Indian Journal of Community Medicine最新文献

Background: Mental health issues have gained increased attention globally in recent years, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimated the prevalence of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress, and identified the determinants associated with the levels of mental health problems among Vietnamese undergraduate students across various academic disciplines.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at three educational institutions in southern Vietnam. A structured questionnaire including questions about personal characteristics, family background, academic-related aspects, and the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students. Linear regression models were used to identify the factors associated with the DASS-21 scores among undergraduate students.

Results: Of the 572 participants, 191 (33.4%) experienced depression, 271 (47.4%) reported anxiety, and 162 (28.3%) suffered from stress. Significant heterogeneity in depression, anxiety, and stress was observed among undergraduates within the same academic disciplines, with all intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) ≤0.053. Increased risks of mental health issues were linked to a lack of regular exercise (β = 2.15, P = .037, ref: frequently doing exercise), dissatisfaction with family affection (β = 8.42, P = .023, ref: satisfaction with family relationship), financial control from family (β = 8.00, P < .001, ref: without financial control), dissatisfaction with academic mentorship (β =16.08, P < .001, ref: satisfaction with mentorship), and personal studying performance pressure (β = 4.33, P = .018, ref: without personal studying performance pressure).

Discussion and conclusion: The study findings provided important insights into the high prevalence and key determinants of mental health symptoms among undergraduate students, which may inform the design of future interventions and support programs in Vietnam.

Indoor air pollution poses a major public health concern in India, particularly among urban populations exposed to high levels of particulate matter. This study aimed to assess the influence of housing conditions and awareness on indoor particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A cross-sectional study was conducted across 12 households representing slum, low-, middle-, and high-income groups, as well as commercial and industrial areas. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations were continuously monitored over a one-year period using pre-calibrated AirVisual Pro devices. Awareness regarding indoor air pollution and preventive measures was evaluated through structured questionnaires administered before and after an awareness intervention. The findings revealed that effective ventilation and good hygiene practices significantly contributed to reducing indoor PM2.5 levels. Poorly ventilated homes, such as House 1 (62 μg/m³) and House 4 (73 μg/m³), exhibited higher pollutant concentrations, while well-ventilated or air-conditioned homes, such as House 2 (46 μg/m³) and House 3 (40 μg/m³), maintained lower levels. The highest concentration (111 μg/m³) was recorded in House 5, which is located near a highway with inadequate ventilation. The awareness component showed a marked improvement in residents' understanding of air pollution sources, health impacts, and mitigation strategies following real-time monitoring and education sessions. The study concludes that housing ventilation, seasonal behavioral factors, and real-time monitoring play a crucial role in determining indoor air quality. Strengthening building design standards and enhancing public awareness are vital for sustainable indoor air quality management in urban India.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a highly regulated and potentially toxic chemical compound because several studies have classified PFOA as potentially carcinogenic to humans. To analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics in the collaboration and impact on PFOA and cancer research. A descriptive and retrospective study was designed with a scientometric approach. A comprehensive search of manuscripts published during the period 2018-2023 was performed in the Scopus database and SciVal tool. Manuscripts were identified that contained specific terms related to PFOA and cancer in the title or abstract. Several indicators were used, including number of publications, citations received by these publications, number of authors involved, citations per publication, and Standardized Source Impact per Paper. During the period 2018 to 2023, 147 documents were published in 76 different sources, with an annual growth rate of 24.57%. The papers have an average age of 2.79 years and receive an average of 20.86 citations per paper. They have been referenced a total of 8674 times. In terms of document types, the majority are articles (120), followed by reviews (22). There are also three book chapters, one conference paper, and one editorial. From 2018 to 2023, 147 articles were published on PFOA and cancer, with an annual growth of 24.57%. The top publications came from Environment International and the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. The University of Padova stood out for its high number of citations. This study highlights emerging trends in PFOA and cancer research.

Background: Nomophobia, the fear of being without mobile phone contact, is recognized as a behavioral addiction characterized by anxiety when individuals are unable to access their smartphones or mobile networks. This phenomenon is increasingly observed among medical students, whose academic and personal reliance on smartphones is significant. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of nomophobia and identify the factors predicting its occurrence among undergraduate medical students at a University in Belagavi, South India.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 1 year among 416 undergraduate medical students using a universal sampling technique. After obtaining informed consent, data were collected using a predesigned structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic details and smartphone usage patterns. Nomophobia was assessed using the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v23.0, and P values <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The median (interquartile range) age of participants was 21 (2) years, and the overall prevalence of nomophobia was 97.4%. Significant associations were observed between nomophobia and age group, frequency of smartphone checks, and the number of applications installed. Among the four dimensions of nomophobia, the highest mean score was observed for not able to communicate (4.16 ± 1.54), followed by not able to access information, losing connectedness, and giving up convenience.

