Prevalence and associated factors for social phobia among school-going adolescents in a rural area of Puducherry, South India

Author(s):  
Krishnamoorthy Yuvaraj ◽  
Giriyappa Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Shanthosh Priyan ◽  
Marimuthu Yamini ◽  
Saya Ganesh Kumar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The World Health Organisation has reported that mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Social phobia is one such mental disorder that can have significant impact on the livelihood of adults if not detected at an early stage. There have been very few studies done on social phobia among adolescents in South India. Hence, this study was done to determine the prevalence of social phobia and factors associated with it among the school-going adolescents in rural Puducherry. Methodology A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1018 school going adolescents from December 2017 to January 2018 in rural Puducherry. Information on socio-demographic characteristics was collected by a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and social phobia was assessed using the validated Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) questionnaire. Results Among 1018 participants, 738 (72.5%) belonged to early adolescence (10–13 years); 520 (51.1%) were boys; 557 (54.7%) were studying in a middle class; 931 (91.5%) were Hindus; 978 (96.1%) had siblings. The prevalence of social phobia among adolescents was found to be 22.9% (95% CI: 20.4–25.5%). The prevalence of mild social phobia was 18% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.7–20.4%], moderate social phobia was 4% (95% CI: 2.9–5.4%), severe social phobia was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3–1.3%) and very severe social phobia was 0.2% (95% CI: 0.03–0.64%). Higher age, female gender, lack of counselling services and specialist visits at school were found to be determinants of social phobia. Conclusion The current study showed that one in every five adolescents was at risk of developing social phobia. Health education for students, teachers and family members needs to be given to make them aware of the importance of social phobia.

Author(s):  
Geeta V. Bathija ◽  
Rana Sarvar

Background: The unsafe disposal of excreta is a principal cause in the transmission of pathogens within the environment and improvements in excreta management provide significant reductions in diarrhoeal diseases. Objectives of present study are to understand the factors impacting on defecation practices and to study the prevailing defecation practices in adults and children and to assess the knowledge and attitudes with regard to sanitation practices in rural areas and urban slums of Hubballi, Dharwad, Karnataka.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in 3 areas of Hubballi and Rural Areas of Noolvi. A total of 120 households were visited; 55 of urban and 65 rural. The adult member of the household was interviewed about the sanitary practices followed and their knowledge and attitude towards Safe Sanitation and Open Air Defecation was assessed.Results: 64.18% of the households had an independent toilet in their house (87% in urban and 44.6% in rural). Among these, in only 85% households the toilet was used by all members. While in 11 houses some individuals preferred open air defecation. The practice of open air defecation was found in 44.16% of study sample (21% in urban slums and 63% in rural areas). In children, usage of toilets was only 46.5%. 54% children practiced open air defecation (28.8% in urban slums, 80% in rural areas). The usual sites for open air defecation were open fields (77%), alongside gutter (3%) and streets (20%).Conclusions: According to World Health Organisation, open defecation is the “riskiest sanitation practice of all.” Effort from individuals, communities and government is essential to achieve the goal of open defection free India.


Author(s):  
Claire Sunyach ◽  
Barbara Antonelli ◽  
Sophie Tardieu ◽  
Michele Marcot ◽  
Jeanne Perrin ◽  
...  

The exposure of adults of reproductive age as well as pregnant women and children to environmental contaminants is of particular concern, as it can impact fertility, in utero development, pregnancy outcomes and child health. Consequently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international societies advocate including Environmental Health (EH) in perinatal care, yet perinatal health professionals (HPs) hardly put these recommendations into practice. In 2017, a cross-sectional study was performed in a large panel of perinatal HPs in south-eastern France with the aim of painting a picture of their current attitudes, representation, knowledge, and training expectations. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected via auto-questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed by 962 participants, mainly midwives (41.1%), physicians (25.6%) and nursery nurses (11%). Indoor/outdoor air quality and endocrine disruptors were the best-mastered topics, whereas electromagnetic fields and diet gave rise to unsure responses. Overall, perinatal HPs were ill-trained and -informed about the reproductive risks linked to daily environmental exposure. HPs reported scarce knowledge, fear of patient reaction and lack of solutions as the main barriers to providing information regarding EH to the public. Our findings highlight the need to set up EH training programmes focused on scientific knowledge and to provide simple messages and tips to help perinatal HPs deliver advice to populations to mitigate exposure to environmental toxicants.


