeth and gums, respectively. Pain or discomfort in teeth was reported by 77 (56.6%) participants, along with chewing 66 (48.5%) and speech difficulties 21 (15.4%). Most participants 114 (83.8%) brushed their teeth only once a day, and rarely (3.7%) flossed.  Participants with low education and a greater number of missing teeth were significantly more likely to report suboptimal dental health status. Conclusion: A large proportion of mid-life socioeconomically vulnerable women in India report poor oral health and hygiene with self-perceived suboptimal teeth or gum status. Visually oriented information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns for oral health promotion should be evaluated in public health facilities

Sociodemographic Profile and Treatment-Seeking Behavior of HIV Infected Children Accessing Care at Pediatric ART Clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has emerged as one of the most serious public health problems in India. The parents of HIV-infected children are more likely to die and thus render the children orphan. The sociodemographic characteristics of children with HIV infection are different than the other children of the same age group. With the diverse range of manifestations, the symptoms of HIV/AIDS can appear in children at any time during the course of infection. After appearance of various signs/symptoms, the parents wander to various health agencies for relief and thus lose their vital time.Aims: The present study was conducted (1) to study the sociodemographic profile of children living with HIV/AIDS and (2) to know the treatment-seeking behavior of HIV/AIDS patients before coming to the tertiary hospital.Materials and Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study where 216 children registered at the pediatric ART clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi and their caregivers were included in the study. Semi-structured, pretested interview schedule was used for data collection through face-to-face interviews.Results: Out of the 216 children, males outnumbered females in the ratio of 2.48:1. Most of the children were in the age group of 10–14 years (48.1%) and the majority belonged to urban areas (63.4%). Most of the children were going to school. Majority of children (46.3%) belonged to social class-4. Hospitals (62.5%) were consulted first followed by private practitioners (33.3%) by these patients after appearance of earliest symptoms. Presenting symptoms of HIV in children were not specific and the most common symptom was fever (79.1%) followed by not gaining weight (69.4%), recurrent diarrhea (65.3%), cough (41.7%) and vomiting (30.6%). The average number of consultations sought by these patients before coming to this hospital was 2.34 per patients. Hospitals (39.8%) and prior experience at same hospital (33.3%) were the most common source of information about the ART center.

Status of Noncommunicable Disease Screening in an Urban Resettlement Colony in Delhi, India: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for more than two-third cases of premature mortality (30–69 years) in India. Screening for NCDs is the most effective means for detection of undiagnosed NCD cases and early treatment initiation that lowers morbidity and mortality due to these diseases. The objective of the present study was to assess the NCD screening status in an urban resettlement colony of Delhi. Materials and Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among residents of the area. Patients with preexisting hypertension and diabetes and aged below 30 years were excluded. The patients were further screened for hypertension by taking three separate readings using an aneroid sphygmomanometer. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) was calculated to evaluate diabetes risk. Results A total of 110 men and 103 women (N = 213) met the inclusion criteria. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the patients was 40 (±9.3) years. A history of previous screening for hypertension and diabetes was reported by 73 (34.2%) and 40 (35.4%) patients, respectively. A medium or high-risk of having diabetes mellitus as per the IDRS score was present in most (88.4%) patients. On current screening, nine (8.2%) men and nine (8.7%) women were identified as undiagnosed hypertension cases. Only four (3.8%) women had undergone a clinical breast exam, and just nine (8.7%) women ever had a Pap smear examination. Conclusion The present study shows that the current strategy of opportunistic screening for NCDs has been unable to reach large segments of vulnerable and at risk populations