scholarly journals A cross-sectional study on morbidity status among school going adolescents in Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu

Author(s):  
Sathish Dev D. ◽  
Sugantha Valli M. ◽  
Gnana Sezhian M. ◽  
Suganya E.

Background: Adolescents represent about 21.8 percent of India’s population. Various health risks with potentially life-threatening consequences become prominent in this age group. This study was undertaken with the objective to determine the morbidity profile of school going adolescents in Tamil Nadu.Methods: This descriptive, cross sectional study was planned and conducted from January 2016 to August 2017. The study population included 987 adolescent boys and girls aged between 10 to 19 years studying in high and higher secondary Government schools of Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. Semi-structured questionnaire was used as data collection tool.Results: The mean age groups of this school going adolescent are 14.2 yrs. In the present study 583 (59%) of the study participants were affected by one or more morbidity condition. Among them, 395 (67.7%) were in the age group 10-14 years and 188 (32.2%) in the age group 15-19 years. 122 (21%) and 461 (79.1%) of male and female were affected respectively. In the present study, fever (21%) was the commonest reported morbidity followed by acute respiratory infection (15.7%) and acute gastrointestinal disease (13. 4%).Conclusions: This study shows that adolescents are prone to a wide range of morbidity conditions. Apart from respiratory and gastro intestinal diseases, reproductive tract infections and sexual health problems are important morbidities affecting this age group. There is strong need to sensitize health care practitioners at all levels, in both government and private sectors towards health problems in adolescent age groups.

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-356
Author(s):  
Prokash Biswas ◽  
Md Bahanur Rahman ◽  
Sayra Tasnin Sharmy ◽  
Md Ferdousur Rahman Khan ◽  
Md Mizanur Rahman ◽  
...  

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bovine and avian tuberculosis in cattle by using bovine and avian PPDs at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) Cattle Farm, Savar, Dhaka. Cattle of different breeds, ages and sexes (n=183) were tested using bovine and avian PPDs. In caudal Fold Tuberculin (CFT) test, 16 (8.74%) cases were showed positive reaction among 183 sample. The overall percentages of positive reactors to Comparative cervical tuberculin (CCT) test of bovine and avian tuberculosis were 7.10% and 1.64% respectively. An insignificant variation (P>0.05) on prevalence of bovine tuberculosis on different age group of cattle was observed. Age group >7 years showed a higher prevalence (10.91%) than those of other age groups. In CCT test, 7.55% and 4.17% positive reactors were found in female and male cattle respectively. The association between different breeds of the animal was found significant (P<0.05). The local breed showed higher prevalence (9.77%) than those of Red Chittagong and cross breed. The highest percentage (10.45%) of positive reactors in CCT test was recorded in milking cows than in dry cows (2.32%), heifer (9.52%) and calf (5.77%) were observed. Mixed infection (bovine and avian type of tuberculosis) was recorded 1.64%.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. September 2017, 3(3): 352-356


Author(s):  
Kokila K. ◽  
Chellavel Ganapathi K.

Background: In India, non-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) technique was introduced in 1992 to improve the male participation in family planning, though it has failed to achieve its goal. Hence this study was planned to know the real concern about this condition. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and attitude about non- scalpel vasectomy (NSV) and practices of any contraceptive methods among married females in reproductive age in an urban slum.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in urban field practice area of Institute of Community Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai-03, Tamil Nadu in the period July 2014 to August 2014 among Married females of reproductive age group (15-49 years).Specific questions on knowledge, attitude regarding NSV were asked. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel sheet and analysed in SPSS version 20. Results: This is a questionnaire based study. All (106 participants) were aware of vasectomy. Among them 50% knew that vasectomy is an option for permanent sterilization. About 36% of them knew that cash incentive is given for vasectomy & 30% knew that insurance given for pregnancy and other complications followed by vasectomy. Around 31% of the respondents knew that vasectomy does not affect sexual performance. About 29% knew that vasectomy does not need prolonged bed rest. Only 19% of the participants knew that vasectomy is done free of cost and as an OP procedure and 11.3% knew that vasectomy is done without any incision. Among the participants 81% agreed that limiting family size stabilizes the financial condition of the family. About 48% of the participants agreed that family planning is also a responsibility of males and 56% were willing to recommend vasectomy for others. Only 35% of the females agreed to adopt vasectomy for their spouse. Among the respondents 73.6% were practicing some form of contraception currently. Conclusions: We conclude that there is a need to design and develop a need based behavioural change communication strategy to bridge the existing information gap among the eligible couples about NSV & to improve the male participation in family planning. Involvement of media, community participation and successful stories of males who have adopted NSV would enhance the effectiveness of all the interventions. 


Author(s):  
Angeline Grace G. ◽  
ArunKumar M. ◽  
Umadevi R.

Background: Menstruation is a normal biological function in females and in the society, the practices followed are highly variable across different regions. This study aimed to determine the practices followed during menstruation by rural women in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India.Methods: This community based cross sectional study was carried out between August and October 2018. Sample size of 400 was calculated by using formula 4pq/d2 and female respondents were selected from sampled households using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire, which were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 and presented using descriptive and analytical statistics.Results: A total of 395 women were included in the study. About 54% of females belonged to the age group of 26-35 years and 82.5% were married. Use of sanitary pads during menstruation was reported by 28.6% of the females. Other absorbents used were disposable cloths (46.3%) and reusable cloths (25.1%). About 79% of females practiced some form of restriction during menstruation. Females aged <35 years (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.48-4.39) were more likely to use sanitary pad compared to older females. Females who used sanitary pad as absorbent were less likely to have symptoms of reproductive tract infections compared to those who didn’t (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28-0.94).Conclusions: Menstrual hygiene practices were found be unsatisfactory among the rural women and various restrictions during menstruation were also in practice. Women should be educated about the importance of use of sanitary pads and the harms of using cloths. Awareness also needs to be created to abolish the unnecessary restrictions that are imposed on women to be followed during menstruation.


