scholarly journals Perception of social stigma among patients attending a filariasis morbidity control clinic in South India

Author(s):  
Parthasarathi Ramanathan ◽  
Ram Prabhakar ◽  
Velmurugan Anbu Ananthan

Background: The psychological and social stigma associated with lymphatic filariasis can adversely affect productivity and quality of life. This study was carried out to assess the perception of social stigma among patients with lymphatic filariasis.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was done on 30 subjects with lymphatic filariasis who attended a filariasis morbidity control clinic in Tamil Nadu. Data was collected using a locally adopted, pilot tested interviewer administered questionnaire derived from explanatory model interview catalogue community stigma scale (EMIC-CSS).  Patients were categorized into none, mild, moderate and severe levels of social stigma based on their responses for questions related to stigma assessment. Data was analyzed using Epi-Info. Quantitative variables were presented as mean with standard deviation. Qualitative variables were presented as frequency with proportion. Results: Majority of the study subjects were males (60%), Hindu by religion (73.3%) and belonged to nuclear family (73.3%). The mean age (±SD) was 47 (±10.9) years. 66.7% of subjects were aged between 46-50 years. Majority (60%) of subjects had mild stigma. 13% had moderate while 3% had severe stigma. 23% of subjects had no stigma. Conclusions: 87% of this study subjects had perceived the social stigma towards lymphatic filariasis. Hence, apart from prevention and treatment measures for filariasis, importance has to be given in context of reducing social stigma towards the disease.

Author(s):  
Raja T. K. ◽  
Buvnesh Kumar M. ◽  
Muthukumar T. ◽  
Anisha Pannakal Mohan

Background: Health insurance awareness and perception is most preliminary and people are getting familiar of it. Still the utilization of health insurance has not reached the rural areas due to lack of awareness among rural population. The present study was done with an aim of assessing individual’s awareness and perception of the health insurance.Methods: The study was a community based cross sectional study conducted for a period of 6 months among villages which is field practice area of a medical college in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. 310 houses were interviewed. Line listing of the houses was done and data collected through semi structured questionnaire either from the head of the family or the family member who was available in the house. Data collected was statistically analyzed by SPSS version 21.Results: In this study, among 310 participants majority were females (62%), middle class (31%), nuclear family (83%). 51% were aware about health insurance, source of awareness was mostly from television (38.3%). 48% of study participants were aware of Chief Minister Health Scheme.Conclusions: Majority of the people who were aware about the Chief Minister Health Scheme were not aware about the complete benefits and details of the scheme, which emphasis on the need for creating more awareness about health insurance to avoid unpredictable health expenses in case of illness and injuries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174
Author(s):  
Ilo Dicko ◽  
Yaya Ibrahim Coulibaly ◽  
Modibo Sangaré ◽  
Bismark Sarfo ◽  
Priscillia Awo Nortey

