scholarly journals Epidemiology of injuries and its impact among elderly: a descriptive community based cross-sectional study from central rural India

Author(s):  
Shriram V. Gosavi ◽  
Anil R. Koparkar ◽  
Supriya A. Giri ◽  
Komal D. More

Background: This study was to enlighten the prevalence, different types & impact of injuries in elderly population in rural area of middle income country (India).Methods: It was a community based descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in all 24 villages under one Primary Health Centre of central India. The study was carried out from June 2009 to May 2011.Results: In the present study, prevalence of injury was 17.1%, which was highest among elderly ageing 65-69 years (36.8%) followed by elderly ageing 60-64 years (27.4%). Prevalence of injury was higher (20%) among males as compared to females (14%). Association of age, gender and injury was not statistically significant. Fall was the most common cause (34.7%) of injury followed by occupational (34.0%) and road traffic accidents (15.8%). Superficial injuries were the most common (32.6%) type of injuries followed by fracture (27.3%). Hospital admission required by 24.2% of elderly. We found 34.7% elderly was physically impaired and 26.3% physically disabled due to various injuries.Conclusions: In the present study we found injuries pose a major public health problem in elderly. Therefore there is a need of community based assessment on impact of injury among elderly in various parts of country to formulate appropriate health initiatives for prevention and optimum treatment of injuries in elderly.

Author(s):  
C. Rajan Rushender ◽  
G. Dinesh Kumar ◽  
M. Logaraj

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem. It is reported that, globally, about 9 million people developed tuberculosis and about 1.5 million people died due to tuberculosis across the globe in 2013.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in the Rural Health Training Center, SRM Medical College to assess knowledge and practice regarding tuberculosis using a pretested Interview schedule. Adult population, who are residing in the field practice area were considered as study population. The study period was between August 2013 to February 2014.Results: A total of 246 study subjects were included in the final analysis with the majority of the participants to be between 21 to 40 years (39.40%). Cough and expectoration as symptom of TB was known to 82.5% of study subjects. Only 22.8% of the study subjects are aware of at least one extra pulmonary for of tuberculosis. The proportion of subjects with good overall knowledge about TB was highest in subjects aged 61 and above, lowest in 41 to 60-year age group. The proportion of subjects with good knowledge had gradually increased with increasing socio economic status.Conclusions: Culture specific IEC interventions and their delivery mechanisms need to be designed, considering the highly heterogeneous nature of population in India. 


Author(s):  
Pramila J. Paul ◽  
Rebecca Samson ◽  
Annie William ◽  
Bridgitte Akila ◽  
Anil J. Purty ◽  
...  

Background: The prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in India are on the increasing trend. Hypertension is a major public health problem in India. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension in an urban area of Puducherry, South India.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among adults in an urban area of Puducherry, South India, between Oct 2013 to Nov 2013. A total of 236 adults aged ≥ 35years were selected and data was collected using piloted questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured following standard technique.Results: Out of 236 participants 123(52.1%) were found to be hypertensives. Among the hypertensives, nearly one fourth 32(24%) of them were undiagnosed hypertensives. Advanced age, male gender, housewives compared to their counterparts, family history of hypertension, alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, and abdominal obesity (among females) were significantly associated with hypertension. Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension is found to be high. Regular health education programme to raise awareness and community-based screening programme should be given priority for early detection of hypertension and prevention of complications. 


Author(s):  
Arunkumar M. ◽  
Gopalakrishnan S. ◽  
Umadevi R.

Background: Tobacco is the leading global cause of preventable death which kills millions of people and causes huge economic damage every year. Smoking form of tobacco is a major modifiable risk factor for number of chronic non-communicable diseases. In spite of various statutory warnings, smoking still remains a major Public health problem especially in young males. In order to reduce the magnitude and for effective control, the risk factors and distribution should be well known. This study was planned with the objective of assessing the prevalence and determinants of smoking among rural young males of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India.Methods: This community based cross sectional study was carried out between March and May 2018 among rural young males aged between 18 to 29 years. Sample size of 431 was calculated by using 4PQ/L2 and the respondents were selected from sampled households using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire, which were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and presented using descriptive and analytical statistics.Results: Among 422 participants interviewed, the prevalence of smoking was 23%. Factors found to be protective against smoking were employment status and sedentary type of jobs. Factors found to be significantly associated with smoking were individuals with smoking friends and family members, habit of alcoholism, employment and low education status.Conclusions: Since smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, efforts should be made to control its use by intensive health education, implementing counsellingfacilities and rigorous enforcement of anti-tobacco legislation. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Bayapa Reddy N. ◽  
Shakeer Kahn P. ◽  
Surendra Babu D. ◽  
Khadervali N. ◽  
Chandrasekhar C. ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Anup Latne ◽  
Prabhakar Jirvankar

