Indian Journal of Community Medicine最新文献

Objectives: Premenstrual symptoms, commonly referred to as PMS symptoms, pose difficulties for women in the workforce, impacting their efficiency and overall health. This research sought to explore if a short, online integrated yoga module, customized for working women, could help reduce PMS symptoms.

Materials and methods: A group of 76 employed women (23 to 38 years) in Mumbai and Delhi, self-reporting premenstrual syndrome (PMS), were recruited through social media advertisements and split into two groups: The experimental group (n = 40) received yoga sessions for 12 weeks (five sessions per week), each lasting between 18 and 24 minutes; the other served as the control group (n = 36). The control group did not engage in any yoga activities. Both groups completed the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) questionnaire before and after the study. t-test statistics were used to evaluate the effects of the intervention on reported PMS symptoms.

Results: The yoga group showed improvements in 11 of the 14 (Emotional, Behavioral, and Physical) PMS symptoms (P < 0.05) and four out of five functional impairment symptoms (P < 0.05) of the PSST after the intervention. Paired t-tests within the control group did not reveal any changes before and after the intervention.

Conclusion: Results highlight that the tailored 5 days a week online, integrated yoga module for working women significantly relieves most of the PMS symptoms and can be prescribed for the treatment of PMS for working women.

Introduction: Diarrheal diseases along with dysentery, remain a significant cause of illness and death among children under five in developing regions. This study aimed to determine the 1-year cumulative incidence of dysentery and examine its association with socio-environmental factors among underprivileged urban populations in Bhopal.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 620 children under five recruited from both slum areas and Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) colonies in Bhopal. Monthly follow-ups were carried out for 1 year to document incident dysentery cases (acute diarrhea with visible blood in stool) and gather socio-environmental data. Cumulative incidence of dysentery was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between these socio-environmental variables and dysentery incidence.

Results: Overall, 15.4% of children experienced dysentery over 1 year. Children in slum areas showed a significantly higher cumulative incidence (19.0%) compared with those residing in BSUP colonies (11.7%). Multivariable logistic regression confirmed that living in a slum was associated with an elevated risk (adjusted OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.13-3.02; P = 0.015). Other variables-such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, water source, sanitation, and in-home hygiene indicators-were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The findings reveal a substantial burden of dysentery among underprivileged children in urban Bhopal, particularly within slum environments. These results highlight the potential health benefits of improved housing and sanitation, as evidenced by lower dysentery incidence in BSUP areas. Targeted public health interventions are warranted to alleviate the impact of dysentery in vulnerable communities.

India's medical device sector is experiencing growth and technological advancements, driven by increased interest and government support in research and development. To promote innovation, significant amount of time and resources are spent on research and development before realization of a final product. To optimize the judicious allocation of these limited resources, the implementation of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) during the early phases of product development and testing should be adopted. Conducting early HTA enables an innovator to make well-informed decisions, demonstrate value to stakeholders, and improve market access by determining an appropriate price for the device which represents its value. The health economic models can be used throughout the life cycle of the innovation to inform decision making; however, the challenge lies in the lack of awareness regarding early HTA. It is thus imperative to increase knowledge and build capacity of the researchers, and foster collaboration between innovators and government organizations to realize the true potential of early HTA.

Background: There is an increased incidence of patients coming to a hospital in the post-COVID-19 clinic for symptoms related to the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. The aim of our study is to know the MSK symptoms and post-COVID functional status in COVID-19 patients at 1-year postrecovery and identify any factors associated with the increased incidence and severity of the MSK symptoms.

Methodology: A single-center prospective observational study was undertaken among 1954 in-patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Informed verbal consent was taken from the patients; they were followed up, and data were collected telephonically using a questionnaire and analyzed.

Results: Among 1954 patients, 1087 had MSK symptoms, the most common being fatigue (50.71%), followed by myalgia, backache, and joint pain. Symptomatic COVID-19 patients had significantly higher incidence of MSK symptoms. The post-COVID-19 functional limitation was more in the MSK group (88.78%) as compared to the non-MSK group (55.02%). The presence of symptoms during COVID-19 had 3.37 times higher risk for developing joint pain. Patients with ≥2 comorbidities had 2.27 times higher risk to develop joint pain.

Conclusion: The majority of patients reported to have achieved their previous physical status after COVID-19 within a 1 month. Fatigue (50.71%) was noted to be the most common MSK symptom among COVD-19 survivors. The functional limitation was more after symptomatic COVID-19. Risk of having long-term joint pain was elevated if the patient had COVID-19 symptoms and ≥2 comorbidities. To evaluate MSK symptoms over a longer period of time and determine whether they result in hospital visits, more research is needed.

Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that requires attention. The mortality due to snakebite is highest in India as compared to other countries. This review aims to investigate underlying factors influencing the treatment seeking behaviour and its impact on snakebite related mortality. Articles were reviewed rigorously on online databases PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search strings used were "snake bite" [MeSH Terms] AND "treatment seeking behavior" [MeSH Terms]. A total of 22 articles were retrieved, and 12 articles were considered relevant for the final review. Primarily, the delay in obtaining care, attributed to a lack of understanding regarding various snake species, biting behaviors, and their venomous properties attributes to the snakebite fatality. Overreliance on conventional treatments and religious beliefs significantly influences treatment-seeking behavior. The choice of treatment for snakebite directly influences snakebite mortality. Delays in seeking treatment increase mortality and the chance of long-term consequences (amputations, kidney failure, etc.). The treatment-seeking behavior impacts snakebite mortality. The main cause of delay in snakebite treatment is largely dependent on snakebite victim's beliefs regarding snakebite management.

Background: Suicide, a preventable death, is a global public health problem. As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is 1 death every 11 minutes. Seventy-seven percent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. In India, there were 12.4 suicides per lakh population, with 170924 suicides in the year 2022. To plan for an effective intervention, a predictive analysis i.e. forecasting the future risk of suicides, is more important than exploratory data analysis.

Methodology: The National Crime Records Bureau, GoI, publishes annual reports every year on accidental deaths and suicides in India. Data on suicides were extracted from these reports (1967-2021). Data analysis was done using Gretl Software (2023a) with ARIMA modeling, and suicide cases were forecasted for the following 5 years (2022-2026).

Results: There has been a gradual increase in the number of suicides in India, which started declining in the year 2012 until 2017, and then again started increasing, with a drastic increase in the number of suicides in the year 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forecasting of suicides by ARIMA modeling for the next 5 years from 2022 to 2026 shows an increasing trend, with a gradual decrease in the rate of increase in the absolute number of suicides.

Conclusion: There is an increase in the absolute number of suicides in India. Though the rate of increase in suicides every year is going down, the absolute number of suicides is still a public health concern. This gives a warning sign for an upcoming epidemic in India; hence, it is time to invest in it to prevent these suicide events.

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) presents the significant health concern globally, especially among women of reproductive age. Despite its prevalence and varied manifestations, diagnostic criteria remain inconsistent, with limited regional data, particularly in areas such as North Karnataka, India.

Materials and methods: This retrospective analysis aimed to fill these gaps by examining the prevalence and associated factors of PCOS in this region. Utilizing electronic medical records from Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital over 5 years, a cohort of 884 women diagnosed with PCOS was analyzed alongside an age-matched control group. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on the Rotterdam criteria.

Results: The study found a PCOS prevalence of 70.3%, among the participants. Significant associations were observed between PCOS and factors such as age, marital status, physical activity, and BMI. Although obesity was prevalent among PCOS patients, dietary habits did not exhibit significant associations. Analysis of biochemical parameters highlighted hormonal dysregulation, emphasizing the importance of hormonal profiling in PCOS diagnosis.

Conclusion: This study offers valuable insights into the epidemiology of PCOS in North Karnataka, highlighting the necessity for tailored interventions and further research to enhance comprehension and management of this complex syndrome.

Dysmenorrhea, a common issue among female student community, often leads to severe cramping and absenteeism during menstruation. This study compares Pilates and yoga's effectiveness in managing pain, absenteeism, and sleep quality. This is an experimental study in which 28 participants aged 14 to 17 were selected through purposive sampling. The participants were randomly divided into three groups: Pilates (n = 10), Yoga (n = 9), and Control (n = 9) groups. Pre- and post-test measures included VAS, PSQI, EQ-5D-5L, and an absenteeism questionnaire. Significant improvements were observed in pain intensity, quality of life, sleep quality, and absenteeism in the Pilates, Yoga, and Control groups (P < 0.001). Pilates and yoga groups showed sustained benefits over 3 months, with notable reductions in pain intensity, absenteeism, and enhancements in quality of life and sleep quality. Pilates and yoga effectively alleviate dysmenorrhea symptoms, reduce absenteeism, and enhance overall wellbeing among adolescent females. Integrating these practices may offer valuable benefits in the community for young individuals experiencing menstrual pain.