scholarly journals Knowledge regarding diabetes among expectant mothers attending ante natal clinic of a tertiary care institution of Kolkata: a cross sectional study

Author(s):  
Prabir Biswas ◽  
Sonali Majumdar Das ◽  
Bibekananda Das

Background: Prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) has increased tremendously in India. Prevention of the condition is possible through health education. However, knowledge regarding diabetes is poor among Indian women. Thus, examining the basic knowledge regarding diabetes among expectant mothers is necessary to identify areas of deficit.Methods: An observational, analytical study of cross-sectional design was undertaken to assess the knowledge regarding diabetes among 173 expectant mothers attending the ante-natal clinic of R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata using a pre tested schedule.Results: Mean score of the respondents were less than 3 out of 8 which was a poor score. The overall mean diabetic score was similar for the antenatal mothers irrespective of the number of pregnancy (p=0.3154) but the score was greater than that for the non-pregnant women (p=0.0000). The expectant mothers showed better response compared to the controls when asked whether a person can have diabetes but be unaware of the condition; whether diabetes can harm a person’s body before diagnosis; long term complications of the disease(P<0.05). However, answers were similar across all groups with respect to queries like the age group in which the condition is more commonly diagnosed and whether diabetes is curable (p>0.05). The pregnant women had less reported leisure time physical exercise and first degree relative with diabetes (p<0.05).Conclusions: Mean knowledge score of the expectant mothers was more than the women controls though the overall score was poor. A structured awareness program is urgently needed which would first address diabetes in general and then the specifics of GDM.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (19) ◽  
pp. 1414-1419
Author(s):  
Kanishka Chowdhury ◽  
Sabyasachi Banerjee

BACKGROUND Cutaneous lesions of external ear are quite common in clinical practice. Patients often present with various cutaneous lesions of the external ear to various disciplines. They are often underdiagnosed as many lesions, though commonly diagnosed by our dermatologist colleague are missed by other clinicians. These lesions can be classified in various ways, according to the aetiology, and according to the anatomic sites. In the present study, we tried to assess the prevalence of different skin lesions affecting external ear presenting to an ENT and skin outpatient department of a tertiary care medical college in Eastern part of India. METHODS This is a descriptive observational study, cross sectional in design. 240 patients attended the outpatient department with cutaneous lesions affecting external ear from January 2019 to February 2020. The patients presenting in both ENT and skin outpatient department were chosen randomly. Cases were diagnosed based on history and clinical examination and appropriate investigation as required. All cases were categorised into 5 types (infective, inflammatory, autoimmune, neoplasm & naevi, and reactive & reparative) according to the aetiology. In each category, prevalence of various skin lesions was recorded. RESULTS A total number of 240 cases were detected during the study period. Among them, infective 43.33 %, inflammatory 30.83 %, autoimmune 9.17 %, neoplasm & naevi 4.17 % and reactive & reparative were 12.82 %. Taenia was the most common lesions encountered (20.51 %) followed by keloid (12.5 %). Impetigo and seborrheic dermatitis shared same number of cases (9.4 %). Neoplastic lesions were the least common. CONCLUSIONS With some awareness and basic knowledge, many of the cutaneous lesions of external ear can be diagnosed and treated whenever patients report to a clinician, thus saving valuable time, effort and money of the patient. KEYWORDS Cutaneous Lesions, Skin Lesions, External Ear


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (234) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipty Shrestha ◽  
Rachana Saha ◽  
Naresh Manandhar ◽  
Asmita Adhikari ◽  
Jyoti Dahal

