Sanjiv Kumar Bhasin

Depression, anxiety and stress among adolescent students belonging to affluent families: a school-based study.

ObjectiveTo study depression, anxiety and stress (DAS) among adolescent school students belonging to affluent families and the factors associated with high levels of DAS.Methods242 adolescent students belonging to class 9–12th selected for the study. DASS-21 questionnaire was used for assessing DAS.ResultsThe scores in the three domains (DAS) were found to be remarkably correlated. It was seen that depression was significantly more among the females (mean rank 132.5) than the males (mean rank 113.2), p=0.03. Depression (p=0.025), Anxiety (0.005) and Stress (p<0.001) were all significantly higher among the ‘board classes’ i.e., 10th and 12th as compared to the classes 9th and 11th. All the three (DAS) were found to have an inverse relationship with the academic performance of the students. Depression and Stress were found to be significantly associated with the number of adverse events in the student’s life that occurred in last one year.ConclusionA significant proportion of the students were found to be having high levels of DAS and several important factors were found to be associated with them. Proactive steps at the school-level and community-level and steps for improved parent-adolescent communication are needed for amelioration of the problem.

Long-term nutritional effects of ICDS.

Nutritional status of 1243 children (636 boys and 607 girls) in the age group of 7–13 years was assessed in relation to utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) during their childhood. All the houses in every 10th Anganwadi selected by systematic random sampling were surveyed in the ICDS project, Nand Nagri in East Delhi. Information regarding utilisation of ICDS facilities, sociodemographic details, general awareness etc. was collected by interview technique and anthropometric and clinical examination of every child was done and Anganwadi attendance score was calculated for each child. It was found that most of the children were nonbeneficiaries (59.1%). On univariate analysis Anganwadi attendance score, age, sex of the child and education status of the father showed statistically significant association (p<0.005) with malnutrition. On Multiple logistic regression analysis higher age (OR 1.4155 for grade 1 malnutrition and 1.6913 for grade 4 malnutrition) and being female (OR 1.5214 for Grade 4 malnutrition) remained significant risk factors for development of malnutrition for all grades. Anganwadi attendance score did not show any statistically significant association for decreasing the risk of getting malnourished for any grades of malnutrition in 7–13 years age group. There is special need to take special care for girls as well as to continue the special nutrition care even at an higher age. More in depth studies are needed so as to formulate effective nutritional policies for children.

A high prevalence of caesarean section rate in East Delhi

Pregnancy and delivery are considered as normal physiological states in women. Of all deliveries approximately 10% are considered high-risk some of which may require caesarean section. Of late the incidence of caesarean is steadily rising. In the last few decades the caesarean rates have increased dramatically in the developed world. Amongst developing countries like Brazil and Chine also the caesarean section rates have sky-rocketed. In India data collected from 30 medical colleges/teaching hospital revealed that caesarean section rates increased from 21.8% in 1988-1989 to 25.4% in 1993-1994. A population based cross-sectional study conducted in India a caesarean section of 32.6% has been documented from Madras City in South India. Clearly these rates are unacceptably high all over the globe. We conducted the present study to find out the prevalence of caesarean section in an urban community of East Delhi. (excerpt)

Routine Immunization - Do People Know About It? A Study Among Caretakers of Children Attending Pulse Polio Immunization in East Delhi

Research question: Do caretakers of children under five years have sufficient knowledge regarding routine immunization (RI)? Objective: To assess the knowledge about RI among caretakers of young children. Settings: Pulse polio immunization centres in East Delhi. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Six hundred and eighty-two caretakers accompanying children under 5 years to pulse polio booths in November 2006. Study tool: Pre-tested semi-open-ended questionnaire. Statistical analysis: Proportions, Chi-square test. Results: The proportions of respondents who had awareness about different aspects of RI, such as weekday of RI (37.0%), age group for RI (49.1%), number of visits required in the first year of life (27.0%), were all low. When asked to name the four diseases covered under the RI program in Delhi, only 268 (39.3%) could name at least three. The education level of respondents was strongly associated with their knowledge about RI. Conclusion: The need of the hour is to make RI a ‘felt need’ of the community. Making caretakers more aware about RI is a vital step in achieving this goal.

Perceptions of teachers regarding sex education in National Capital Territory of Delhi.

