scholarly journals Prescription to practice in hypertension: a community experience in central Kerala

Author(s):  
Elsheba Mathew ◽  
Rajalakshmy Aiyappan ◽  
Mili M. ◽  
Navaneetha N. ◽  
Priyanka Shibu ◽  
...  

Background: Control of blood pressure is a global challenge and non-adherence to hypertension medications is a public health concern. Patient, medication and system related factors can contribute to non-adherence. The study was to determine adherence to hypertension medications and to understand the barriers to adherence in an adult group in Pathanamthitta District of Central Kerala.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a community setting in 2016, among 139 adults aged 30 years and above on treatment for hypertension for at least six months. Those with gestational hypertension, those having serious comorbid conditions and those unwilling to participate were excluded. The data sheet included basic demographic information and history related to hypertension. A content validated eight item questionnaire was used to assess reported adherence and scores classified level of adherence as good (8), moderate (6-<8) and poor (<6). The data was analyzed using SPSS. Chi square test of significance and multivariate regression analysis were done. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The participants were in the age group 34-91 years, 50.4% belonging to 50-69 years, and 75.5% were females. Adherence to hypertension medications was good in 49.6%, moderate in 31.7% and poor in 18.7%. The most common factors reported to contribute to non-adherence were forgetfulness (70.5%), high cost of medications (51.8%), and symptom-free state (27.3%).Conclusions: Adherence was good in less than half the study participants and poor in almost one-fifth. Forgetfulness and high medication costs were the most commonly reported barriers. These findings highlight the importance of individuals, families and health service, joining hands to tackle the public health problem of non-adherence to hypertension medications.

Author(s):  
Chutima Rattanawan ◽  
Suraiya Cheloh ◽  
Asma Maimahad ◽  
Malatee Tayeh

Anemia is a global public health problem. The prevalence of anemia among different ages, genders or ethnic groups must be clarified in order to solve problems. This study proposed to determine the prevalence and factors related to anemia among the Muslim school-age population in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data were collected by a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from 200 school-age subjects. The thalassemia screening was performed with KKU-OF and KKU-DCIP reagents. The prevalence of anemia in this study was 36.5%, divided into males and females, 33.3% and 39.1%, respectively. The means of Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC in the anemic group were significantly lower. The positive results for KKU-OF or KKU-DCIP or both were 15.0%, 2.5%, and 1.0%, respectively. The result of positive OF test was a significantly independent factor for anemia. The number of family members was 5 to 7 and more than 7 persons are related factors for anemia in this study. In summary, the contribution of thalassemia and socio-economic factor are associated factors to anemia in this population. These findings should be addressed in public health strategies for the control of anemia of school-aged Muslims in the region.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1842-1847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnon D. Cohen ◽  
R. Gurfinkel ◽  
R. Glezinger ◽  
Y. Kriger ◽  
N. Yancolevich ◽  
...  

Burn trauma is an important public health concern, with increased risk for burns in children. A cross-sectional study was performed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for burns in hospitalized Bedouin children in Soroka University Medical Center during the years 2001–2002. In a population of 558 hospitalized burn-injured patients, 282 Bedouin children were identified. Two hundred and sixty five patients (94.0%) had burns involving less than 20% of the body surface area. Cause of the burns was scald in 190 patients (67.4%), fire in 80 patients (28.4%), chemical in 8 patients (2.8%), and explosion in 2 patients (0.7%). Two female patients (0.7%) aged 11 and 17 years died of their burns that were caused by fire. The mean length of hospitalization was 9.8 days. Pediatric burn injury has become a significant public health problem in the Bedouin population of the Negev. To reduce the burden of burn injury, it is necessary to increase current efforts in prevention of burns.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Ram Bilakshan Sah ◽  
Kumar Gaurav ◽  
Dharani Dhar Baral ◽  
Nilambar Jha ◽  
Paras Kumar Pokharel

Teenage pregnancy, which is detrimental to the health of mother and child, is a common public health problem worldwide. It is a problem that affects nearly every society- developed and developing alike. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its impact on birth outcome. The cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of Dhankuta municipality where 246 households were taken as subjects. Chi-square test was applied to find out the significant difference between socio demographic characteristics and outcome variable i.e. birth outcome & age of 1st pregnancy. About 34.6% of respondents were pregnant at below 20 years of age. The teenage pregnancies decreases as education level increases (p<0.001). Furthermore, economic variable shows stronger association with teenage pregnancies (p<0.001). Fetal complication was significantly higher among below 20 years of age (81%) than women with 20 years and above (19%). The proportion of low birth weight (<2.5 kg) babies was also significantly higher in women with teenage pregnancy (78.3%) than women with 20 years and above (21.7%). We conclude that the problem of teenage pregnancy is common and has become a key public health concern for all. The teenage pregnancy was not favorable condition for baby outcome.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.12231Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol. 3, No.1 Issue 6, 2014, Page: 13-19


Author(s):  
Desirée Mena-Tudela ◽  
Susana Iglesias-Casás ◽  
Víctor Manuel González-Chordá ◽  
María Jesús Valero-Chillerón ◽  
Laura Andreu-Pejó ◽  
...  

