Personal protective equipment (PPE) usage is pivotal in prevention of COVID19. Access to PPE for health workers has become a key concern. Electronic databases were searched for studies, guidelines, reports and policies on PPE, COVID19 and respiratory infections. In total 20 research articles were included, 10 guidelines and 06 reports from various health organization and National governments were included. There are different types of masks available, it is essential to understand the role of each kind of mask in preventing the spread. Minimizing the need for PPE in health care settings, ensuring rational and appropriate use of PPE and Coordinating PPE supply chain management mechanisms are key strategies in addressing global PPE shortage. Ensuring consistent PPE standards and guidance on quality control of the PPE will help in better infection control. We need to apply a risk-based approach based on purpose of use, risk of exposure, vulnerability, setting, feasibility and type of PPE. Government of India is taking several steps and have deliberated on the adequacy and quality of PPEs. Prevention and mitigation measures are the key for prevention of transmission in the Community which include Hand hygiene, Respiratory hygiene, maintaining social distance of two metre and wearing an appropriate PPE. Adequate provision of good quality PPE is just the first step in promoting the safety of health care workers and containing the spread of COVID 19.
Background: Construction industry is one of the stable growing industries of the world and construction labour form 7.5% of the world labour force. In India, it is the largest economic activity after agriculture. Migrant construction workers are at a greater risk of developing certain health disorders and sickness than workers in many other industries. The objective was to study the socio demographic profile, morbidity profile among construction workers.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at two construction sites in southern Bangalore and all workers were enrolled as study subjects. Data was collected using a pretested semi structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis used: descriptive statistics like percentages and Chi square test for test of significance.Results: Majority of the study population belonged to 15-45 years age group (87.3%), class IV (40.3%) socioeconomic status, Hindu religion (85%). Around 40% of them were illiterates and 68% of them were unskilled workers, rest semiskilled workers. Around 50% were from Raichur district of North Karnataka. Prevalence of injury was 8%, musculo-skeletal problems were around 50% followed by respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections.Conclusions: The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal infections was reported to be high among unskilled and semiskilled construction workers. There is need for health education and other prevention strategies for control of the same. Measures are needed to improve the work environment of construction workers by ensuring availability of personal protective equipments, good living conditions and sanitation facilities at the sites.
Background: Cancer is one of the major threats to public health in the developed world and increasingly in the developing world. In India, oral cancer is the leading cancer in males and ranking third in females. The risk factors for the development of oral cancers include tobacco smoking.Methods: A Case control study done at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, India. Study subjects included histological confirmed new cases of oral cancer attending the hospital during the period of April 2014- May 2015 and equal number of age and sex matched controls. Data collection was done by interview method.Results: Tobacco smoking with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.5 was significantly associated with the risk of oral cancer. The OR was 4.1 for combined bidi plus cigarette smokers and 3.7 for bidi smokers compared to non smokers. The OR was 2.3 for those who smoked less than or equal to 20 bidis/cigarettes per day and 8.3 for those who smoked more than 20 bidis/cigarettes per day, compared to non smokers. Smokers with pack years less than or equal to 20 showed 2.3 times, those with pack years 21- 29 showed 5.9 times and those with pack years more than 30 years showed 9.4 times higher risk for oral cancer compared to non smokers.Conclusions: Tobacco smoking shows higher risk for oral cancer. There is a great need to augment tobacco control measures and educate the public about harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
Background: Psychosocial stress in pregnancy, defined as, “the imbalance that a pregnant woman feels when she cannot cope with demands is expressed both behaviourally and physiologically”. The purpose of this study was to develop a culturally appropriate and locally relevant scale for measuring antenatal psychosocial stress.Methods: Cross sectional design was used for the study. Participants were antenatal women attending outpatient department of both government and private sector. Twenty-nine item questionnaires to identify psychosocial stress among antenatal women was developed by conducting focus group discussions and in-depth interviews among socioeconomically diverse population and different parity and among uncomplicated and complicated pregnancies. By administering the questionnaire among 190 participants, Reliability and Validity were estimated. Factor analysis was done for item reduction. Poor loading, wrong loading and cross loading items were removed from the questionnaire. Convergent validity assessed with prenatal psychosocial stress scale among 55 antenatal women.Results: The final questionnaire has 10 items. Item-total correlation was found to be greater than 0.2 for all the items. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) for the 29-item questionnaire was 0.878. Test-retest reliability was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-0.99). Further, factor analysis was done to demonstrate construct validity. The interrater reliability was 0.98 (95% CI- 0.96-0.99).Conclusions: Based on analysis of psychometric properties, the conclusion is that the 10 items questionnaire is a reliable, simple, valid and easy to administer tool for use among antenatal women of all settings.
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