Kalaiselvi Selvaraj

Prevalence of self-medication practices and its associated factors in Urban Puducherry, India

Background and Objectives: Self medication is an important concern for health authorities at global level. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self medication for allopathic drugs and associated factors among households of urban community. This study was also aimed at assessing the attitude of respondents who had experienced self-medication. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in field practice area attached to a medical institution in urban Puducherry. A total of 352 subjects from 124 households were selected by random sampling. With pretested interview schedule, information regarding self-medication use in the past three months and associated sociodemographic factors, purpose, source of drug procurement, attitude toward self-medication use were collected. Results: Prevalence of self-medication was found to be 11.9%. Males, age >40 years and involving in moderate level activity of occupation, were found to be significantly associated with higher self-medication usage (P < 0.05). Fever (31%), headache (19%), and abdominal pain (16.7%) are most common illnesses where self-medication is being used. Telling the symptoms to pharmacist (38.1%) was the commonest method adopted to procure drugs by the users. Majority of the self-medication users expressed that self-medication is harmless (66.6%) and they are going to use (90%) and advice others also (73.8%) to use self-medication drugs. Conclusion: Self-medication is an important health issue in this area. Health education of the public and regulation of pharmacies may help in limiting the self-medication practices.

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.

Effectiveness of foot care education among people with type 2 diabetes in rural Puducherry, India.

Background: The burden of diabetes and its foot complications is increasing in India. Prevention of these complications through foot care education should be explored. The objective of our study was to assess the risk factors of poor diabetic foot care and to find the effectiveness of health education in improving foot care practice among diabetes patients. Materials and Methods: A structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered to the outpatients of a rural health center with type 2 diabetes. Awareness regarding diabetes, care of diabetes and foot care practice ware assessed and scored. Individual and group health education focusing on foot care was performed. Foot care practice was reassessed after 2 weeks of education. Results: Only 54% were aware that diabetes could lead to reduced foot sensation and foot ulcers. Nearly 53% and 41% of the patients had good diabetes awareness and good diabetes care respectively. Only 22% of the patients had their feet examined by a health worker or doctor. The patients with poor, satisfactory and good practice scores were 44.7%, 35.9% and 19.4% respectively. Low education status, old age and low awareness regarding diabetes were the risk factors for poor practice of foot care. Average score for practice of foot care improved from 5.90 ± 1.82 to 8.0 ± 1.30 after 2 weeks of health education. Practice related to toe space examination, foot inspection and foot wear inspection improved maximally. Conclusion: Foot care education for diabetics in a primary care setting improves their foot care practice and is likely to be effective in reducing the burden of diabetic foot ulcer.

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.

Pattern of mental distress among chronic disease subjects in urban Puducherry, India

Aim: Limited information is available on the status of mental distress among chronic disease subjects attending primary care settings in India. This study aimed to assess the pattern of mental distress among chronic disease subjects. Materials and Methods: This facility based cross-sectional study was carried out among chronic disease subjects attending urban health center attached to a Medical Institution in Puducherry, India. Mental distress was assessed by general health questionnaire-12. Data on associated factors were collected by structured questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 58.2 ΁ 12.8 years. Around 80% of the subjects found to have mental distress. Mental distress was comparatively more among females, educated more than middle school, person living in the nuclear family and suffering from joint pain (P < 0.05). Subjects who had both diabetes and hypertension reported more mental distress. Females had comparatively more mental distress after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion: Mental distress among chronic disease subjects in this setting is high especially among females screening of this high-risk group may help in taking appropriate interventional measures.