Hypertension is a major public health problem all over the world. The incidence of hypertension is increasing year after year and the prevalence of hypertension is increasing day by day due to increased life expectancy and aging population and their sedentary lifestyle. Hypertension is known to cause microvascular changes and increased cardiovascular risk from it. Microalbuminuria possibly reflects a state of increased renal endothelial permeability and is an easily measured marker of rather diffuse endothelial dysfunction, low grade inflammation and vascular disease burden2. Microalbuminuria has been determined as an important prognostic indicator and has been reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and progressive renal damage. Reliable data on the prevalence of microalbuminuria in the general population and its association with cardiovascular risk factors is limited. Till now, there is little data available regarding screening and early treatment of hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria, as in the case of microalbuminuric non diabetic subjects. With these perspective this cross sectional study of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients was undertaken to study prevalence of microalbuminuria in Non Diabetic hypertensive patients. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients and to correlate the presence of microalbuminuria with the patients of different clinical profiles. Materials and Methods: This was observational, cross sectional study of Patients diagnosed with hypertension either admitted in ward or attending OPD of Medical College and Tertiary Care Centre. Urine microalbumin creatinine ratio was used for estimation of microalbuminuria. Conclusion: It was proved that microalbuminuria prevalence was directly proportional to the duration of hypertension, the stage of hypertension. Prevalence of microalbuminria was low in ACE inhibitor and ARB treated hypertensive patients.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demelash Wachamo ◽  
Fisseha Bonja

Abstract Background Opportunistic infections are late complications of HIV infection is the depletion of the immune system. It is a major public health problem and high morbidity AIDS patients die of AIDS-related infections in developing countries like Ethiopia. Identification of opportunistic infections (OIs) is important to develop a specific intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden and associated factors of opportunistic infections.Method A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients taking anti-retroviral therapy. Data was collected from selected hospitals in Sidama Zone based on population proportion to size. Data was collected by a pre-tested questionnaire and a pre-tested checklist from the medical records of patients. Data entry and analyzed for descriptive and logistic regression models by SPSS v.23. The result declared as statistically significant at p < 0.05.Result The magnitude of opportunistic infections was 39.6%. Major identified OIs was oral candidacies 23.2%, recurrent bacterial pneumonia 21.5%, Herpes zoster 6.3%, and Pulmonary Tuberculosis 6.0%.The magnitude of opportunistic associated with; older age [AOR=2.69, 95% CI: 1.33-5.43], No formal education [AOR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.06-9.25], Low monthly income [AOR=2.27, 95%CI:1.35-3.83], initial CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 [AOR=1.91, 95% CI:1.05-3.46), WHO clinical stage II [AOR=2.43, 95% CI:1.34-4.42] and stage III and IV [AOR=4.27, 95% CI: 2.12-8.59], had no extra medicine additional to ART (prophylaxis) had [AOR= 5.91, 95% CI: 3.31-10.56], who interrupt ART medicines [AOR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.09- 3.80] and Khat chewing [AOR=5.48, 95% CI: 2.32-12.96] when compared to their counterparts.Conclusions The overall magnitude of opportunistic infections was high when compared with other studies. Health officials and clinicians need to give attention on the strengthening of the provision if ART with prophylaxis on early-stage and adhrerence, implementation of the TB/HIV collaboration activity, and early initiation of ART to reduce opportunistic infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Bharatkumar Balkrishna Pandya ◽  
Upendrakumar Rameshbhai Chaudhari ◽  
Avirat A. Bhatt ◽  
Nilesh Thakor

Background: Nutritional Anemia and visual impairment among school age children are recognized as major public health problem in India. Authors objective was to study prevalence of anemia and visual impairment among school going adolescents of Vadodara and Surat city of Gujarat, India.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried during period from April 2015 to March 2016. Total 8 schools were selected from Vadodara and Surat city by purposive sampling. After taking the permission of principals of schools and informed written consent of the parents of children, 859 children from these schools were examined for anaemia and visual impairment. The data was collected by predesign, pretested proforma and analysed using SPSS version 17 (Trial version).Results: Out of total 859 children 421(49.1%) were female. Mean age of the study children was 8.95±1.52 years. The prevalence of anemia in children in present study was 61.6 % (529 children). The prevalence of anemia in female (274, 65.1%) was higher than males (255, 58.2%). Moderate visual impairment and blindness was 5.9% in girls and 8.2% in boys respectively. Severe visual impairment and blindness was 2.1% in girls and 2.7% in boys respectively and the gender difference was not statistically significant. Though 61(7.1%) children had moderate to severe visual impairment to blindness only 21 (2.4%) children were wearing spectacles.Conclusions: High prevalence of anaemia and visual impairment among these children needs great attention and health education.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assaye Belay Gelaw ◽  
Solomon Abebaw Andargie

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and it is the most important of public health problem worldwide. A critical element in tackling the COVID-19 crisis is personal behavioral change; however, there is a paucity of evidence about peoples’ awareness towards COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the aim of this was to assess the community’s awareness status towards COVID-19 in Sheka, Southwestern Ethiopia.Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted 10th to 21th April 2020. Four hundred-nineteen individuals participated during the study. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant factors of awareness status, and variables with p-value<0.05 indicated it significantly influences the awareness status of the individuals towards COVID-19.Results: According to the study’s results, nearly half (49.4 %) of the participants had awareness about COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such being female equal (AOR: 0.476, 95%CI: 0.293, 0.772),education being secondary and above(AOR:2.178,95%CI:1.323,3.586),and prevention methods being fully used (AOR,8.127,95%CI: 1.273, 51.871)were significantly influencing the awareness status of the community towards COVID-19 pandemic than their counterparts.Conclusion: The study showed that there is a low awareness status among people towards COVID-19.Hence, programs to improve awareness towards COVID-19 pandemic is essential to prevent and control the pandemic.


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