Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide problem bearing serious social and medical implications relating to maternal and child health. A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken to compare the different sociodemographic characteristics and perinatal outcomes of teenage primigravida mothers with those of adult primigravida mothers in a tertiary-care hospital in eastern India. A sample of 350 each in cases and comparison group comprised the study subjects. Data were collected through interviews and by observations using a pretested and predesigned schedule. Results revealed that the teenage mothers had a higher proportion (27.7%) of preterm deliveries compared to 13.1% in the adult mothers and had low-birth-weight babies (38.9% vs 30.4% respectively). Stillbirth rate was also significantly higher in teenage deliveries (5.1% vs 0.9% respectively). The teenage mothers developed more adverse perinatal complications, such as preterm births, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and delivered low-birthweight babies, when compared with those of the adult primigravida mothers. Teenage pregnancy is still a rampant and important public-health problem in India with unfavourable perinatal outcomes and needs to be tackled on a priority basis.
Background:Visual impairment resulting from infectious diseases has declined by public health efforts but cataract and refractive errors still continue as major causes of blindness. Moreover, ageing & life style diseases also contribute to large number of blindness. Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the ocular morbidity pattern and the risk factors among rural population of West Bengal. Material & Methods: A community based, descriptive, observational study was conducted in Hariharpur PHC. One subcentre was chosen purposively and three villages under the subcentre were chosen randomly. The study population comprised of all persons residing in those villages for at least one year. Door to door visit was conducted for screening of eye problems and then detailed examination was carried out in the PHC by ophthalmic assistant. Subjects requiring specialist consultation were referred. Results: Difficulty with vision was the commonest complain followed by watering, burning and itching sensation, pain and redness. Refractive errors (myopia & hypermetropia) were the commonest morbidity among all age groups followed by cataract and allergic conjunctivitis. Cataract was found to be significantly associated with diabetes and hypertension (P=0.001) and allergic conjunctivitis was associated significantly with hypertension (P=0.007). Interestingly quite a high proportion of the patients with visual complaints could be detected and managed at the PHC level . So simple screening for eye disorders and utilization of trained ophthalmic assistants can enable early detection of eye conditions, prompt treatment and early referral.
Background: Low birth weight is a major determinant of mortality, morbidity and disability in infancy and childhood and also has a long-term impact on health outcomes in adult life. Objectives: The present study was undertaken with the objectives of assessment of occurrence of low birth weight babies delivered in NRS Medical College & Hospital and to find out the role of different sociodemographic and pregnancy related factors influencing low birth weight. Method: A descriptive, observational study was conducted in the postnatal ward of the Hospital. All mothers who delivered during the study period were interviewed and relevant record was reviewed. Results: 38% of the babies had low birth weight. Proportion of teenage mothers were higher in case of low birth weight babies compared to the mothers of normal birth weight babies ( 27.7% Vs 17% ). 72.3% of the LBW babies were from family with per capita income < Rs 3000/- compared to 37.7% normal birth weight babies. 67.7% of mothers of low birth weight babies had last child birth within 3years compared to 33% of normal babies. 10.7% of the mothers of LBW babies had <3 ANC visits compared to 1.8% in other group. 22.6% of the mothers consumed <100 Folifer tablets and 23.1% smoked tobacco during the antenatal period who delivered LBW babies compared to 1.8% and 2.8% respectively in their counterparts. Conclusion: Magnitude of low birth weight is still high and various unfavourable socio-demographic, antenatal and obstetric factors increased the risk of delivering low birth weight baby.
Background:
Primary health-care providers can play a crucial role in the prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey of primary health-care providers is needed to assess their gaps in knowledge, and identify barriers for effective implementation of the national program. However, such KAP instruments are lacking.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to develop, validate and assess the reliability of a questionnaire to determine the KAPs of primary health-care providers about hypertension and associated comorbidities
Materials and Methods:
This study was conducted in the following steps: item construction and psychometric testing, by validity and reliability analysis.
Results:
The final KAP questionnaire comprised 25 knowledge items, 12 attitude items, and 8 practice items. Exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring with varimax rotation revealed four dimensions in the attitude section explaining 35.93% and two dimensions in practice sections explaining 65.96% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for attitude and practice session measured 0.65 and 0.85, respectively. A Kuder Richardson value of 0.70 was obtained for the knowledge section. ICC coefficients were 0.56 (
P
< 0.00) for knowledge, 0.77 (
P
< 0.00) for attitude and 0.88 (
P
< 0.00) for practice sections indicating moderate-to-good correlations. Overall, the instrument developed had acceptable validity and reliability.
Conclusion:
Overall, the instrument developed had acceptable validity and reliability to assess the perceptions and practices of primary healthcare providers about prevention and control of hypertension and associated comorbidities in the community.
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