Background: Obstetric violence is a worldwide public health problem, which seems greater in Spain. As no studies were found that identify the most representative healthcare professionals, times, and areas involved in obstetric violence, the objective of this work was to study at what time of maternity, with which professionals, and in what areas women identified obstetric violence. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was performed from January 2018 to June 2019. The main variables were the area (hospital, primary care, both), the time (pregnancy, birth, puerperium), and the professionals attending to women. Results: Our sample comprised 17,541 participants. The area identified with the most obstetric violence for the different studied variables was hospitals. Women identified more obstetric violence at time of birth. Findings such as lack of information and informed consent (74.2%), and criticism of infantile behavior and treatment (87.6%), stood out. The main identified healthcare professionals were midwives and gynecologists, and “other” professionals repeatedly appeared. Conclusions: Having identified the professionals, times, and areas of most obstetric violence in Spain, it seems necessary to reflect on not only the Spanish National Health System’s structure and management but also on healthcare professionals’ training.


2022 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Humayun Kabir ◽  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Shimpi Akter ◽  
Golam Ishraque Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, is an emerging public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the perception of mucormycosis among Bangladeshi healthcare workers. Results An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out among the Bangladeshi healthcare workers from May 25, 2021, to June 5, 2021. The study found 422 responses from the healthcare workers of Bangladesh. Among the respondents, nearly half of them (45.26%) were doctors (n = 191). This study explored that the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception scores were significantly associated with their age, gender, profession, monthly income, marital status, job type, and death of friends and family members due to COVID-19. Conclusions This study emphasized the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception along with other associated factors. The findings could help policymakers to mitigate mucormycosis and related infectious diseases emergencies in the post-COVID-19 situation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Nikmatur Rohmah ◽  
Fariani Syahrul

Diarrhea is still a public health problem in the world and the mostly occur in children under five years. At the moment the number of diarrhea-caused mortality was 3.8 per 1000 per year by 3.2 episodes per year in children under five years. This research aims to analyze the association between hand-washing habits and toilet use with the incidence of diarrhea in children under five years. This is an observational analytic with cross sectional study. Population of the research was a children's mother took her children to the public health center of Sekardangan Sidoarjo Subdistrict. The number of samples taken as many as 58 mother of children under five years. Data collection was done with interviews to parents of children and the observations of the toilets. Technique of data analysis using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. On the results of the research there is a significant association the habit of hand washing (p = 0.006) and toilet use(p = 0.014) with the incidenceof diarrhea in children under five years. Conclusions of the research is the habit of hand washing and toilet use had a significant association with the incidenceof diarrhea in children under five years. Advice that can be given to the mother of a children under five years is to wash the hands before and after defecating and before preparing food for children. Keywords: diarrhea, hand washing, toilet use, observational, children under five years


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Ramadhan ◽  
Yulidar Yulidar ◽  
Abidah Nur ◽  
Zain Hadifah ◽  
Yasir Yasir

Abstract Filariasis is still a global public health problem both in the world and in Indonesia. Aceh is include in one of the provinces with the most clinical cases in Indonesia. The aimed of this study was to determine the description of endemicity status and Related Factors to Instantaneous Transmissions period after Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) 1 in Pidie district. This research is part of the filariasis elimination evaluation study in Indonesia (Multicenter Filariasis Study) Litbangkes Office Center, Ministry of Health in 2017. The research design was cross sectional study. The study was conducted from February to November 2017. The selected research sites were Buloh and Kambuk Payapi Village in Pidie district. Data was collected by interviewin respondent to obtained information about people's knowledge, attitudes and behavior related to filariasis. In addition, finger blood tests were also conducted on respondents who had been interviewed. The number of respondents by finger blood was 627 and 714 were interviewed. The risk of filariasis transmission still occurred with the finding of 10 positive cases of microfilaria as many as 10 people in Kambuk Payapi village  with B.malayi species. The average filarial density was 86.84 / μl blood.  Respondent’s knowledge about filariasis is still low, community attitudes towads the prevention and treatment of filariasis was positive. Only a portion of respondents were involved in mass treatment. Selective treatment and strengthening synergy across sectors and programs must be increased so that elimination of  filariasis can be achieved. In addition, it is necessary to increase public knowledge through various health promotion media to improve community behaviour to achieve  elimination of filariasis. Abstrak Filariasis masih menjadi masalah kesehatan baik di dunia maupun di Indonesia. Aceh termasuk dalam salah satu provinsi dengan kasus klinis kronis terbanyak di Indonesia. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui gambaran status endemisitas filariasis dan faktor yang berpengaruh dengan transmisi setelah Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) 1 di Kabupaten Pidie. Penelitian ini merupakan bagian dari studi evaluasi eliminasi filariasis di Indonesia (studi Multicenter Filariasis) Badan Litbangkes Kementerian Kesehatan tahun 2017. Desain penelitian adalah cross sectional study. Penelitian dilakukan dari Februari-November 2017. Tempat penelitian adalah di desa Buloh dan desa Kambuk Payapi di Kabupaten Pidie. Pengumpulan data dilakukan wawancara responden untuk mendapatkan informasi tentang pengetahuan, sikap, dan perilaku masyarakat terkait filariasis. Selain itu juga dilakukan pemeriksaan darah jari malam hari pada responden yang sudah diwawancarai.  Jumlah responden yang diperiksa darah jari 627 responden dan yang diwawancarai 714.  Resiko penularan filariasis masih terjadi dengan masih ditemukannya kasus positif mikrofilaria sebanyak 10 orang di desa Kambuk Payapi dengan spesies B.malayi. Rata-rata kepadatan filaria adalah 86,84/µl darah. Pengetahuan responden tentang penyebab filariasis masih rendah, sikap masyarakat terhadap upaya pencegahan dan pengobatan filariasis sudah positif. Namun demikian hanya sebagian responden yang ikut terlibat dalam pengobatan masal. Pengobatan selektif dan memperkuat sinergi lintas sektos dan lintas program harus ditingkatkan agar eliminasi filariasis dapat dicapai. Selain itu diperlukan peningkatan pengetahuan masyarakat melalui berbagai media promosi kesehatan untuk meningkatkan prilaku masyarakat untuk mencapai eliminasi filariasis.  