BMJ ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 314 (7093) ◽  
pp. 1521-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. B. Nielsen ◽  
J. Liljestrand ◽  
M. Hedegaard ◽  
S. H. Thilsted ◽  
A. Joseph

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Guja ◽  
Yabsira Melaku ◽  
Eshetu Andarge

Meeting minimum standards of dietary quality in mothers and children is a challenge in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Emerging evidence suggests that maternal and child dietary diversity is associated, but little is known about the associated factors of concordance of mother-child dietary diversity in Ethiopia and none is documented in the study area. This study examines the concordance between mother-child (6–23 months) dyads dietary diversity and the associated factors in Kucha District, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 791 mother-child (6–23 months) pairs from 11 selected kebeles on March 6 to April 13, 2017. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The sampling frame was obtained from the family folder of health posts in each kebele. The mother-child pairs were selected by the simple random sampling method. The 7 food groups of the World Health Organization (WHO) for children and the 10 food groups of FANTA/FAO 2016 for mothers were used to analyze the dietary diversity. Cohen’s kappa statistics was calculated to see the strength of concordance. The multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to determine factors affecting mother-child dietary diversity concordance. A good concordance was noted between mother-child dietary diversity scores (Kappa = 0.43). Only 56 (7.1%) mothers were negative deviants, and 133 (16.8%) mothers were positive deviants in dietary diversity consumption. Rural residence (AOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.90–6.41), having no formal education (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.08–3.05), not owning milking cow (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.10–2.56), children with low dietary diversity (AOR = 8.23; 95% CI: 5.17–13.08), and mothers with low dietary diversity (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.29–0.74) were found to be factors associated with mother-child dietary diversity concordance. An increase in the percentage of children reaching the minimum dietary diversity was greater with a successive increase in maternal dietary diversity. Despite interesting similarities between mothers and children dietary consumption, more than three-quarters of concordants did not achieve the recommended dietary diversity score (were low concordants). Interventions targeting on rural women’s access to high school education, home-based milking cow rearing, and promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture to meet the dietary requirements of mothers and children in a sustainable manner and public health efforts to improve child nutrition may be strengthened by promoting maternal dietary diversity due to its potential effect on the entire family.


Author(s):  
Bambang Irawan ◽  
Erizal

Badan kesehatan dunia yaitu World Health Organisation (WHO) berupaya agar pelayanan kesehatan di dunia ini dapat memberikan suatu sistem pelayanan yang baik untuk meningkatkan derajat kesehatan masyarakat diberbagai belahan dunia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan komunikasi terapeutik perawat dan fasilitas dengan kepuasan pasien rawat inap di Rumah Sakit Umum Cut Meutia Kota Langsa tahun 2019. Penelitian ini bersifat analitik dengan desain penelitian cross sectional study. Sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 84 responden yang merupakan pasien rawat inap. Data dianalisa secara univarat dan bivariat menggunakan uji Chi square. Hasil penelitian diperoleh ada hubungan komunikasi terapeutik perawat dengan kepuasan pasien rawat inap di Rumah Sakit Umum Cut Meutia Kota Langsa tahun 2019 dengan nilai p-value (0,007) dan ada hubungan fasilitas dengan kepuasan pasien rawat inap di Rumah Sakit Umum Cut Meutia Kota Langsa tahun 2019 dengan nilai p-value (0,030).


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leeberk Raja Inbaraj ◽  
Kulandaipalayam Natarajan Sindhu ◽  
Lalmalsawmi Ralte ◽  
Basir Ahmed ◽  
Chandni Chandramouli ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective We studied the primary caregivers’ perception, and further, their awareness of unintentional childhood injuries in south India. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural block of Kaniyambadi, Vellore, among 300 primary caregivers of children aged between 0 and 14 years. A semi-structured interview was conducted with the primary caregivers using a photo-elicitation method, with a visual depiction of ten injury risky scenarios for a child. Scoring was done to assess the perception of environmental hazards in these scenarios, and further, knowledge on the prevention of these injuries. An independent ‘t’ test was done to elicit differences in mean scores and a multivariate regression analysis was applied to ascertain factors independently associated with the scores. Results Primary caregivers had adequate perception regarding risks posed to children in scenarios such as climbing trees (96.2%), playing near construction sites (96%), firecrackers (96.4%) and crossing unmanned roads with no traffic signals (94%). Knowledge of prevention was poor however, in the following scenarios: a woman riding a bicycle without safety features, with child pillion sitting behind bare foot and legs hanging by one side (72.6%); a child playing near a construction site (85.9%); and a child playing with plastic bags (88.3%). Overall, educational status of the primary caregiver and socioeconomic status were associated with poorer perception of risks and knowledge about unintentional childhood injuries and their prevention. Conclusions Pragmatic community-based childhood interventions incorporated into existing programs, with a special focus on road traffic injuries, burns and suffocation need to be implemented in high-risk settings of rural populations in South India.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Parnis ◽  
Neville Calleja ◽  
Petra Jones

