Gupta Bp

Ocular morbidity prevalence among school children in Shimla, Himachal, North India.

Background Data on eye diseases among school children is not readily available. Considering the fact that one-third of Indias blind lose their eyesight before the age of 20 years and many of them are under five when they become blind, early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity among children is important. Aim To estimate the prevalence of ocular morbidity among school children of age 6-16 years. Settings Government and private coeducational schools in urban area of Shimla. Design Cross-sectional Materials and Methods Government and private coeducational schools selected by stratified random sampling. About 1561 school children, studying in elementary through secondary class in these schools were examined from August 2001 to January 2002 in Shimla. A doctor did visual acuity and detailed ophthalmic examination. Statistical analysis The Chi-square test was used to test differences in proportions. Differences were considered to be statistically significant at the 5% level. Results Prevalence of ocular morbidity was 31.6% (CI=29.9-32.1%), refractive errors 22% (CI=21.1-22.8%), squint 2.5% (CI=2.4-2.6%), color blindness 2.3% (CI=2.2-2.4%), vitamin A deficiency 1.8 % (CI=1.7-1.9%), conjunctivitis 0.8% (CI=0.79-0.81%). Overall prevalence of ocular morbidity in government and private schools did not show any statistical significant difference. Prevalence of conjunctivitis was significantly (P<0.5) more in government schools. Conclusion A high prevalence of ocular morbidity among high-school children was observed. Refractive errors were the most common ocular disorders.

The Prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Married Women in the Reproductive Age Group in a Rural Area

Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) represent a major public health problem in developing countries.(1) The consequences of RTIs are numerous and potentially devastating. These include postabortal and puerperal-sepsis, ectopic pregnancy, fetal and perinatal death, cervical cancer, infertility, chronic physical pain, emotional distress, and social rejection of women.(2) In Indian community-based studies, the range of self-reported morbidity has been reported to vary from 39–84%.(3,4) Most of the Indian studies in the field of reproductive health care are based on clinical examination and a few are based on laboratory tests.(5) This community-based cross-sectional study of the prevalence of RTIs gives some indication of the likely burden of the disease in the population studied and highlights some associated factors.

Prevalence of RTIs among women of reproductive age group in Shimla city

Objective : To find out the prevalence of RTIs among women of reproductive age group. Study design: Cross-Sectional Study. Setting and Participants : Women of reproductive age group in 25 Municipal Wards of Shimla City. Study period : March 1999 to October 1999. Sample size : 600 women between 15-49 years age. Study variables : Education, marital status, age at marriage, socioeconomic status, menstrual hygiene practices, contraceptive practices, parity. Results : The study was undertaken based on syndromic approach for RTIs. Based on the complaints of the patients, laboratory investigations were also undetaken. Overall prevalence of RTIs was found to be 36.3% and this prevalence was significantly related to mean age at the marriage, marital status, parity, menstrual hygiene practices, current contraceptive method use and socioeconomic status.