BACKGROUND: Uncorrected refractive errors are a major cause of low vision and even blindness. The refractive errors can be easily diagnosed and corrected by effective screening programmes. The uncorrected refractive errors in children have a definite impact in adversely affecting the learning capacity and scholastic performance. MATERIAL & METHODS: This Cross sectional was conducted from July to December 2013 among 1412 children aged 5-16 years residing in Chandragiri rural area, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. Visual acuity was assessed using Snellen's chart under standard illumination while detailed eye examination among the suspected cases was done by an ophthalmologist including detailed anterior segment evaluation, ocular motility, radioscopy and auto refraction under 2% homatropine cycloplegic refraction. RESULTS: The prevalence of refractive errors was found to be 7.4% among the study children (out of which 6.1% undiagnosed). Simple myopia was found in 2.4% children while astigmatism (both simple and compound combined) was found in around 2.7% children. It was found that the proportion of myopia increased with age being lowest in 5-7 years (0.0%) and highest in 14-16 age group (4.0%). The proportion of astigmatism also was found to be lowest in 5-7 age group (0.0%) and higher in 11-13 age group and 14-16 age group (4.0% each) However, the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.32; NS). The prevalence of myopia was found to be slightly higher in males (2.7%) than in females (2.1%) while that of astigmatism was found to be higher in females (3.1%) than in males (2.3%). However the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.43; NS). A similar prevalence of refractive errors was found in Bangalore and New Delhi while lower and higher prevalence was reported elsewhere. Myopia and astigmatism are the common disorders in several Indian studies including the present study while African studies found myopia to be less common compared to astigmatism and hypermetropia. Many studies including the present study reported an increase in the prevalence of refractive errors with age of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of refractive errors in children remain undiagnosed. Thus there is tremendous scope for screening and early diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors in children.
BACKGROUND: Dissertation writing and research has become mandatory for all the postgraduate students. As per the University norms, a postgraduate student has to undertake a research study and submit dissertation as per the rules and regulations. This present study aims to find out the improvement in the knowledge level of the first year postgraduate students in research methodology as assessed by pretest and posttest evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study was done on research methodology workshops conducted during 2-4 September 2015 at SV Medical College, Tirupati. The improvement in the awareness levels was tested by pretest and posttest. Participant evaluation of the programme and feedback was also collected. The evaluation of the sessions was done using Median and 25-75 percentile grading. The grades converted into a numerical percentage and average grade % was calculated. A probability value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS:The mean pretest score of 3.32 significantly improved to 10.53 in the posttest. The improvement was found to be relatively high with regard to reference writing (93%), type of referencing (88%), entering data on excel (78%), objectives (75%) and framing a title (72%). The quality of the sessions was graded being good for all topics while some topics were graded as being excellent. Overall, all the topics had achieved a minimum mean percentage grade of 70% while reference writing guidelines, discussion writing and ethical issues in research had scored higher relative grade. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the format of the workshop for addressing the needs of the postgraduates in dissertation work. The sessions should be short with higher emphasis in improving the skills in dissertation writing rather than improving their awareness level. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:
BACKGROUND:Anaemia is the commonest global public health problem and especially harmful when the pregnancy is complicated by anaemia. Women in reproductive age group are more vulnerable for iron deficiency anaemia with an estimated prevalence of around 70 to 80% in pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim of the study was to analyse the foetal outcome in the hospitalised pregnant women with severe anaemia. This is a prospective study carried out at maternity ward of Government General Hospital, Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh, India over a period of one year from October 2007 to September 2008. RESULTS: Total of 9731 deliveries occurred during the study period, 282 (2.89 %) were severely anaemic at the time of delivery. Majority of the women were of 20-24 years age (68.4%) with second gravidas 37.5%, term gestation 52.1%, preterm deliveries 47.9%, lower socio-economic status 87.6% and Unbooked cases 67.4% and low birth weight in 53.2% cases, intra uterine growth retardation and intra uterine foetal death contributes to 12.8% and 16.7% cases respectively. A total of 36 (12.8%) neonates required admission in neonatal intensive care unit and 16(5.7%) of them died. CONCLUSION: Severe anaemia during pregnancy has adverse perinatal outcome in the form of low birth weight, preterm birth, intrauterine growth retardation and intrauterine death. Regular iron supplementation during the antenatal period, management of anaemia and improving the nutritional status of the mother will improve the adverse neonatal outcome and decreases perinatal morbidity and mortality.
BACKGROUND:It is estimated that every year, 15 million people suffer from stroke in the world out of which six million die and another five million are permanently disabled. There are limited studies on the infratentorial haemorrhage cases of stroke especially in India. In this context, this present study was conducted to find out management and prognosis assessment of infratentorial haemorrhage cases admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study conducted on the stroke cases admitted to the neurology department of Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital (SRMC), Chennai during August 2010 to February 2013. The prognosis of the patients was assessed through National Institutions of Health Stroke scale and Modified Rankin Prognostic Score. RESULTS: A total of 1, 809 cases of stroke were admitted during this period out of which 43 were infratentorial haemorrhage cases (2.4%). It was found that 88.3% undergone treatment for reduction of cerebral edema, 83.7% for prevention of seizures, 81.4% for reduction of systemic hypertension, 79.0% were given antibiotic therapy while 39.5% required ventilatory support. Majority of the patients were in the first category of Modified Rankin Prognosis score (37.2%) while as per National Institutions of Health Stroke Scale scoring, it was found that a majority of the patents were in moderate category of stroke (60.5%). The case fatality rate was found to be 25.6%. The case fatality rate was found to be insignificantly higher in cerebellar haemorrhage cases (23.8%) compared to pontine hemorrhage cases (19.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of infratentorial type of haemorrhage is comparatively less common type than supratentorial type and ischaemic type of cerebral stroke. The case fatality rate was found to be 25.6% which was similar to other studies. There is a need for further studies on infratentorial haemorrhage.
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