scholarly journals Pre lacteal feeding practice among mothers in a rural area of Karnataka: a cross sectional study

Author(s):  
Srividya Jayarama ◽  
Radha Ramaiah

Background: In many countries across the world, the practice of giving new born babies other substances (pre lacteal feeding) even before lactation is a common cultural practice. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of pre lacteal feeding practice among mothers and to identify the factors leading to pre lacteal feeding.Methods: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted among 206 mothers of infants and children younger than 24 months, residing in a rural area of Karnataka. Data regarding pre lacteal feeding practice, type of pre lacteal feed given, reasons for giving pre lacteal feed was collected using a predesigned questionnaire prepared in local language. Institutional ethical committee approval, informed consent from the study participants was taken and anonymity, confidentiality was ensured.Results: Out of 206 study participants, 66 (32.03%) had given pre lacteal feeds to their newborn, while 140 (67.97%) had not given pre lacteal feeds to their newborn. Pre lacteal feeding practice was more among mothers who were illiterates, who belonged to lower socio economic status. This difference in prevalence of pre lacteal feeding practice was found to be statistically significant. Honey, sugar water, religious water, coconut water, jaggery are the different types of pre lacteal feeds given. Customs, insisted by relatives, development of speech, helps in digestion, cleanses digestive system were the reported reasons for giving pre lacteal feeds.Conclusions: Socio demographic factors like education, socio economic status influence pre lacteal feeding practice. Through IEC (Information, education communication) activities awareness regarding ill effects of pre lacteal feeding practice should be created among mothers. 

Author(s):  
Ananta Kumar ◽  
Pracheth R.

Background: Medication adherence is regarded as a critical determinant of control of hypertension. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with medication adherence among hypertensive adults, residing in a rural area of Dakshina Kannada district.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2015. A pre-designed, pre-tested proforma was used to collect information. The study participants were enquired about the medication adherence using the Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8). Medication adherence was graded as high (zero score), medium (1-2 score) and low (3-8 score).Results: A total of 193 hypertensive adults fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Low medication adherence was observed in 56 (29.01%) of the study participants. Majority (67.88%), had medium adherence, while a very low percentage (3.11%) had high medication adherence, as per the MMAS-8. Low adherence was found to be higher among participants belonging to low socio-economic status (39.44%) when compared to other classes. This association was statistically significant (p=0.0025). Those having diabetes had higher rates of poor adherence (66.67%) when compared to non-diabetics (13.24%), which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Consuming ≥3 medications was another factor found to be significantly associated with low medication adherence (p<0.0001).Conclusions: We conclude that 29.01% of the study participants had low medication adherence. Low socio-economic status (Class IV+V), presence of diabetes mellitus and number of medications were the factors found to be significantly associated with low medication adherence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Asadi-Lari ◽  
Y. Salimi ◽  
M. R. Vaez-Mahdavi ◽  
S. Faghihzadeh ◽  
A. A. Haeri Mehrizi ◽  
...  

1970 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 180-184
Author(s):  
BJ Brown ◽  
AO Adeleye

Background: Socioeconomic factors are known to affect health quality, disease occurrence as well as health-seeking behaviors in several ways.Objectives: To determine the influence of socio-economic factors on awareness of cancer, healthseeking behaviors among parents of children with cancer in a developing country and occurrence of cancer using Burkitt lymphoma as index malignancy.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved children with cancer seen over a 2-year period in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Information was obtained by interview through administration of a questionnaire and retrieval of clinical data from patients’ case notes.Results: The caregivers of 91 children (46 boys, 45 girls) were interviewed including 86 biological parents. Majority (84.6%) of the children belonged to the low socio -economic classes 3-5; 45 of 86 parents (52.3%), more likely in parents from higher socioeconomic classes, were aware of cancer but only 7 (8.1%) knew it could occur in children. There was no association between Burkitt lymphoma and socio-economic class. Twenty-eight (30.8%) parents of the 91 children visited alternate sources of health care, most commonly traditional healers, followed by religious centers. There was no association between visits to such centers and the parents’ socio-economic status or with presentation with metastatic disease.Conclusions: Awareness of childhood cancer is low among this cohort of parents; their socioeconomic status seems to impact on this level of awareness but not on their health-seeking behaviors for their affected children. Focused health education is needed to increase childhood cancer awareness and appropriate healthseeking behavior among the population studied.Key words: socio-economic; childhood; cancer; health-seeking; behaviour; awareness


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Getnet Kassa ◽  
Addisalem Mesfin ◽  
Samson Gebremedhin

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries routine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) is a key strategy for reducing vitamin A deficiency and mortality and morbidity of preschool children. However, in Ethiopia, there is paucity of evidence regarding the level and determinants of the uptake of the supplement. This study was designed to assess the coverage and predictors of VAS among preschool children in Humbo district, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2016. A total of 840 mothers/caregivers having children 6–59 months of age were selected using multistage cluster sampling technique from six rural villages implementing routine VAS program. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Possible predictors considered in the study include distance from the nearby health facility, household socio-economic status, type of the household (model vs non-model), maternal access to health education on VAS, and knowledge on vitamin A and VAS. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of uptake of VAS. The outputs are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The coverage of VAS was 75.0% (95% CI: 72.1–77.9). Better knowledge of mothers about the importance of the supplement (AOR: 1.49, 1.02–2.17), obtaining VAS related information from frontline community health workers (AOR: 1.51, 1.34–2.72) than health professionals and being from households in the “rich” wealth tertile (AOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.07–3.03) were positively associated with uptake VAS. Conclusion The VAS coverage of the area was approaching the expected national target of 80%. However, the uptake can be enhanced though awareness creation and improving socio-economic status of the community.


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