scholarly journals Awareness of Oral Cancer in a Community of Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Poonam Rai ◽  
Punam Kumari Mandal ◽  
Namita Yangden ◽  
Munawatee Rai ◽  
Sabitra Subedi

Background and Objectives: Oral cancer is one of the highly prevalent cancers worldwide and a leading cause of mortality in certain regions like South-Central Asia and a major public health problem. According to National Health Policy, oral cancer is the most common form of cancer in men and the third most common cancer in females in Nepal. Several studies have shown that public is not well aware of risk factors associated with oral cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of oral cancer among people of Tarahara-20. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among people of age group 18-65 years in 2019. Data were collected from 128 respondents through face to face interview using Semi – structured interview schedule with non-probability purposive sampling method. Data entry and analysis was done in SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics i.e. frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation was used to assess the level of knowledge and inferential statistics i.e. chi square was used to find the association between awareness of oral cancer and selected demographic variables. Results: Total findings of the study showed that More than half (52.3%) of respondents were known about treatment modalities of Oral cancer whereas two third, 78.9% of respondents stated out movement is best for physical rehabilitation. Likewise, more than half (65.6%) had moderate level of awareness and 28.1% of the respondents had inadequate level of awareness regarding oral cancer. The result showed there was no association between level of awareness of oral cancer and selected demographic variables. Conclusion: The study concluded that awareness regarding oral cancer is moderate among community people of Tarhara. It reflects that efforts should be made to increase the awareness regarding oral cancer. Health education regarding oral cancer and its risk factors with periodic reinforcement will play an important role in creating awareness.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-31
Author(s):  
Sarmila Pradhan ◽  
Deepika Khadgi ◽  
Namita Yengden ◽  
Karishma Khadgi

Dental caries is a major public health problem globally and is one of the most chronic diseases in children. Children are susceptible to caries as soon as the first teeth appear. Parents are the primary decision-makers in matters of children's healthcare. If the parents are knowledgeable about the child's oral health care then childhood dental caries can be prevented. The objective of this study was to identify the knowledge on childhood dental caries among parents of under five children. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among parents of under five children in a community of Biratnagar 12. Sample was selected using non probability purposive sampling method and data was collected by face-to-face interview using a self-developed, semi-structured interview guideline. Descriptive statistics i.e. frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation was used to assess the level of knowledge and inferential statistics i.e chi square was used to find the association between dependent and independent variables. About three fourths (71%) of the parents were of age group 20-30 years and 88% of them were mothers. Most of the parents (90%) were aware that dental caries can occur in under five children and excessive sugar intake was the most common cause as reported by all of them. Only 40% knew that dental caries is transmissible and among them 97.6% responded by sharing of toothbrush. Regarding good brushing habit, most of the parents were aware. Almost all (95%) knew that proper tooth brushing helps to prevent dental caries whereas only 19% were aware about use of fluoridated tooth paste as preventive measures. Meanwhile, only 12% of the parents were aware that first dental visit should be done when first tooth erupts or within 1 year of age More than half (79%) had good knowledge on childhood dental caries but there was no association of knowledge with socio-demographic variables. The study concluded that more than half of the respondents had good knowledge on childhood dental caries and none of the socio-demographic variables were associated with the level of knowledge of parents on dental caries. Despite good knowledge, prevalence of childhood dental caries is high in our society thus reflecting the need to assess the practice of dental care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bekalu Getachew Gebreegziabher ◽  
Tesema Etefa Birhanu ◽  
Diriba Dereje Olana ◽  
Behailu Terefe Tesfaye

Background: Stroke is a great public health problem in Ethiopia. According to reports, in-hospital stroke mortality was estimated to be 14.7% in Ethiopia. Despite this, in this country researches done on factors associated with stroke sub-types were inadequate. Objective: To assess the Characteristics and risk factors associated with stroke sub-types among patients admitted to JUMC. Methods and materials: A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to May 2018 in stroke unit of Jimma University Medical Center. A total of 106 medical charts of patients diagnosed with stroke were reviewed. Checklist comprising of relevant variables was used to collect data. SPSS version 21 was employed for data entry and analysis. Chi-square test was used to point-out association and difference among stroke sub-types. The data was presented using text, tables and figures. Result: From a total of 106 patients, 67(63.2%) were men. The mean ± SD of age was 52.67±12.46 years, and no significant association was found. Of all the patients, 59(55.6%) had ischemic strokes and 47(44.4%) had hemorrhagic strokes. The most common risk factor in the patients was alcohol use with a prevalence of 69.9%. Of all the risk factors, only sex, cigarettes smoking and dyslipidemia were significantly associated to sub-types of stroke. Conclusion: Ischemic stroke was the most common subtype of stroke. Sex of patient, cigarette smoking and dyslipidemia are significantly associated with the two stroke subtypes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211984020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woragon Wichaiyo ◽  
Wirat Parnsila ◽  
Wisit Chaveepojnkamjorn ◽  
Banchob Sripa

