Indian journal of public health最新文献

Summary: This study analyzes data from India's National Family Health Survey to assess the prevalence of anemia among children aged 6-59 months. Over the past decade, the prevalence increased from 59% to 67%, remaining a significant public health concern. Gujarat has highest rates, and Kerala has lowest among major states in India. The Western region tops in prevalence (75.70%), whereas the Northeast has the lowest (56.20%). Factors such as lower maternal education, poverty, religion, rural residence, poor child nutrition, low birth weight, and stunting contribute to higher odds of anemia. Improved socioeconomic conditions and maternal nutrition are recommended for risk reduction.

Background: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal production of hemoglobin. The prevalence of thalassemia in India varies depending on the region and population. The study used a pre- and postcounseling cross-sectional design, which involves measuring outcomes before and after the intervention (genetic counseling).

Objectives: Three hundred and eighty-five respondents were screened as thalassemia carriers, between a pool of 2985 participants to depict the quantitative prevalence of thalassemia. Two separate qualitative cross-sectional studies were conducted and compared to validate genetic counseling. The aims of the study are to contribute to the understanding of thalassemia carrier frequency and to improve the education and awareness of college students regarding thalassemia.

Materials and methods: Two different questionnaires were used with the same knowledge, attitude, and practice parameters, one before and one after counseling. A two-sample t-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) F-test were used to compare the changes in knowledge, attitude, and practice.

Results: Using paired samples t-test to compare the pre- and postcounseling outcome showed significant (P < 0.001) elevation in terms of knowledge, attitude, social beliefs, social discomfort, and practice as a thalassemia carrier. Further, ANOVA F-test demonstrates the relationship between demography and the difference in parametric score of the pre- and postcounseling outcome.

Conclusion: By improving knowledge and attitudes, counseling can help individuals to better understand their condition and the importance of adhering to treatment recommendations. This can lead to improved health outcomes and a better quality of life for affected individuals.

Summary: Malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals have a larger role in morbidity and mortality. Appropriate clinical acumen is required for a clinician to anticipate the occurrence of lymphoma after starting antiretroviral therapy, especially in patients with CD4 <100 cells/mm3. Here is a 30-year-old man with weight loss and appetite, found to be retroviral disease positive status with low CD 4 counts. He was started on antiretroviral treatment, and following that, he developed Hodgkin's lymphoma of mixed cellularity. He is planned for an ABVD regimen and received one cycle of the same without any complications. To our knowledge, we are reporting the first case of an HIV patient with a mixed cellularity form of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma from India.

Background: The footfall and admission rates post-COVID-19 scenario have come down in the case of patients with cardiac problems with larger delays leading to complications as per several studies. Studies have primarily focused on the disruptions due to lockdown but not much study has been done to understand how it has affected the lifestyle of the patients and changed the mentality leading to lower patient arrivals.

Objectives: The current study deals with understanding how the patient arrival pattern has changed and what are the factors affecting the same during COVID-19 times.

Materials and methods: Analysis of the data for patients with acute coronary syndrome from April to June for pre (2019)- and post (2020)-COVID-19 times admitted to a government cardiology and cardiac care hospital is studied for patient-based and accessibility-based parameters.

Results: A significant reduction in admissions (4230-880) with higher arrival times from the onset of symptom (80% rise) although the overall mean distance traveled reduced (63.8-47.4 km) leading to greater health risks. Furthermore, problems due to physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, and drinking have also risen by about 3%-5% in each case.

Conclusion: The need for better health-care system connectivity and the need for online platforms-based consultation systems, especially in times of such a pandemic have been highlighted. The results from this study will be helpful in addressing the issues related to delayed care for heart patients, thereby helping in reducing the mortality rate and improving overall health.

Background: Developmental delay happens when a child fails to attain age-appropriate milestones. Identification of developmental delay in children is important to initiate early intervention in them which will facilitate the children to have a productive life in their later years.

Objectives: The objective was to study the prevalence of developmental delay among 12-36-month-old children from the area of Primary Health Centre, Bela, in rural Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Materials and methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study design. A total of 314 children were selected through simple random sampling and assessed for delay using the Pediatric Development Screening Tool (PDST).

Results: 14.9% had developmental delay in at least any one domain and 3.5% had global developmental delay. Domain-specific developmental delay was highest for language delay (10%) followed by fine motor (5%). Gross motor and personal social delays had the same prevalence (3.1%). On multivariable lower literacy, level of mother and Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure were significant variables for any developmental delay. Hospitalization of the child during the 1st month of life and lower parenting scores were the significant factors associated with global delay.

Conclusion: Development delay is present in a sizeable proportion of children <3 years of age which affects their future growth and achievement. We recommend annual community-based screening for delays to detect and manage such children.

Summary: A cross-sectional study conducted in a semi-urban tertiary healthcare hospital in South western Nigeria to assess health promotion practices and associated sociodemographic factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. A total of 220 pregnant women were studied. Results showed that 95.0% of the participants had good health promotion practices with physical activities having the lowest while spiritual values had the highest score. Moreover, age, religion, education, and occupation were significantly associated with health promotion practices among the pregnant women.