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Mondal

Background: Undernutrition is a major public health concern in many of the developing countries of Asia. Due to immense population size, socioeconomic disparities, illiteracy and inadequate access to health facilities prevalence is very high in India. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of age-sex specific thinness (low BMI-for-age) among adolescents residing in rural regions in India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study has conducted among 1165 adolescent (602 boys; 563 girls) aged 10-18 years of Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements were height and weight obtained and BMI (weight/height2, kg/ m2) was calculated. The prevalence of thinness was assessed using newly proposed age-sex specific cut-offs of Cole et al. The data were analyzed using chi-square, ANOVA and Least Mean and Square (L,M and S) model approach. Results: Prevalence of overall thinness is 49.10% (51.16% boys, 46.89% girls) among rural adolescents. The boys are found to be more sufferer than girls in the different thinness grades include mild (grade I; 27.41% vs. 27.11%), moderate (grade II; 14.62% vs. 12.08%) and severe (grade III; 9.14% vs. 8.70%) (p>0.05). The age and sex specific smooth percentile curves of BMI were derived using L,M and S model approach for further evaluation of nutritional status. Conclusion: The existence of high prevalence of thinness among adolescents indicates nutritional deprivation among rural Indian adolescents. There is an urgent need of appropriate nutritional intervention program to address the public health problem related to undernutrition especially among nutritionally vulnerable segments of adolescents residing in rural regions to ameliorate the nutritional status DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i1.8922    J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(1):39-47


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Khonde Kumbu ◽  
K. Mbanzulu Makola ◽  
Lu Bin

Background. Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in Democratic Republic of the Congo but estimates of its prevalence vary widely. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniinfection and associated risk factors among children in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone.Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone. 388 children randomly selected were screened forS. mansoniusing Kato Katz technique and the sociodemographic data was collected. Data were entered and encoded using software EpiData version 3.1. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 software.Results. The prevalence ofS. mansoniwas 26.5% (103); almost two-thirds (63) (61.2%) had light infection intensity. A significant association was found betweenS. mansoniinfection and age (p=0.005), educational level (p=0.001), and practices of swimming/bathing (p<0.001) and using water from river/lake/stream for domestic use (p<0.001). Kipasa health area had high prevalence of schistosomiasis (64.6%) (64/99; 95% CI 54.4–74.0) compared to other health areas.Conclusion.Schistosoma mansoniinfection still remains a public health problem in these areas. There is a need to promote health education and promote behavioral changes in children towards schistosomiasis.


Author(s):  
Martin Kampamba ◽  
Trevor Cheela ◽  
Christabel Nang’andu Hikaambo ◽  
Steward Mudenda ◽  
Kennedy Saini ◽  
...  

Background: Unsafe disposal of unused and expired household medicines is a public health problem and mostly occur because of a lack of knowledge towards suitable medicine disposal methods. Thus, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices on the disposal methods of unused and expired medicines among students in public academic institutions in Lusaka, Zambia.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 385 students from three higher learning academic institutions were interviewed face to face using a structured questionnaire from 10th May to 24th June 2019. The cleaned data was then transferred to statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis.Results: The mean age of the participants was 23 (SD±2.9). Out of the 385 participants, 215 (55.8%) did not know much about medical waste and 345 (89.6%) of them did not have any previous information regarding proper and safe disposal of unused and expired medicine. However, 351 (91.4%) of the participants appropriately responded that unsafe disposal of unused and expired medicine poses a threat to human health and can harm the environment. Throwing unused and expired medicine in household garbage/bin was the most frequently used disposal practice followed by flushing them in toilet/sink as responded by 231 (60.0%) and 128 (33.3%) of participants respectively. Only 17 (4.42%) reported returning unused and expired medicines to the nearest pharmacy.  Conclusions: The majority of the study participants used unsafe methods to dispose of unused and expired medicine. However, most of the participants acknowledged that unsafe disposal of unused and expired medicines is a public health problem and proposed the need to introduce drug take-back programs in the communities.  


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