Author(s):  
Praveena Daya A. ◽  
Prema Priya G. ◽  
Karthikeyan G.

Background: Unmet need for contraception is still high in developing countries because of various reasons and poses a great challenge to the success of family welfare programme Assessing the knowledge and filling the gap is essential for successful functioning of the programme and for reducing the unmet need.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices on contraception among 100 married women in reproductive age group (15-49 years) residing in a Rural Health centre area of Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, South India.Results: Among the 100 participants, common known methods of contraception were IUD (56%), permanent sterilization (38%), Pills (21%) and Condoms (14%). Out of 100 participants, only 38 were using contraception. Among the 62 who are not using any method of contraception, 30 are willing to practice contraception after motivation and among them 27 prefer to use temporary methods. Fear of side effects was most common reason stated for not using contraception.Conclusions: Knowledge and practice related to contraception among the participants were observed to be less. Health education campaigns emphasizing the need of family planning and about the services available in the government health facilities has to be organized regularly.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
I. Arjun Rao ◽  
Adimoolam Chandrasekhar ◽  
Venugopal N. Pulamaghatta ◽  
Subal Das ◽  
Kaushik Bose

The present study investigated blood pressure levels as well as the prevalence of hypertension among adult Parengi Porja tribals of village Munchingput Mandalam, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. A cross-sectional study was used to collect data on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate. A total of 137 adults (100 males and 37 females) were measured and classified into three age groups, that is, Gr-I: 23 to 32 years, Gr-II: 33 to 42 years, and Gr-III: ≥ 43 years. Negative significant sex difference in SBP among age group I (t=-2.409; P<0.05) was observed. Positive significant sex difference in DBP among age group I (t=2.545; P<0.05) was also observed. Significant age group difference was noticed for SBP (F=4.332; P<0.01) among males. Based on SBP, the prevalence of prehypertension and stage I hypertension in males was 25.0% and 5.0%, respectively. Similarly, in females the prevalence of prehypertension and stage I hypertension based on SBP was 32.4% and 5.4%, respectively. On the basis of DBP, the prevalence of stage I hypertension in males was 5.0%. Similarly, in females, the prevalence of stage I hypertension based on DBP was 5.4%. Our results suggest that females of this ethnic group were more prone to have prehypertension and stage I hypertension than males.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
K. K. Rakesh Raju ◽  
V. T. Ajithkumar ◽  
T. P. Ashraf ◽  
A. Riyaz ◽  
N. C. Cherian ◽  
...  

Background: Malnutrition and anaemia form major public health problems among the school age children, particularly in the developing countries.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among children between 6 months and 18 years, in randomly selected 25 Anganwadis of Attappadi area. Objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition among the children of Attappadi. Children were divided in to tribal and nontribal. Anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin estimation by cyanmethemoglobin method and peripheral smear examination were done.Results: 65.5% tribal and 54.1% non-tribal were anaemic. Among males 65.9% tribal and 56.4% non-tribal were anaemic. Among females 65.1% tribal and 52.6% nontribal were anaemic. In the age group less than 6 years, 9% tribal females, 8.9% nontribal females, 12% tribal males and 5.8% nontribal males were severely stunted. Above 6yrs it was 3.3% tribal females, 2.7% nontribal females, 2.4% tribal males and 7.4% nontribal males. In the age group less than 6 years, 12.5% tribal females, 3.9% nontribal females, 15.9% tribal males and 4.3% nontribal males had severe underweight. Above 6 years it was 8.3% tribal females, 0% non-tribal females, 19% tribal males and 3% non-tribal males.Conclusions: Anaemia and malnutrition are common among children of Attappadi. Tribal children are more affected than non-tribal children. Anaemia is more common among two age groups, less than 5 years and more than 11 years. Among females’ adolescent girls are more affected. Periodic assessment of growth parameters and early detection and treatment of anaemia are needed.


Author(s):  
Vaibhav Munjal ◽  
Puneet Singh Talwar ◽  
Jagjit Singh ◽  
Mandeep Kumar ◽  
Ramandeep Gambhir

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease with diet being one of the contributing factors. The influence of vegetarianism on the development of caries has scarcely been investigated in the past. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the association of dental caries with frequency of sugar exposures and vegetarian / mixed diet.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 2500 school children of 12 and 15 years age groups selected on the basis of simple random sampling from different schools of the city. Dental caries was recorded using Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth index (WHO modification, 1997) and correlated with the different dietary variables. Subjects were also segregated on the basis of diet: vegetarian and mixed. Statistical analysis was done using Student t-test and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient.Results: The prevalence of dental caries in the 12 and 15 year age group of subjects consuming mixed diet was 83.36% and 86.47% respectively. It was lower in case of subjects on vegetarian diet. The correlation between DMFS and TSE, FSE and AMSE was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in the 12 year age-group. In the 15 year age-group the correlation of DMFS with TSE and LSE was also found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in dental caries status among subjects in both the groups (vegetarian and mixed). However, there was significant association between sugar exposures and dental caries among subjects of both the age-groups.


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