Conclusion: The prevalence of nomophobia among medical students is alarmingly high and consistent with other studies. These findings highlight the urgent need for awareness, targeted interventions, and support systems to mitigate smartphone-related anxiety and its potential impact on student wellbeing and academic performance.

Mass gatherings, frequently organized during festivals, put a strain on the local administration and are always a threat for an outbreak of diseases (communicable/foodborne/waterborne). This study was done to assess approaches to an outbreak of food poisoning which occurred during a mass gathering. This is a cross-sectional study in which interview-based data of items consumed during the feast and symptoms suffered by the participants were collected. Attack rates were calculated, and significance of association was ascertained between food items consumed and development of symptoms. Inspection of the cooking area was done keeping in mind the possible sources of contamination. 277 persons were interviewed, and 180 individuals were identified as cases. The mean age in years was 23.6 (standard deviation 14.1). There were 163 (58.8%) females and 114 (41.2%) males. Epidemic curve showed a classic pattern of point source outbreak. Patients had vomiting (79.44%), pain abdomen (97.22%), and diarrhea (93.33%) with pain abdomen being the most common symptom. The odds ratio calculated was significant for Aloo Chhole 2.70 (confidence interval [CI] 1.28-5.71), Urad Dal 2.80 (CI 1.42-5.50), and Chane ka Choliya 2.08 (CI 1.22-3.53). A good approach toward outbreak investigation can lead to finding out the factors leading to the outbreak. The factors responsible can be prevented in future similar events preventing morbidity and sometimes mortality. An epidemiological approach to an outbreak of food poisoning in a mass gathering is discussed.

Background: LaQshya program was launched to increase institutional deliveries, provide quality labor room and operation theatre services and improve the satisfaction of the beneficiaries. The objective of this study was to assess postnatal women's satisfaction with childbirth services at secondary healthcare facilities from the patients' and healthcare providers' perspectives.

Materials and methods: Mixed-method study was conducted across five healthcare facilities where both modes of delivery, normal vaginal and cesarean section, were available, in District Dehradun, Uttarakhand. One hundred and ninety-one women were interviewed using a Hindi-validated scale (SMMS), and 25 IDIs were conducted among healthcare providers, to understand their perspectives on factors influencing satisfaction and dissatisfaction of postnatal women with childbirth services.

Result: All post-natal women (n = 191) were more satisfied with childbirth services. Mean satisfaction score was slightly higher for cesarean delivery (155.1 ± 10.8, n = 31) than normal vaginal delivery (154.1±9.9, n = 160), but not statistically significant. Overall experience was similar across all facilities. Lowest scores reported for factors: Food and sanitation services and respect for privacy. Healthcare providers' perspectives for high satisfaction among women were good behavior of healthcare workers, comfort provided, quality of services, prompt action, and immediate meeting with the baby, whereas for dissatisfaction was inadequate infrastructure, lack of privacy, quality services, manpower shortage, hygiene and sanitation, and inadequate material resources.

Conclusion: The study reported a high level of satisfaction among postnatal women for childbirth services at secondary healthcare facilities, as in most cases, it was the only option for institutional delivery for them. However, healthcare professionals reported several areas of improvement in the services.

Background and objective: Knowledge regarding noise pollution has been increasing recently, but awareness in the context of hospital settings is necessary among the hospital staff to make noise reduction in hospitals a priority in India. The objective of this study is to determine the awareness regarding hospital noise and its effects among staff working in a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among staff members working in any capacity in a 1600-bedded tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. A predesigned, pretested, semistructured questionnaire was used to collect information on knowledge and perception among the staff regarding hospital noise in their workplace and its effects. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows Version 21.0 [Computer software]. IBM Corp.

Results: Of 450 study participants, 319 (70.9%) agreed that noise affects human health and 235 (52.2%) were knowledgeable regarding any hospital noise legislation. The most frequently perceived health effect of hospital noise was annoyance (311, 69.3%), followed by hearing impairment (285, 63.5%). Workplaces were deemed to be noisy by only 219 (48.7%) respondents. Of the sources of noise identified, 29% were totally avoidable and 23% were partially avoidable. Education, socioeconomic status, and area of work were significantly associated with knowledge and perceptions regarding hospital noise.

Conclusions: Knowledge regarding hospital noise and its effects was lacking among 25-50% of the staff working in the hospital. More than half of the identified hospital noise sources were either completely or partially avoidable through staff sensitization, strategic procedural changes to mitigate noise, and strict implementation of patient and visitor rules.