Background: Liver fluke disease caused by Opisthorchis viverrini remains a major public health problem with its crucial risk factors caused by some individual habits or false beliefs among the people in northeastern Thailand concerning the consumption of raw fish meat dishes. Objectives: This study explores the predictive risk factors for the infection of liver fluke disease. Methods: The sample consisted of 400 people aged 30 years and above in Thanya sub-district, Kamalasai district, Kalasin province. A cross-sectional analytic study, using the χ2 test, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, was used to find the influence of each variable, along with the use of multiple logistic regression (p = 0.05). A questionnaire form was used as the research instrument. Results: Factors found in the results are as follows: households with a cat were 7.00 times more at risk than households without a cat; eating raw fish dishes prepared by themselves increases the risk of infection by 2.58 times; eating raw fish dishes prepared by family members increases the risk by 4.74 times; and raw fish dishes bought from a community market increases the risk by 2.33 times. Conclusion: A campaign should be launched to educate people not to eat raw or undercooked fish dishes, but to fully cook fish dishes before eating, as the food is still delicious, but also safe, healthy, and free from liver fluke infection.


Author(s):  
Masuder Rahman ◽  
Sakila Akter ◽  
Fatama Tous Zohora ◽  
Abu Zaffar Shibly

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a major public health problem throughout the world. In Bangladesh, the reliable data concerning various aspects of CVD is inadequate at present due to lack of national population-based surveys or central administrative health data. Given the rising incidence of CVDs in Bangladesh, an improved understanding of the CVD, symptoms and risk factors is needed. Hence, this study was performed to assess the level of knowledge towards CVD types, warning symptoms of heart attack or stroke, and CVD risk factors.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2018 to June 2018 using standard questionnaire on a sample of 350 randomly selected Bangladeshi individuals. All the data of the study were input in SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 20.0 software from IBM for windows and the gathered data thus analyzed using SPSS & Microsoft Excel.Results: The respondents’ knowledge about types of CVD, symptom heart attack, symptom of stroke and the risk factors of CVD are 38.9%, 67.7%, 35.7%, and 92.9% respectively. The most common risk factors of CVD found to be known by around than two-third of respondents were unhealthy diet (66.9%), physical inactivity (64.3), obesity (61.4%), and smoking (58.6%).Conclusions: The respondents’ knowledge about types of CVD, symptom heart attack, symptom of stroke and the risk factors of CVD are 38.9%, 67.7%, 35.7%, and 92.9% respectively. The most common risk factors of CVD found to be known by around than two-third of respondents were unhealthy diet (66.9%), physical inactivity (64.3), obesity (61.4%), and smoking (58.6%).


Author(s):  
Priti Lata Mondal ◽  
Jayanta Sadhu ◽  
Abdul Karim ◽  
Beauty Begum

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, making it a major public health problem in Bangladesh also. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Joykhali village, Batiaghata upazilla in Khulna district from January to December 2019 to assess the level of knowledge regarding lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors in rural community. A total of 288 people were selected from each house by conveniently. Data were collected by using pre tested semi-structured questionnaire with face-to-face interview. Out of the 288 respondents, 43 (14.9%) had good knowledge while others had average (n=211, 73.3%) and poor (n=34, 11.8%) knowledge regarding risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Only 25 (8.7%) respondents had good knowledge while others had average (n=190, 66.0%) and poor (n=73, 25.3%) knowledge regarding sign and symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Majority of the respondents (61.1%) had good knowledge while others had average (n=105, 36.5%) and poor (n=7, 2.4%) knowledge regarding prevention of cardiovascular disease. There is an apparent need to establish more wide-spread and effective educational intervention, which should be sensitive to the abilities of targeted individuals.


Author(s):  
Sindhura Moparthi ◽  
Madhavi Seepana ◽  
Devi Madhavi Bhimarasetty

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is being increasingly recognised as a leading public health problem. In India, given its population >1 billion, the rising incidence of CKD is likely to pose major problems for both healthcare and the economy in future years. Diabetes and hypertension are strong predictors for development and progression of chronic kidney disease. The objective of the study was to assess risk factors for chronic kidney disease among patients undergoing dialysis in King George Hospital (KGH), Visakhapatnam.Methods: This is an observational descriptive cross sectional study done in dialysis unit in KGH. A total of 100 patients were selected out of 141 registered CKD patients by simple random sampling technique. Study is done in the month of October- November 2015. A pretested semi structured schedule was administered. Informed written consent was taken from the patients. MS excel 2007 was used for data entry. Data was analysed by SPSS trial version 20. Categorical data was analysed by Chi square test.Results: Among 100 study subjects 72 were females and 28 were males. 91% of the CKD patients were Hypertensive, among whom 73.6% were males and 26.4% were females. This difference was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.446). 22% of the CKD patients were Diabetic, among whom 81.8% were males and 18.2% were females.Conclusions: Better understanding of the role of risk factors in CKD is needed. Large community based cross sectional studies are needed to study in detail about CKD risk factors. 


