Background:To determine the prevalence of goiter and to study the factors influencing goiter among people of the rural community in Karnataka state, a community based study. Setting and Study Design: A cross sectional study was carried out to find out the prevalence of goiter in a rural community of Belgaum district. The study was conducted by house-to-house survey for a period of one month.Materials and Methods:Two villages (Handiganur and Gundwad) were selected randomly from Belgaum and Raibag taluks of Belgaum district. All the family members in each household were examined for the presence of goiter using WHO criteria. Iodine content of the salt sample obtained from each household was estimated by using spot testing kits. Information regarding the determinants of goiter was collected and recorded in a pre tested proforma. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS statistical packages.Results:The prevalence of goiter among rural population was found to be 16.6%. Goiter of grade 1 was 15.7% and that of grade 2 was 0.9%. Prevalence among males and females were 7.2% and 21.8%, respectively. The prevalence of goiter was highest among adolescents. Estimation of iodine content in the salt sample revealed that 50% of samples had adequate iodine content (≥15 ppm). Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis revealed that females of the age group 10-49 years were independently associated with goiter.Conclusion:Prevalence of goiter was relatively high and therefore constituted a public health problem in this region.

Background: Aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, risk factor attitude of parents towards obesity and overweight among the school children between the age group of 6-13 years.Methods: A structured questionnaire was filled by the parents and weight and height was measured by school nurse in a private school in Bangalore city.Results: Prevalence of overweight was 13.20% and obesity was 17.13%. Birth weight and sport was strongly associated with the prevalence. Sports protect the child from the overweight and obesity. Parent’s perception about their child’s BMI status was good. Parent’s attitude of having meal with their child and their estimation of child’s physical activity was protective and the attitude of controlling diet of the child was a risk factor for overweight and obesity. Though the parents were able to estimate their child as overweight and obese they were not willing for further advice.Conclusions: Prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing. Higher birth weights, parental attitude of controlling child’s diet are the potential risk factors. Involvement in sports, parental attitude of having food with child and awareness about their physical activity are protective.

No abstract

No abstract