We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of goitre among 2700 children (6-12 yr) of district Ambala in Haryana. Children were examined as per standards laid by National iodine deficiency disorder control programme (NIDDCP). Multi stage cluster sampling method was used. Urine and salt samples were also studied for iodine concentration. The overall prevalence of goitre in the studied subjects was 12.6%. The median urinary iodine excretion in the study sample was more than 100 ug/L Iodine content was found to be adequate in 88% of salt samples. We conclude that there was a high prevalence of goitre in young children despite iodine repletion. This calls for identification of factors to strengthen NIDDCP and the need to emphasize use of iodized salt in Haryana.
Background: Rapid urbanization in India is fuelling a growth in urban poverty, particularly in the urban slums where the quality of life is extremely poor. There have been limited efforts to capture the health of population living in urban slums and most severely affected are the women of childbearing age and children. So the present study was carried out to assess the utilization pattern of antenatal care and to identify the factors affecting it in urban slums of Amritsar city.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1600 houses selected randomly in four slum areas of Amritsar city in which 659 married women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years who had at least 1 child and had delivered the last child in the last 3 years were found. Total 659 women were interviewed using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma.Results: 58.4% of respondent women attended at least one antenatal visit during last pregnancy. Maximum (43.4%) attended 2 antenatal visits. Majority (64.4%) had their first antenatal visit in 2nd trimester. Majority (57.1%) consumed <100 IFA tablets. Majority (65.6%) were fully immunized with 2 doses/booster of TT. Lack of knowledge about ANC services was the reason given by most of the women (31.0%) for not attending any antenatal visit. The utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services by women was found to be significantly associated with their age, education, birth order, socio-economic status and husband’s education.Conclusions: The utilization of antenatal care services was found to be poor in the study population. Important barriers to service utilization were found to be lack of awareness and lack of felt need. This shows the need for intensive efforts to be made in slum areas to create awareness among women by Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities.
Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, and has undesirable effects on the mental and physical health of children. Despite enormous economic progress achieved in the past two to three decades, malnutrition among children in both urban and rural India still claims many lives. Hence this study was undertaken to assess nutritional status and its determinants among under-5 children attending anganwadi centres of rural eld practice area of our Medical College. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 285 children under 5 years of age attending anganwadi centres of rural eld practice area of our Medical College. Information regarding socio-demographic variables, infant feeding practices and immunization was obtained from mothers/guardians of children. Anthropometric measurements, i.e., weight and height were taken following standard techniques. Children were categorized on the basis of their weight-for-age, heightfor-age and weight-for-height as per WHO International Growth Standards 2006 generated for boys and girls aged 0 to 60 months, and below 2 SD of the reference median on any of these indices were considered as underweight, stunted and wasted respectively. Results: The overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was found to be 42.5%, 38.6% and 28.8% respectively. Signicant association was observed between the prevalence of undernutrition and age, gender, type of family, literacy status of mother, birth order, socioeconomic status, infant feeding practices and immunization status. Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition was high in the study population thus highlighting yet again that undernutrition continues to be a public health burden
Background:The drug problem has developed some key characteristics over the last few decades, against a backdrop of rapid socioeconomic transitions in various countries. Illicit drug use is now characterized by a concentration among youth, notably young males living in urban environments, along with expanding range of psychoactive substances. Materials & Methods: The proposed study was carried out in slum population of Amritsar city. A total of 64 slum areas were divided into 4 sectors depending upon their location and then from each sector, one area was selected randomly by lottery method, and from each area, 400 houses were surveyed by systematic random method. So in total 1600 households were surveyed for this study. Results: Out of the total 1273 respondents, majority i.e. 615 (48.31%) responded enjoyment as the main reason for starting drugs, while 465 (36.52%) cited curiosity as the reason for indulgence into substance abuse. Friends (peer pressure) were the primary reason i.e. 806 (63.31%) for motivating towards drugs. Out of 828 respondents, who made attempt to quit drugs, majority i.e. 431 (52.05%) faced relapse because of easy availability of drug. Conclusion:The unjust treatment of youth and other minority subcultures is a major social problem, breeding crime, hypocrisy, anarchy and driving thousands away from meaningful participation in society. For both sides in this conflict between generations, drugs have taken on harmful symbolic importance.
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