Author(s):  
Chasham Mitra ◽  
Mohan Lal ◽  
Tejbir Singh ◽  
S. S. Deepti

Background: Hypertension is a major public health problem in India and its prevalence is high among rural and urban population. All the risk factors of lifestyle are known to cause the early onset and rapid worsening of hypertension.Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted. 1000 participants (500 rural and 500 urban) between the age group of 18-69 years were selected by systematic random sampling method from 5 villages and 5 urban wards of Amritsar city. Out of total, 500 males and 500 females were selected.Results: This study shows that 332 (33.2%) participants were hypertensive out of total 1000. The chances of Hypertension are directly proportional to age and shows peak between 50-59 years of age, 86 (59.72%). The prevalence among males and females was 32.4% and 34% respectively. Hypertension is highest in respondents with body mass index (BMI >30) i.e. 53.43%. The prevalence of hypertension was slightly higher among smokers than non-smokers and among vegetarians than non- vegetarians.Conclusions:Hence, it becomes necessary to adopt a lifestyle with regular physical activity for at-least 30 min a day, for 5 days of the week, to decrease prevalence of obesity and to maintain BMI within normal range. Thus awareness among communities should be raised regarding prevention of the risk factors for hypertension. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (02) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Pragya Shrestha ◽  
Neelam Shrestha ◽  
Ikshaya Rana

INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem in Nepal. Adherence is the crucial factor in determining the morbidity and mortality of hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the hemodialysis adherence among 125 hemodialysis patients of Universal College of Medical Sciences-Teaching Hospital and Crimson Hospital, Rupandehi. The data was collected by enumerative sampling using semi-structured interview schedule. The duration of the study was from June 16, 2019 to August 2, 2019. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 16.0. RESULTS The study revealed 56.8% were adherent to haemodialysis in general. Likewise 62.7%, 77.1%, 74.6% and 48.3% were adherent to haemodialysis schedule, diet restriction, fluid restriction and medication respectively. There was statistically significant association between level of adherence to haemodialysis and education level (p=0.020), adequacy of family monthly income for haemodialysis (p=0.007), presence of care taker to haemodialysis centre (p=0.057) and haemodialysis hours in a session (p=0.002). CONCLUSION It is concluded that the haemodialysis adherence among patients is good in general but poor adherence to medicine. The adherence is influenced by education, family monthly income, presence of care taker and haemodialysis hours in a session. Hence it emphasizes on need for educating patients to enhance adherence to haemodialysis.  


Scientifica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. K. Babayara ◽  
Bright Addo

Child mortality continues to be a major public health problem in Ghana, especially in northern Ghana where child survival rates are among the lowest. Though strategies are in place to address it, progress made is unsatisfactory and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 risks being missed. This makes the reexamination of the risk factors for child mortality crucial as results will aid in the modification of existing strategies aimed at addressing the problem. This study was a population-based case control study utilizing data (2007–2011) from the Demographic Surveillance System database of the Navrongo Health Research Center. Cases and controls were selected from the database and analysed unmatched. Cases were children who died before age five and controls were live children within the same year group. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using STATA (v13). The results revealed the main causes of death in the area to include malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, and malnutrition. Mother’s age at birth, mother’s educational level, and mother’s household socioeconomic status were significantly related to child mortality. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the known risk factors for child mortality in the Kassena-Nankana district have not changed much over the years. Current child survival strategies therefore need to be evaluated and modified where necessary to yield desired results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 995-1002
Author(s):  
Kibur Engdawork ◽  
Gail Davey ◽  
Desta Ayode ◽  
Colleen M McBride ◽  
Getnet Tadele

Abstract Background Many health conditions are associated with stigma due to beliefs about their causes and the physical changes experienced by patients. Among such conditions are several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Podoconiosis, classified as an NTD, is a form of lymphoedema caused by the co-influence of genetic and environmental factors. It is a major public health problem in Ethiopia and is associated with intense stigma. Despite this, little is known about the factors contributing to stigmatizing attitudes against patients with the disease. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in southern Ethiopia to analyse the attitudes of rural youth and associated risk factors for stigmatizing attitudes towards patients with podoconiosis, with the aim of informing stigma reduction strategies. Results The survey included 336 randomly selected youth. Of the 177 (52.7%) youth who held more stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with podoconiosis, 105 (59.3%) were females and 171 (96.6%) did not have affected friends. Accurate knowledge about gene–environment influences and rejection of infectious causes of podoconiosis were associated with less stigmatizing attitudes. Conclusions Improving understanding of the gene–environment interaction and dispelling beliefs about infectious causes may reduce negative attitudes about podoconiosis. Affected youth may play an important role as agents of change to spread non-stigmatizing messages.


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