Anindo Majumdar

Acute respiratory infections among under-5 children in India: A situational analysis

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the leading cause of death among children less than 5 years in India. Emergence of newer pathogenic organisms, reemergence of disease previously controlled, wide spread antibiotic resistance, and suboptimal immunization coverage even after many innovative efforts are major factors responsible for high incidence of ARI. Drastic reduction in the burden of ARI by low-cost interventions such as hand washing, breast feeding, availability of rapid and feasible array of diagnostics, and introduction of pentavalent vaccine under National Immunization Schedule which are ongoing are necessary for reduction of ARI.

Prevalence of acute respiratory infection among under-five children in urban and rural areas of puducherry, India

Introduction: The incidence of Acute respiratory infections (ARI) is high among under-five children, especially in developing countries. However, the data on ARI from rural and urban areas in India are scarce. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of ARI and selected associated factors among under-five children. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in urban and rural areas of Puducherry, India. Data were collected from 509 parents of under-five children regarding ARI incidence along with socio-demographic and selected associated factors. Results: Overall prevalence of ARI was observed to be 59.1%, with prevalence in urban and rural areas being 63.7% and 53.7%, respectively. Bivariate analysis indicated that overcrowding, place of residence, and mothers education were significantly associated with ARI. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that presence of overcrowding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.492), urban residence (AOR = 2.329), and second birth order (AOR = 0.371) were significant predictors of ARI. Conclusion: The prevalence of ARI is high, particularly in urban areas. Improvement of living conditions may help in reduction of burden of ARI in the community.

Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?

In the recent years, outbreaks of blood-borne infections have been reported from assisted living facilities, which were traced back to improper blood glucose monitoring practices. Needle-stick injuries have been implicated in many such cases. This directly raises concerns over sharp disposal practices of diabetic patients self-managing their condition in home care settings. With India being home to a huge diabetic population, this issue, if neglected, can cause substantial damage to the health of the population and a marked economic loss. This article discusses the sharp disposal practices prevalent among diabetes patients, the importance of proper sharp disposal, barriers to safe disposal of sharps, and the options available for doing the same. For adopting an environmentally safe wholesome approach, disposal of plastics generated as a result of diabetes self-care at home is important as well. The article also looks at the possible long-term solutions to these issues that are sustainable in an Indian context.

Awareness of health warnings and factors predicting awareness and perceived effectiveness of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products among adults in rural Puducherry, India

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists in India about the awareness and perception of the people regarding pictorial health warnings (PHWs) and text warnings on tobacco products, more so from rural areas. Objectives were to report the awareness of these warnings, factors predicting awareness and perceived effectiveness of PHWs, and understanding of their content in a rural population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two villages (chosen randomly out of total four) in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Puducherry. Households were selected by systematic random sampling. All persons ≥18 years and residing in the area for at least 6 months were included. Data regarding awareness and perception of participants was collected through a semi-structured interview schedule. RESULTS: A total of 428 participants were recruited; 197 (46%) were male, and 231 (54%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 38.9 (standard deviation 15.0) years. Awareness of PHWs and text warnings was 39.5% (169/428) and 21% (90/428), respectively. Only 11.2% participants perceived PHWs as effective. Most (45%) of the participants had a vague understanding of the content of PHWs. On multivariate logistic regression, male gender, current tobacco use, and better education emerged as predictors of greater awareness of PHWs. Extended family predicted greater perceived effectiveness of PHWs, whereas, high socioeconomic class and middle school completion predicted lower perceived effectiveness of PHWs. CONCLUSION: Awareness and perceived effectiveness of adults in rural Puducherry regarding PHWs were low. There is a need to create awareness through education and using meaningful, larger pictures.