Fatalism and stigma amongst cancer patients in south western Punjab

The ideology and beliefs have a profound impact upon once lifestyle. Economic status, level of knowledge and awareness, beliefs and notions, social support system available, constitutes important determinants impacting to copeup strategies for cancer victims. The present study was conducted to assess the fatalism and stigma amongst cancer patients in south western Punjab. Two districts i.e. Bathinda and Sri Muktsar Sahib were randomly selected. Majority (87.5%) of the respondents believe that in cancer patients attributed cancer has caused due to their karmas. Forty six per cent of the respondents believed that cancer is contagious. One third (34.3%) of the respondents and their family members used the term ‘cancer’ as they believed that taking the name of disease had nothing to do with its curability versus non-curability or to describe the dreaded disease from which they were suffering. One third of the male respondents perceived imbalanced diet and sedentary lifestyle behind as a reasoning causing cancer and half of the male respondents and significantly majority of the female respondents (93.3%) perceived substance abuse as a reason behind causing cancer in the region. The study suggests that NGOs, religious bodies and philanthropists can contribute significantly towards treatment, management and rehabilitation of cancer victims. The use of recommended doses of pesticides/ insecticides and fertilizers and unprecedented use of chemicals should be monitored through government agencies and guilty should be punished.

Tele-Case Work Consultation to Woman Survivor of Domestic Violence During COVID 19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 have resulted in social isolation, reduced social support system, and increased domestic violence (DV) cases against women and children. The governments and NGOs have taken several measures to prevent DV by starting helpline, WhatsApp numbers, and counseling services during the lockdown to safeguard the women. This paper describes a case scenario of how we offered tele-case work consultation during the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the procedure adopted, and preventive measures followed while providing a tailor-made psychosocial intervention to a DV survivor. It also discusses the strengths and challenges while offering tele-consultation and possible steps to overcome the technological barriers to mental health professionals.

The Association of Household Socioeconomic Status and Neighborhood Support System With Adherence to Cardiovascular Fitness Among Persons With Diabetes Mellitus in Ghana a Hospital-based Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk-factor for cardiovascular diseases. Physical activities (PAs) could reverse this risk factor. However some factors could influence adherence to PAs. Our study investigates the association of household socioeconomic status and neighborhood support system with adherence to cardiovascular fitness among persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Ghana.Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional-study was conducted among 530 T2DM patients in Ghana. Structured-questionnaires were used to collect demographic, anthropometric, and clinical variables. Household socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed using wealth-composite index and adherence to PAs measured using WHO PA-short form questionnaires. SPSS version-22 was used in data analysis.Results: There were significant mean difference in low (P = 0.010) and high (P = 0.0001) social/neighborhood supports according to place of residence. After adjusting for age and diabetes duration, high SES (quintile 3) Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR) =0.68, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) (0.22, 0.07), moderate SES (quintile 3), AOR=3.16, 95%CI (1.01, 9.89) and high social support system (quintile 2) AOR =3.29, 95%CI (1.02, 10.58) were significant for adherence to cardiovascular fitness. Furthermore Low SES (quintile 3) AOR= 3.52, 95%CI (1.44, 8.59) and low social support system (quintile 1) AOR=1.05, 95%CI (1.05, 1.09) were significant for adherence to sedentary lifestyle among persons with diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: SES, and Social/neighborhood support systems are associated with adherence to cardiovascular fitness. Health care workers should prioritized these variables as modifiable factors in diseases preventions and health promotion

Association of household socioeconomic status, neighborhood support system and adherence to dietary recommendation among persons with T2DM, a facility-based cross-sectional study in Ghana

Background Dietary recommendation help persons with diabetes adopt to healthy eating habits to achieve optimal glycemic control. Socioeconomic-status and neighborhood support system can influence adherence to dietary recommendation. The purpose of our study is to assess the association of household-socioeconomic status and neighborhood-support system with adherence to dietary recommendation among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Facility-based cross-sectional-survey was conducted in Brong Ahafo region, Ghana. Six hospitals were randomly selected and 530 individuals with T2DM consecutively recruited from the selected hospitals for the study. Structured-questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic variables. Adherence to dietary-recommendation was the outcome-variable, and was assessed using perceived dietary-adherence questionnaire. Results Age (years) (P-value = 0.005), Physical-Activity level (P-value = 0.024) Receive-moderate Social-Support (P-value = 0.004) and High-Socioeconomic status (P-value = 0.046) were significantly correlated with adherence to dietary-recommendation. Age (years) regression coefficient (β) -0.089, 95%CI (− 0.12, − 0.001), Being married β0.103, 95%CI (0.002, 0.02), moderate and low-social support system β 0.309, 95%CI (0.17, 0.38) and β-0.192, 95%CI (− 0.26, − 0.06) respectively, and high-socioeconomic status β 0.197, 95%CI (0.06, 0.25) were significantly associated with adherence to dietary-recommendation. Conclusion Social-support system and socioeconomic-status could be associated with adherence to dietary-recommendation. Therefore, health workers should consider patients’ social support system and socioeconomic status as modifiable factors for optimum adherence.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DELAY IN MAKING A TIMELY DECISION TO SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERINATAL MORTALITY IN LURAMBI AND BUTERE SUB-COUNTIES, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: To determine the relationship between the delays in making a timely decision to seek medical assistance and perinatal mortality in Lurambi and Butere sub-counties, Kakamega County, Kenya. Methodology: A community based retrospective cross-sectional research design was adopted using mixed methods for data collection. A total of 520 respondents were randomly selected from 40 out 830 villages of Lurambi and Butere sub-counties using multistage cluster sampling. The respondents were interviewed from November 2017 to March 2018. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS Version 21 software. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied and adjusted odds ratio was used to determine the strength of association. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Findings: Education level (p<0.02) and employment status (p<0.03) of mothers influenced perinatal mortality. Wrong action taken during an experience of antenatal complication (AOR= 0.6; 95% CI: 0.1 – 0.9; p = 0.03), emergency unpreparedness (AOR=0.1; 95%CI: 0.04-0.42; p=0.0007) and, lack of recognition of newborn danger signs (AOR=01; 95%CI: 01-0.4; p<0.0001) were significantly associated with perinatal mortality. Birth preparedness and complication readiness during pregnancy and childbirth, based on the study findings reduce delay in obtaining care. Strengthening maternal education and social support system along the continuum of care during pregnancy, delivery and post-natal periods is paramount to ensure newborn survival. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: Unique factors are that apart from medical interventions, strengthening maternal education and social support system along the continuum of care during pregnancy, delivery and post-natal periods is paramount to ensure newborn survival in Lurambi and Butere sub counties. Interventions to promote informed decisions regarding maternal and newborn care with a strong social support system are critical. These results contribute to maternal and newborn health care practice and policy change that if implemented could result in a reduction of perinatal mortalities.