Introduction: COVID-19 is a beta coronavirus that is transmitted by physical interaction or close contact. This Coronavirus Pandemic has also created stress and anxiety among pregnant women all over the world. The disease was first identified in Wuhan city, China, in late December 2019 and was declared pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11th March 2020. Concern and stress in pregnancy are associated with pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour, depression etc. Pregnancy is an immune-compromised state and poses a high risk to this risk. This study aims to identify anxiety about the coronavirus infection among pregnant women visiting a tertiary care centre in Kathmandu, Nepal, during this COVID–19 pandemic. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital from 15th July 2020 to 30th July 2020 after taking the ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College. Convenient sampling method was used. All the data were entered in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences data 20.0 and analyzed. Data was presented in frequencies, charts and percentage. Results: Among the total 273 cases, only 2 (0.73%) case had a score between 25-30 corresponding to moderate to severe anxiety, 21 (7.69%) had a score between 18-24, which corresponds to mild to moderate anxiety and 250 (91.57%) had score 0-17 which corresponds mild status. Conclusions: Most of the participants in the study reported a mild status of anxiety. Very few participants reported moderate to severe anxiety.


Author(s):  
Varsha Singh ◽  
Amit Mohan Varshney ◽  
Samarjeet Kaur

Background: Ultrasound examination during pregnancy has become an integral part of antenatal care throughout the world. This technology is an important tool for the obstetricians, to reassure their patients regarding the well-being of their fetus in utero. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of USG among pregnant women.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women attending the ANC clinic of Obstetric department of MLB Medical College Hospital, Jhansi, UP from March to May 2018. The study included 300 pregnant women and data was collected by using pre tested questionnaire.Results: The study reveals that 51.3% of participants were in the age group of 20-25 yr and 50% of them belong to upper lower class, most of them unskilled (83.4%), 63.3% of participants depicted that USG is done only to confirm the pregnancy and 81% of women considered that it is beneficial during pregnancy and 65% was known that USG can be used to determine sex of the foetus.Conclusions: Awareness regarding the uses of ultrasonography during pregnancy was found to be average. There is need to create more awareness in community about the USG uses and PCPNDT act and its provisions. There is need of creating more awareness about the safety, utility and frequency of USG during antenatal period to avoid misuse.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-78
Author(s):  
. Hemraj ◽  
Raj Kumar ◽  
Sourabh Kosey ◽  
Amit Sharma ◽  
Nalini Negi

To determine the most common physical side effects experienced by local chemotherapy patients. Their perceptions of these side effects and informational needs from clinical pharmacists were also evaluated. This was a single center, observational cross-sectional study conducted at department of General Surgery, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. A face to face interview was conducted. Information collected included chemotherapy related side effects after last chemotherapy experience, the most worrisome side effects, overlooked by healthcare professionals and the preferred method, amount and source of receiving related information. In this study, hundred patients were enrolled out of them 48 were male and 52 were female. When differential calculations was done, common side effects or adverse effects of chemotherapy in the patients of breast, lung cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Lymphoma Cancer, Cervix cancer where there is much irregular medicine intake 57.4% may be due to common problem of joint pain reported by all the patients under study, with the consecutive problem of nausea and vomiting. The high prevalence of chemotherapy related side effects among local patients is a major concern and findings of their perceptions and informational needs may serve as a valuable guide for clinical pharmacists and physicians to help in side effect management. This study shows the common problems reported by the patients when they are suffering from cancer condition, according to their incidence perceptions as experienced by the patient, this will allow the physician and clinical pharmacist to effectively counsel and manage the common symptoms as reported prior to its occurrence in the patient, so that withdrawal can be checked.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saran Tenzin Tamang ◽  
Thinley Dorji ◽  
Sonam Yoezer ◽  
Thinley Phuntsho ◽  
Phurb Dorji

