BackgroundKyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a highly infectious viral illness transmitted by infected ticks through contact with monkeys and other forest animals. Till date there is no definite treatment available for KFD. Hence, vaccination is considered to be an important public health intervention to control KFD. This study aimed at estimating the vaccination coverage for primary and booster doses of KFD vaccine and exploring the perceived barriers to vaccination in the affected villages of Goa, India during 2015–18.Methodology & principal findingsIn this explanatory mixed methods study, vaccine coverage was estimated bydata obtained from the KFD vaccination registers maintained at the health centers catering to the KFD affected villages. To understand the barriers to vaccination,key informant interviews were conducted among implementing health officers, medical officers and nurses involved in vaccination. Perceptions of vaccinees and community members were studied through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.Out of the 35,500 targeted population (6–65 years)for KFD vaccination, 32% received one dose and 13.2% received two doses. The coverage for first booster and annual booster was 4.9% and 0.5% respectively. The drop out from first to second and third doses was 57% and 85% respectively. 69% of doses were delivered during community outreach programmes and remaining at health facilities. Inadequate vaccine stock, inappropriate timing of vaccination campaign, lack of awareness and misconceptions related to indications of vaccines, travel distance for follow up doses given at community health centre and pain due to injection were perceived as reasons for poor vaccination coverage.ConclusionsKFD vaccination coverage was poor in the villages affected by KFD in Goa. Both left-out and drop-out phenomena were observed in KFD vaccination. Vaccine implementation plan has to consider suitable time for the local people, maintain adequate vaccine stock and encourage community-based vaccination campaigns instead of facility-based to achieve optimal vaccine coverage.
This study was carried out among workers from an open-cast iron ore mine in South Goa with an objective to assess morbidity among these workers. Investigations were carried out at the Occupational Health Service Clinic of the mining company. Nearly 0.6% workers had pneumoconiosis, 3.2% had abnormal spirometry findings, 38.16% had hearing loss and 27.7% had defective vision respectively. The prevalence of other chronic diseases were as follows: diabetes 5.1%, hypertension 8.3%, dyslipidemia 37.5% and polycythemia 12.7% respectively. Since the findings were not compared with the pre-placement records and as most of the workers are young with duration of exposures <10 years, relationship cannot be definitely determined. The study findings are suggesting an association between the occupation in mining with pneumoconiosis, compromised lung function and hearing loss. However for the other finding further analytical studies are required to see for any association. Airborne respirable dust survey and noise monitoring studies also need to be carried out.
Introduction Five states in India are reporting sporadic outbreaks of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD). Goa experienced an outbreak of KFD in 2015. It remains as an important differential diagnosis for tropical fever in the endemic regions. Few studies among neighboring two states (Karnataka and Kerala) have described the epidemiological characteristics of KFD. However, there is no study which describes the same among cases in the state of Goa. Hence, we planned to understand the epidemiology (time, place, and person distribution) of the disease including seasonal pattern with forecasting using zero-inflated negative binomial regression and time series models. We also explored geo-spatial clustering of KFD cases in Goa during 2015–2018 which would help design effective intervention to curb its transmission in Goa. Results Blood samples of all suspected cases of KFD during 2015 to 2018 were tested using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. Reports of these results were periodically shared with the state surveillance unit. Records of 448 confirmed cases of KFD available at the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme were analyzed. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 41.6 (14.9) years. Of 143 cases with documented travel history, 135 (94.4%) had history of travel to forest for cashew plucking. Two thirds of cases (66.3%) did not receive KFD vaccine prior to the disease. Case fatality rate of 0.9% was reported. Seasonal peaks were observed during January to April, and forecasting demonstrated a peak in cases in the subsequent year also during January–April persisting till May. Around 40 villages located along the Western Ghats had reported KFD, and affected villages continued to report cases in the subsequent years also. Case density-based geographic maps show clustering of cases around the index village. Conclusion Most of the confirmed cases did not receive any vaccination. KFD cases in Goa followed a specific seasonal pattern, and clustering of cases occurred in selected villages located in North Goa. Most of the patients who had suffered from the disease had visited the forest for cashew plucking. Planning for public health interventions such as health education and vaccination campaigns should consider these epidemiological features.
BACKGROUND: Inequitable distribution of doctors has been a national concern. Nonavailability of health care providers is a major contributor to the poor health indicators of the rural areas. In India there is unwillingness of doctors to work in rural underserved areas, leading to inadequate staffed rural health facilities. However, little is known regarding the attitudes of doctors and the factors influencing their decision to work in rural areas. This study aimed to explore the current attitudes of recent medical graduate's preference towards serving in rural areas. AIMS: To study the attitudes among Goan Doctors towards service and medical practice in rural areas of Goa. METHODS AND MATERIALS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using self-administered questionnaires, amongst a total of 100 MBBS doctors who graduated from Goa Medical College during 2010. Open ended questions were asked regarding the various reasons for unwillingness and willingness towards rural services. RESULTS: The study found that the majority of the doctors i.e. 71% were reluctant to serve in the rural areas of Goa. The reasons for their reluctance broadly include various issues affecting their social, professional and family life if they opt to serve in rural areas. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors contributed to the unwillingness of doctors towards rural service. Adequate Community-based training in Medical Education to inspire and motivate future doctors towards serving in rural areas of Goa is required. Doctors working in rural health facilities may be given financial and professional incentives and a conducive environment.
Background: School children form an important target group for a Nation and any ocular morbidity in this age group has huge physical, psychological and socio-economical implications. Research studies have shown that illumination has a significant effect not only on scholastic performance of the students, but also on their physical and mental health. The current study was carried out to assess the prevalence of ocular morbidities among students of high schools of Sanquelim Taluka in Goa, and to assess possible association between ocular morbidity and level of classroom and blackboard illumination. Methods: Students of class 6, 7 and 8 of eight randomly selected schools were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire for personal details and visual symptoms. Visual acuity testing was done using Snellen’s chart. Classroom and blackboard illumination were assessed separately using standard calibrated digital Lux meter (LX-10101B). Results: Using Snellen’s chart, 83 (18%) of the study subjects were found to have visual morbidity. The measurement of illumination levels showed that out of the 24 classrooms and blackboards evaluated, 15 (62.5%) classrooms and 9 (37.5%) blackboards had inadequate illumination. Classroom illumination was found to have significant association (p=0.04) with visual morbidity. Conclusions: A significant number of classrooms (62.5%) and blackboards (37.5%) had below recommended illumination levels. Regular evaluation of infrastructure should be done to ensure adequate artificial illumination of the classrooms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.