AbstractThe World Health Organisation (2016) recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age and the introduction of complementary foods at around 6 months. International literature suggests that although knowledge of the guidelines is high, only a minority of parents wait until 6 months to wean and sub-optimal weaning practices are common. The aim of this study was to assess breastfeeding and weaning practices and to evaluate the effect of socio-economic determinants on such behaviours in a Mediterranean setting.A cross-sectional study design was used. One-time short interviews with 250 consenting mothers having 8 month old infants were conducted using a structured questionnaire. Mothers attending all the well baby clinics in the primary health care centres of the Maltese Islands for a period of two months were included in the study. The questionnaire included socio-economic and demographic data, details on the initiation and duration of breastfeeding, weaning practices and a short assessment of the infant's usual diet at 8 months.Mothers between 25–34 years old (26%) and mothers with a high level of education (25%) were more likely to breastfeed only during the first 8 months of life without using any other type of milk, compared to younger (6.5%) or older (21%) mothers, and to mothers with a lower level of education (16%). The level of education was also positively associated with the continuation of breastfeeding, with the mean duration of breastfeeding for higher educated mothers being 4 months compared to 2.6 months in less educated mothers. Mothers with a lower level of education and mothers who are house-wives are more likely to give their infants only ready-made foods however associations were in this case borderline significant. On the other hand, appropriateness of weaning age was not associated with any socio-economic factors.The length of breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary foods varied widely between mothers. Compliance with infant feeding guidelines was poor. The mother's age, level of education and employment status all have an impact on breastfeeding and weaning practices. The provision of professional advice and a supportive environment for mothers, together with interventions for increasing awareness may promote maternal adherence to WHO guideline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirbo Shore Roba ◽  
Addisu Shunu Beyene ◽  
Melkamu Merid Mengesha ◽  
Behailu Hawulte Ayele

Background. Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is linked with fatal complications and is an overwhelming global challenge. Primary prevention is a key to control hypertension with identification of major risk factors. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension. Methods. Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 903 adults aged 25 to 64 years in Dire Dawa City, East Ethiopia. Data were collected using World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) for non-communicable disease (NCD) standard survey tool. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify relative effects of distal, proximal, and immediate risk factors of hypertension, and all statistical tests were declared significantly at P-value<0.05. Results. The average SBP and DBP were 124.98±17.18 mmHg and 78.92±10.13 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 24.43% (95% CI: 21.57, 27.28). Majority (51.64%) of adults were not aware of their elevated blood pressure status. hypertension was significantly associated with the age group 30-44 (aOR 3.61, 95% CI: 2.0, 6.55), 45-54 (aOR 5.36, 95% CI: 2.62, 10.91), and 55-64 (aOR 9.38, 95% CI: 4.73, 18.59), being unemployed (aOR 1.68, 95%CI: 1.03, 2.77), ever smoking (aOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.23), having abdominal obesity (aOR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.64), and BMI≥25 kg/m2 (aOR 1.48, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.15). Conclusion. Moderately high prevalence of hypertension was observed among adults in study setting demonstrating a major public health problem. Majority of adults with hypertension in study setting were not aware of their elevated BP status highlighting the burden of the hidden morbidity and subsequent complications. Community level intervention and routine assessment of sociodemographic, behavioral, and biophysiological risk factors, screening, and diagnosis of NCDs should be institutionalized to address the occult burden.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Kinga Jamphel ◽  
Dorji Gyeltshen ◽  
Sherab Tenzin ◽  
Thinley Dorji

Introduction: The World Health Organisation estimates that only half of all medicines dispensed are used appropriately. The Bhutanese Traditional Medicine (BTM) system is no exception. Objectives: We studied the patients’ knowledge on the usage of traditional medicine regimens prescribed to them, their medication adherence and possible adverse events. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using an interviewer-administered questionnaire at the National Traditional Medicine Hospital, Thimphu in 2017. A simple random sampling was used. Ethical approval was sought from Research Ethics Board of Health, Thimphu. Results: A sample of 402 patients were studied. The mean age of the respondents was 45 years (±15 years) and 333 (82.8%) were old cases presenting to the hospital. The knowledge on the correct timing of the medicine, how to take the medicine and what to avoid while on those medicines were understood only by 62.7%, 34.6% and 22.9% respectively. Only 351 (87.3%) patients received verbal information on the usage of drugs from the dispensers, of which 119 (29.6%) said the information was not clear or not adequate. Failure to take medicines on time was reported by 224 (67.3%) among old cases. Undesirable events reported while using BTM were giddiness, vomiting, skin irritation, diarrhoea and fainting episodes. Conclusions: The drug information system and monitoring of medication adherence and adverse drug events require adoption of more effective toolsand methods.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document