Abstract Background The third Sustainable Development Goal for 2030 development agenda aims to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. Pregnant women’s understanding of danger signs is an important factor in seeking timely care during emergencies. We assessed knowledge of obstetric danger signs using both recall and understanding of appropriate action required during obstetric emergencies. Methods This was a cross-sectional study among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Bhutan’s largest hospital in Thimphu. Recall was assessed against seven obstetric danger signs outlined in the Mother and Child Health Handbook (7 points). Understanding of danger signs was tested using 13 multiple choice questions (13 points). Knowledge was scored out of 20 points and reported as ‘good’ (≥80%), ‘satisfactory’ (60–79%) and ‘poor’ (< 60%). Correlation between participant characteristics and knowledge score as well as number of danger signs recalled was tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Association between knowledge score and participant characteristics was tested using t-tests (and Kruskal-Wallis test) for numeric variables. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the level of knowledge ('good’ versus ‘satisfactory’ and ‘poor’ combined) were assessed with odds ratios using a log-binomial regression model. All results with p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results Four hundred and twenty-two women responded to the survey (response rate = 96.0%). Mean (±SD) knowledge score was 12 (±2.5). Twenty women (4.7%) had ‘good’ knowledge, 245 (58.1%) had ‘satisfactory’ knowledge and 157 (37.2%) had ‘poor’ knowledge. The median number of danger signs recalled was 2 (IQR 1, 3) while 68 women (20.3%) could not recall any danger signs. Most women were knowledgeable about pre-labour rupture of membranes (96.0%) while very few women were knowledgeable about spotting during pregnancy (19.9%). Both knowledge score and number of danger signs recalled had significant correlation with the period of gestation. Women with previous surgery on the reproductive tract had higher odds of having ‘good’ level of knowledge. Conclusions Most pregnant women had ‘satisfactory’ knowledge score with poor explicit recall of danger signs. However, women recognized obstetric emergencies and identified the appropriate action warranted.


Med Phoenix ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Smita Singh ◽  
Deependra Prasad Sarraf ◽  
Prabin Singh ◽  
Pragati Poudyel

Introduction: Pharmacovigilance helps in the detection and prevention of adverse effects of drugs. For the effectiveness of this program, health care professionals should report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) considering it as their moral and professional obligation. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the doctors towards ADRs and pharmacovigilance in  National Medical College Teaching Hospital (NMCTH), a tertiary care teaching hospital situated in the Narayani zone. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of four parts; first part included a demographic profile of participants, the second part consisted of ten questions for the assessment of the knowledge about pharmacovigilance, third part comprised of six questions on attitude and fourth part consisted of five questions on practice. The results were depicted in the form of percentages for each KAPs questionnaire.   Results: The response rate of participants was 85.16%. Pharmacovigilance was correctly defined by 52%. Department of drug administration was responsible for monitoring ADRs in Nepal was correctly given by 80%. Only 8% had reported ADRs, although 62% had encountered an ADR in their clinical practice. Conclusion: The doctors at NMCTH had a poor KAP towards pharmacovigilance and educational intervention is needed for the proper functioning of this program.


2021 ◽  
pp. 12-15
Author(s):  
Smarajit Banik ◽  
Sandip Saha ◽  
Sudipan Mitra ◽  
Ujjwal Pattanayak ◽  
Rajib Sikder ◽  
...  

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality. With a rise in non communicable diseases in India, diabetes has become a modern epidemic showing a rising trend in West Bengal also. A large number of diabetes patients come to the diabetes clinic of our tertiary care hospital in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Darjeeling, West Bengal. The large proportion of patients presenting with this condition prompted us to study the Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Prole of such patients. Methods: This was a descriptive hospital based cross sectional study involving a total of 344 diabetic patients enrolled in the diabetes clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital from December 2019 to February 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and was analyzed in Microsoft excel sheet and using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: Among the 344 study participants, we found that 220 (63.95%) were males and 124 (36.05%) were females. Diabetes was more common among those aged 51-60 years 108 (31.40%). Family history was present among 188 (54.65%) of the diabetic patients. Almost 160 (46.51%) patients have diabetes 1.1 – 5 years. Hypertension was present among 216 (62.79%) patients. Almost 218 (63.37%) of the patients were overweight and 84 (24.42%) were obese. Conclusions: The diabetic patients presenting to this tertiary care hospital belong lower socioeconomic strata and having limited education in their age group. There is high proportion of obesity and hypertension among them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1566
Author(s):  
Vinay Jishtu ◽  
Pramod K. Jaret ◽  
Prem Chand Machhan ◽  
Nidhi Chauhan