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease that has been targeted for elimination through the Mass Drug Administration (MDA.) Although the MDA started in the Ankobra community in Ghana in 2000, LF prevalence as reported in 2014 was relatively high (4.5%). Non-compliance to the MDA has been associated with the persistent LF prevalence in endemic regions. Objective: This study determined the factors associated with the non-compliance to the MDA among patients living in the Ankobra community, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a one-stage cluster sampling method was used to collect data between June and July, 2017 in Ankobra. Questionnaires were used to collect data from health workers, the MDA drug distributors and study participants in Ankobra. Data analysis was performed using STATA 14. Logistic regression was used to measure the degree of association between the dependent (non-compliance) and independent variables. Non-compliance rate was defined as the percentage of individuals who self-reported that they did not actually swallow the drugs provided during the MDA. Results: The MDA coverage and non-compliance rates were 73.5% (147/200) and 33.33% (49/147) respectively. The main reason for non-compliance was fear of drug adverse events (75.51%, 37/49). Thought of “not being susceptible to LF” was significantly associated with the non-compliance (aOR= 2.83, [CI= 1.15, 6.98]). Conclusion: Health education about the susceptibility of residents getting LF disease in endemic community must be intensified to improve compliance to MDA medication ingestion and thus meet the Global Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis by 2020.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Ameyo Dorkenoo ◽  
Martin Kouame Tchankoni ◽  
Degninou Yehadji ◽  
Kossi Yakpa ◽  
Mawèké Tchalim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In March 2017, Togo was declared the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, but post-validation surveillance has been lacking. In some areas of the country, migrant groups from neighboring countries that are still endemic for LF pose a risk of reintroduction of LF to Togo. The objective of this study was to identify the risk posed by migrant groups by measuring their prevalence of LF infection and investigating any positive case using Togo’s case investigation algorithm to prevent resurgence of LF and sustain Togo’s elimination success. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 in the northernmost region of the country. Three migrant populations were identified: (i) nomadic Peuhls, (ii) Togolese members of local communities who migrate annually to neighboring countries for seasonal labor, and (iii) refugees from Ghana who came to Togo because of a communal conflict in Ghana. A questionnaire was designed to collect data on demographics and history of LF and MDA; all participants were tested for circulating filariasis antigen (CFA) using the filariasis test strip (FTS). Any CFA-positive case was confirmed with nocturnal microfilaremia. Results Refugees, seasonal economic migrants and nomadic Peuhls represented 42.1%, 31.4% and 26.5% of the study participants, respectively. The overall prevalence of CFA was 4.2% (58/1391) with the highest prevalence in the nomadic Peuhl group (11.9%), but only one of them (0.07%) was confirmed positive with nocturnal microfilaremia. Using the case investigation algorithm, no other positive case was identified in the positive case’s surroundings. Conclusion This study demonstrates that nomadic Peuhls, with a CFA prevalence of 11.9%, pose a potential risk for reintroduction of LF into Togo while Ghanaian refugees and seasonal economic migrants do not appear to pose a significant risk. Periodic monitoring of migrants, especially the nomadic Peuhl population, is a potential post-validation surveillance approach that could be used to promptly detect any LF cluster that may arise.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S577-S577 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Ouali ◽  
R. Jomli ◽  
R. Nefzi ◽  
H. Ouertani ◽  
F. Nacef

IntroductionMental patients generally internalize some of the negative conceptions about how most people view them: they might be considered incompetent or untrustworthy or believe that people would not want to hire, or marry someone with mental illness. A lot of research on stigma has been conducted in western countries; however, little is still known on the situation in Arab-Muslim societies.ObjectivesTo evaluate social stigma as viewed by patients suffering from severe mental illness (SMI)MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (BD) according to DSM IV, who were interviewed in our out-patients clinic with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing 8 opinions on the social inclusion and stigmatization of psychiatric patients, with special reference to the local cultural context (e.g.: “It is better to hide mental illness in order to preserve the reputation of my family”)ResultsWe included 104 patients, 51% with schizophrenia and 49% with BD. Mean age was 38.4 years (18–74 years); 59.6% were males. Overall social stigma scores were high. Social stigma in patients was correlated with gender, age, place of residence and diagnosis. Patients with BD showed significantly less social stigma than patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionOur results show the need for a better understanding of this phenomenon in patients with SMI, but also within Tunisian society, in order to elaborate anti stigma strategies adapted to the local context.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Kalaiselvy Arikrishnan ◽  
Gokul Sarveswaran ◽  
Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Manikandanesan Sakthivel ◽  
Marie Gilbert Majella ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of Second Hand Smoking (SHS) and assess the factors related to exposure, knowledge and response to SHS among adolescents in rural Puducherry, South India.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents during March and April 2018. Two out of four villages were selected randomly and all the adolescents were contacted through household visit and questionnaire was administered. Semi structured questionnaire contained three sections: sociodemographic details, environmental assessment and third section contained knowledge about SHS, COTPA and response towards being exposed to SHS, as well as exposure history. Continuous variables like age were summarized as mean (SD). Categorical variables such as awareness, attitude and practise towards SHS were summarized as proportions with 95% confidence interval.ResultsTotal number of adolescents interviewed was 789. The mean age of the study participants were 14.1 (2.4) years and majority, 440 (55.8%) were boys and 684 (86.7%) belonged to nuclear family. More than one fourth, 210 (26.6%) belonged to middle class of socio-economic status. Environmental assessment of household showed more than half, 456 (57.8%) were staying in pucca house and majority 642 (81.4%) had adequate cross ventilation. It was found that about 70.1% had adequate knowledge about SHS and its harmful effects. Prevalence of exposure to SHS was 49%. Majority (40.5%) told that they will scold or advice the family member to stop smoking if they are exposed to SHS in the living place. However, almost 80% of adolescents mentioned that they will no’t react if they see someone smoking in a public place.ConclusionsCurrent study found that almost half of the adolescents were exposed to SHS. Even though, almost three fourth had adequate knowledge, attitude towards preventing SHS in public place was found to be poor. Hence, adolescents need to be motivated enough to address the problem in the public place through motivational counselling in adolescent clinics by health care workers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (28) ◽  
pp. 2484-2488
Author(s):  
Umesh G ◽  
Asokan T.V. ◽  
Roselin V ◽  
Sri Santhanakrishnan V V