A cross sectional study was conducted to find out the knowledge and attitudes of school teachers regarding sex education. Information was collected from 476 senior secondary school teachers belonging both to the government and public schools, selected randomly in National Capital Territory of Delhi using pre-tested close ended questionnaires. A majority of school teachers (73%) were in favour of imparting sex education to school children. Regarding contents of sex education, 90% agreed to the inclusion of reproductive anatomy, physiology including menstruation and birth control measures like condoms and oral pills. However, a majority of school teachers did not want sex education to include topics like abortion, premarital sex and masturbation etc. Fourteen years of age was considered to be the most appropriate for imparting sex education by 28.6% of school teachers. School teachers and doctors were considered by 69.4% and 63.6% of the respondents respectively to be the most appropriate persons for providing sex education.

Cancer related knowledge and behavior among women across various socio-economic strata: A study from Delhi, India

Background: Cancer is predicted to be an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in the next few decades worldwide. One important step in reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality from cancers is awareness among the population about the causes and prevention of cancers. Objective: To study the knowledge and preventive behavior regarding common cancers among the women from an area of Delhi, India. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Four purposively selected residential areas representing various socio-economic strata, in North-East Delhi. Participants: One thousand two hundred and six women in the age group 18-60 years. Statistical Analysis: Proportions, Chi-square test. Results: Majority of the women (43.9%) were graduates while 10.4% were illiterate. The awareness about breast cancer was maximum with 73.8% of the respondents being aware about it. The proportions of women aware about the other cancers were low. Only 52 (4.3%) had ever been for a preventive check-up for cancer. The most common cancer checkup for which the respondents reported visiting a hospital was, breast cancer. Among the respondents, 46 (3.8%) reported having a female member in their family who ever had cancer. Five hundred and seventy seven (47.8%) had not seen any message regarding cancers common in females in any mass media. Women with a higher education level, having a female family member with cancer, and those who could recall mass media message regarding cancers, were significantly more likely to have had a preventive cancer checkup for self. Conclusion: The knowledge and actual preventive behavior about cancers was found to be low among the women. Increased mass media exposure and targeted strategies can possibly increase the awareness and the cancer-related health behavior among the women.

Health issues amongst call center employees, an emerging occupational group in India

Call center sector in India is a relatively new industry and one of the fastest growing sectors driving employment and growth in modern India today. While employment in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector has meant that young adults are reaching their career milestones and financial goals much earlier than before, surveys and anecdotal evidence show that workers in the BPO sector experience high levels of stress and its related disorders, primarily due to its contemporary work settings. Safeguarding the health of youngsters employed in this new, growing economy becomes an occupational health challenge to public health specialists.

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.

Influence of Comprehensive Life Style Intervention in Patients of CHD

Background and Objectives: Over the past 30 years, the CHD rates have doubled in India whereas CHD rates have declined by 15% in most developed countries due to lifestyle interventions during the same period. So, the present study was conducted to find out the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention in reducing major risk factors in CHD patients in an Indian setting. Methods: We conducted this randomized controlled trial on 640 eligible subjects who were randomly assigned to two groups. The study group was given an interventional package at baseline and at three months, detailing the aspects of a healthy lifestyle in relation to CHD risk factors whereas no intervention was provided for the control group. The study subjects were followed at three and six months and the risk factors were assessed to find out reduction, if any, in the prevalence of the risk factors amongst them. Results: There was a significant reduction in hypertension, tobacco, and lack of physical activity at three and at six months (p<0.03) when compared to the baseline in the study group. However, there was no significant reduction in obesity at three months (p=0.148) while the reduction in obesity was significant at six months (p=0.0005) in the study group as compared to the control group. The lipid profile reduced significantly at six months but there was no statistically significant reduction in diabetes at six months in the study group as compared to the control group (p=0.419). Interpretation & Conclusion: Except for diabetes, the lifestyle intervention was successful in increasing physical activity, improving the hypertension control, and decreasing lipid profile disorders, obesity, and tobacco use in the study group.

New poverty line and growth chart bring forth sharp inequalities in the Indian population

The last few months have seen a fierce debate over the World Banks new poverty estimates for India,(1) coming close on heels of the new WHO growth charts, to grade the nutritional status of children.(2) On the basis of employing a new poverty line of