A T Kannan

A study on infant and young child feeding practices among mothers attending an urban health center in East Delhi

A cross sectional study was conducted to study the diet pattern of children less than 2 years with regard to certain infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators. A total of 374 children less than 24 months of age coming to the immunization clinic were studied using a standard pretested and prevalidated questionnaire. Exclusive breastfeeding was followed by 57.1% of children under 6 months of age. Minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet were seen adequate in 32.6%, 48.6%, and 19.7% of children between 6 months and 2 years of age, respectively.

Impact of NGO run mid day meal program on nutrition status and growth of primary school children

ObjectiveTo study the impact of wholesome mid day meal (MDM) program run by an NGO on the growth of the primary school students in rural area of Mathura district.MethodsThis intervention study involved children enrolled in Government run rural primary schools in Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh from March 06 through August 07. A wholesome, nutritionally balanced MDM provided by an NGO for the students in the 6 primary schools was selected as intervention group. Control group consisted of children in 8 schools which received locally prepared MDM by village panchayats. Height, weight, change in height/month, change in weight/month, prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and prevalence of signs of vitamin deficiencies, were measured.ResultsFood was provided for 221 days in one year. Within group and between groups repetitive measures were compared using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Within both intervention and control groups height and weight had significantly increased (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no change in prevalence of malnutrition within either of the groups. Reduction in vitamin A deficiency signs was 38% more in intervention group (p < 0.001). Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency reduced by 50% more in intervention group. No such differences between groups were observed for vitamin B complex and vitamin C.ConclusionsMDM provided by the NGO has no better impact on growth of the primary school children, however, it reduced prevalence of vitamin deficiency significantly in comparison to the MDM run by Village Panchayats.

Stress, anxiety, and depression among call handlers employed in international call centers in the national capital region of Delhi.

BACKGROUND Call handlers employed in call centers repeatedly undergo stress in their day-to-day lives and this can have deleterious effects on their health. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to study the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and their predictors among call handlers employed in international call centers in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 375 call handlers aged 18-39 years. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale- 42 (DASS-42) was used to measure stress, anxiety, and depression along with a pretested sociodemographic questionnaire. Univariate analysis was done to find out the association of stress, anxiety, and depression with various factors. Variables with P < 0.25 were included in multiple logistic regression and three models were developed each for stress, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among call handlers was 46.7%, 57.1%, and 62.9% respectively. Abnormal sleep quality, prolonged travel time, and lack of relaxation facilities at the office were predictors of stress and depression. The presence of physical ailments, the absence of hobbies, temporary/part-time employment, and traveling long-distance to office were significant predictors of anxiety among call handlers. CONCLUSION Call handlers face a high burden of stress, anxiety, and depression. Public health specialists need to pay adequate attention to their health problems.

Assessment of a Secondary Level Hospital in Rural Delhi as per the Indian Public Health Standards for 200 Bedded Hospital

Government of India is committed to strengthening the health sector for improving health status of the population. In order to ensure these, Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) were laid down with the overall objective to provide healthcare that is quality oriented and sensitive to needs of the people. The present study was carried out to assess how far a 200-bedded hospital conformed to IPHS. A cross-sectional study was done at Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra hospital, Narela to assess four important domains as per the IPHS i.e. manpower, equipment, procedures performed and diseases treated using standardized checklists. Out of 26 sanctioned posts of doctors only 11 were filled. Nearly all equipments for imaging, labor room, operation theatre and laboratory were in place. Only 50% of medical and dermatological procedures while no ophthalmic procedure were being performed. Huge gap exists between sanctioned and filled positions of specialists and utilization of resources in the hospital.

Reproductive health of newly married women residing in a resettlement colony of Delhi: a longitudinal study.

During the period immediately after marriage, women are neither assessed for their reproductive health nor given any intervention for the same. A community based longitudinal study was done to assess the status of reproductive health of newly married women in which 71 newly married women were followed for 9 months. Mean age at marriage was 20.24 (19.74-20.74) years. 76.06% were anemic. With time, proportion reporting menstrual complaints and RTI symptoms increased significantly (P<0.05). 29 (40.85%) reported menstrual complaints and 22 (30.99%) RTI symptoms. Only 14 (19.72%) subjects used contraceptive methods. 79% conceived within 9 months of marriage. Only 25% pregnancies got registered in first trimester. Reproductive and nutritional status of the newly married women was unsatisfactory.