BACKGROUND Stigma experienced by caregivers of patients with mental illnesses remains unnoticed. This study was conducted to evaluate the stigma perceived by the care givers of patients with various mental illnesses and the factors associated with stigma. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among the care givers of patients with mental illnesses who accompanied the patients to the outpatient department (OPD) of Psychiatry in Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, from January 2017 to March 2017. A total of hundred care givers were included in the study. All care givers aged between 18 - 50 years of age in both sexes were included in the study. Care givers of substance abuse cases were excluded from the study. A total of hundred care givers with fifty care givers of neurosis patients and another fifty care givers of psychosis were included in the study. Family interview schedule (FIS) stigma scale was used to assess the stigma perceived by care givers. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. RESULTS Mean perceived stigma score was 12.27 ± 9.43. High, low and zero stigma was noted among 44 %, 36 % and 20 % of care givers, respectively. Also, it was found that care givers of psychosis patients had more stigma than the care givers of neurosis patients (P = 0.0008). Statistically significant association was found between patient’s duration of illness (P = 0.003), patient’s diagnosis (P = 0.000) and care givers burden (P = 0.000) with severity of stigma perceived by the care givers. CONCLUSIONS Proportion of stigma prevailing among the care givers is high and it depicts only the cases which were reported to the health care center, whereas a larger proportion of cases remains not seeking the health care. An early intervention by conducting routine assessments of the mental status of caregivers is necessary. KEYWORDS Stigma, Care Givers, Mental Illnesses, Family Interview Schedule


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Angeline Gnanaselvam ◽  
Bobby Joseph

Stress and depression are common in textile industry employees due to inadequate working conditions and challenging socioeconomic conditions. The objective of the study was to assess depression and mental health among adolescent and young females currently employed in a textile factory located in Tamil Nadu compared with past employees and women who have never been employed. This cross-sectional study included a total of 107 participants in each study group who were interviewed. The Patient Health Questionnaire–9 and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were administered to screen participants for depression and mental health. More current employees (16.82%) and past employees (15.88%) suffered from depression severe enough to require treatment compared with never employed girls and young women (2.8%). Of the study participants, 59.8% of current employees, 63.6% of past employees, and 32.7% of never employed women had mental health or behavior problems. In the regression model, history of abuse was significantly associated with depression. Participants who were current employees and reported family debt and a history of abuse were significantly more likely to have mental health or behavior problems. Mental health issues such as depression and behavior problems were more likely among adolescent girls currently employed in textile industries. Further studies into the causes of this phenomenon are needed.


Author(s):  
Gowri Prakasam ◽  
K Karkuzhali ◽  
Veeraraghavan Gurusamy

Introduction: Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours constitute less than 2% of overall cancers in adults and are the second most frequently encountered tumours in children. Meningiomas form 24-30% of primary intracranial tumours. Most intrinsic brain tumours are soft and gelatinous in consistency, smear preparation can readily made which gives excellent cytological details when compared to frozen section as the latter produces ice crystal artifacts. Aim: To assess the diagnostic utility of squash cytological evaluation of meningiomas and its comparison with final histopathological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was done at Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India for period of three years from January 2015 to December 2017. Total of 54 clinically diagnosed and radiologically suspected case of meningiomas were selected. Smears were prepared from the biopsy samples sent in normal saline and stained by Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) method. The cytological features were noted and matched with biopsy findings. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the results. Results: Total of 54 squash smears with male to female ratio was 1:1.5. Maximum number of cases were seen between 41- 50 years followed by 51-60 years. Complete concordance was obtained in 51 cases (94.44%) and partial concordance was noted in a case due to underestimation of malignancy grade in squash cytology. Out of 54 cases, two cases were found to be discordant with final histopathological diagnosis. Conclusion: Intraoperative squash cytology is easy, rapid, reliable and cost-effective technique for neurosurgical consultation with fairly high accuracy in diagnosing meningiomas.


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