Background: Acute undifferentiated fever illness (AUFI) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, owing to its non-specific features. The aim of the study was to delineate the causes and clinical parameters associated with AUFI.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 156 patients of AUFI, admitted in the Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, from November 2018 to October 2019.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.37±14.2 years. The study participants admitted for acute undifferentiated febrile illness had fever with mean duration of 8.38±3.7 days before hospitalization. The most common aetiology of AUFI was found to be enteric fever (44%), followed by scrub typhus (35%). The majority of the cases presented from the month of September to December.Conclusions: The aetiology and clinical spectrum of AUFI is wide and variable. To outline a proper algorithm to contain it, meticulous analysis of the hospital data at each level is necessary.


Author(s):  
Ananthi Kasinathan ◽  
Himabindu Nagulapally

Background: Knowledge and access to contraception is the basic right of every woman. This is one of the goals of National family planning programme. This study gauges the knowledge of antenatal women about temporary contraceptive methods available in our outpatient department and their attitude towards its practice.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at Indira Gandhi medical college and research institute, Puducherry, between March 2019 to May 2019. 270 pregnant women were chosen and with their consent, using a predesigned questionnaire, their awareness regarding contraception was assessed. Then each participant was counselled regarding the various methods and their attitude towards choosing a temporary contraceptive method was assessed using a questionnaire. The data was entered in SPSS software and analyzed.Results: In this study, 88.8% belonged to 20-30 years, 77% had received school education and 80.3% were home makers. 72.9% were primigravidas. 55.8% of primis and 95.8% of multis knew about spacing. In primis, 67.5% knew about IUCDs. In multis, 95.8% knew about condoms. Knowledge of depo provera was poor. The most preferred contraceptive was condom followed by CuT and pills.Conclusions: This study shows that it is important to create awareness about temporary contraceptive methods and its free availability in the hospitals. Further pregnant women need to be given more information about oral pills, emergency and injectable contraceptive methods. The Government has to work in unison with hospitals and its staff along with the media to achieve this goal.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-31
Author(s):  
Swapna Bhattacharjee ◽  
Shekhar Bhattacharjee ◽  
Rukhsana Parvin

Background: Cough variant asthma (CVA) is a subset of asthma where the only symptom is chronic persistent cough. Many cases go unrecognized due to lack of proper evaluation. Response to asthma medication with features supportive of airway hypersensitivity helps in management of this disease. Objective: To find out the proportion of cough variant asthma among the patients attending medicine outpatient department of Enam Medical College, Savar, Dhaka. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Enam Medical College Hospital, Savar, Dhaka over a period of two years from July 2009 to July 2011. Cough variant asthma was diagnosed mainly on clinical ground as chronic cough without wheezing, fever, weight loss, shortness of breath or sputum or any other apparent cause that persisted for more than eight weeks with absolutely normal physical examination of chest, normal chest radiography and blood count except raised eosinophil count and IgE level. Patients who met these criteria were given 2 weeks course of inhaler beclomethasone propionate and were assessed for improvement. Those who improved after steroid inhalation were categorised as having cough variant asthma. Results: Out of purposively selected 148 patients complaining only of chronic dry cough for more than eight weeks, 92 patients met the primary selection criteria for cough variant asthma. These 92 patients were given 2 weeks trial of 250 ìgm beclomethasone inhalation twice daily. Seventy nine patients reported almost complete recovery from chronic cough after 2 weeks and were categorized as having CVA. Thirteen patients did not improve and were not categorized as CVA. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cough variant asthma is the most common among the patients with chronic cough not due to any apparent cause. The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroid suggests that early intervention is effective in the treatment of this disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v3i1.13871 J Enam Med Col 2013; 3(1): 29-31


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