Self-care practices among diabetes patients registered in a chronic disease clinic in Puducherry, South India

Background: In management of diabetes, self-care plays an important role in prevention of complications. This study aims to find the proportion of diabetic patients following the recommended self-care practices in an urban area of Puducherry. Materials and Methods: Consecutive eligible patients registered in chronic disease clinic were interviewed using Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities Score (SDSCA) questionnaire. Self-care practices were evaluated in domains of diet, physical activity, foot-care, adherence to medications and blood glucose monitoring. All domains were scored from the range of 0 to 7. Results: Totally 162 diabetic patients were interviewed. The mean (SD) age of participants was 57 (11.1) yrs. Among all domains, adherence to medication was the highest (95.6 %) followed by avoidance of selected food items (99.4%). Almost 78% of patients had their blood sugar checked at least once in the last three months. Only half of them (50.6%) had followed at least 20 minutes of leisure time physical activity. Except washing of foot (83.3%) all other foot care practices were less commonly (35-57%) followed. Conclusion: The study shows that higher level of compliance to self-care practices in terms of taking drugs and diet but self-care in other domains such as foot care is alarmingly low.

Age and Sex Differences in Sputum Smear Microscopy Results for Acid Fast Bacilli in a Tertiary Care Centre, South India

Background and Objectives. Low counts are more difficult to find in microscopic sputum examination and thus are more likely to be missed. In this study, we aimed to estimate the proportion of low-count grading and assessing any age and gender differences in sputum smear grading in a low HIV prevalence setting. Materials and Methods. From the tuberculosis laboratory register information on sputum positivity including the grading of smears, age and gender were extracted for January 2011–December 2011. Smears were examined using Ziehl-Neelsen technique and graded as per the Program Guidelines. Positive smears were classified into low grade positive smears (scanty and 1

Use of Mobile Phone in Healthcare: Readiness among Urban Population of Puducherry, India

Introduction: Use of mobile phones in planning of health care interventions is on the rise. Before planning of such interventions, it is essential to know about readiness among the target population. Objective(s): To identify the access to personal mobile phone, knowledge on usage in terms of making/receiving call/SMS and the willingness to use mobile phone as a medium for health communication among adults in an urban area of Puducherry, South India. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in two randomly selected areas out of the four in the urban field practice area of a medical college in Puducherry during July, 2014. Systematic random sampling was done to select 126 houses. All individuals above 18 years in those households were included. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect information. Association between socio-demographic factors and willingness to receive health tip through mobile phone was found using binary logistic regression. Results: Among 299 participants interviewed, 227 (75.9%) had personal mobile phones; 229 (76.6%), 128 (42.8%) and 131 (43.8%), were able to receive and make a call, read SMS, and text SMS respectively. Nearly 50% were willing to receive health information through mobile phones. Of these, 67.5% were willing to receive through call/SMS and 35.5% only through calls. On multivariate binary logistic analysis, individuals having personal mobile and younger age were found to be willing to receive health information through mobile phones. Conclusion: Three in every five individuals having personal mobile were willing to receive health information through mobile with most of them preferring call/SMS over only call.

Community medicine teaching for paramedical courses in India: Does the curriculum for medical laboratory technology course need a revision?

© 2016 Education for Health | Published by Wolters Kluwer Medknow Address for correspondence: Dr. Sonali Sarkar, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, 4th Floor, Administrative Block, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Dhanvantri Nagar, Puducherry ‐ 605 006, India. E‐mail: sarkarsonaligh@gmail.com Community Medicine Teaching for Paramedical Courses in India: Does the Curriculum for Medical Laboratory Technology Course Need a Revision?

Active screening for tuberculosis among slum dwellers in selected urban slums of Puducherry, South India

295 Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health | Jul-Aug 2016 | Vol 9 | Issue 4 Dear Sir, The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) “End TB Strategy” advocates for active case finding activities to have 90% tuberculosis (TB) case detection by 2030. [1] WHO recommends for active screening among household TB contacts, health care workers, people with diabetes, migrants and prisoners, and people in urban slums based on systematic review.[2,3] The review also recommends for local evidence on active screening in the recommended groups to enable policymakers to develop country specific active screening guidelines. [3,4] With an estimated 1 million missing TB cases in India, there is a need for determining yield, feasibility, and cost effectiveness of active case finding activities among the recommended high‐risk groups.[5] In this study, we aimed to assess the feasibility and yield of active screening among urban slum dwellers.