Diabetes rates in Indians have reached epidemic proportions. The main drivers of this epidemic are unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity. Epidemiological studies and various clinical trials have shown the significance of diet in prevention, as well as management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The diet of Indians consists predominantly of refined cereal grains (like white rice or refined wheat), which contribute to half of the daily calories. Hence, the dietary glycemic load of Indian diets is very high and this is associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Indian diets are also low in vegetables, fruits and mono unsaturated fatty acids adding to the risk of T2D. The quality and quantity of carbohydrates and fats need to be addressed if we are to prevent diabetes. Our group recently demonstrated the benefits of brown rice (whole grain) and cashew nut consumption with respect to reduction in cardio-metabolic risk factors. Changing the food environment by creating healthier food choices and making them available, accessible and affordable through various policy driven nutrition programs is an important step. Collaboration with agricultural and food scientists could help to develop healthier cereals and other food products. Health care professionals play a vital role in bringing about behavioral changes in the population helping them to choose right foods in the right quantity. This, combined with increasing physical activity, could help to stall, or at least slow down, the epidemic of T2D in Indians.
INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affecting mankind since antiquity are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in women and children particularly in resource poor settings of developing world, which are store houses of most of the pathogens causing STDs 1,2,3. Women of childbearing age are at particular risk of sequelae from STDs due to the impact of many STDs on their reproductive health. STDs also increase the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection. The incidence of many STDs has increased during the last two decades, and the number of pregnancies per year is also again increasing, the super imposition of the one factor on the other can be expected to further amplify the effects of STDs on pregnancy and neonatal morbidity. Infections in pregnancy are common but few causes fetal infection and damage. Particularly urgent is the need to control fetal wastage and congenital abnormalities due to sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Pregnancy is a vulnerable time for women. Hence STDs in the pregnant women are more serious than in the non pregnant women. When all STDs are considered together, they represent one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy. As the spectrum of STDs has broadened, the medical and social consequences of STD in pregnancy have become more apparent. STDs pose a constant threat to not only the health of the mother, but also the baby's health. Presence of STDs results in physical and mental agony to the pregnant patient. The frequent occurrence of multiple STDs co-existing with STD risk factors (non-use of barrier methods, multiple sex partners) may independently adversely affect pregnancy outcome. Adolescent sexual activity is increasing globally. With the change in social norms, peer pressure and media influences, teenagers are engaging in premarital sex earlier leading to unintended pregnancy and STDs. In general, STD appears to pose a much greater problem in pregnant adolescents than in older pregnant women. Infections of young adult have their most CASE STUDY (PREVALENCE)
Background: Providing universal family planning services is an important strategy to reduce maternal morbidity and to control population growth. Worldwide, when contraception is used properly and effectively to avoid unwanted pregnancy it can reduce 25–35% of maternal deaths. The present study aimed at measuring the proportion of married women with unmet need for family planning in an urban area of Puducherry.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 235 married women in the urban field practice area of Sri Venkateshwara Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Puducherry. Participants were selected based on predetermined eligibility criteria using systematic random sampling method. SPSS version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Proportion, Mean, Standard deviation and Logistic regression were applied to interpret the results.Results: Mean age of the participants was 33.3 ±6 years, Nearly 77 %( 181) of the participants reported having used any method of contraceptive at least once and 34.5 %( 81) were found to have unmet need for family planning. The most common reason for unmet need for contraception was fear of side effects (39.5%) and others were infrequent sex (12.3%),insisted by family members (12.3%) and religious reasons (12.3%).Conclusions: Unmet need for family planning was found to be fairly high in our study population. Health care personnel, preferably field staff should be trained to give an informed choice of contraception to the eligible couples to reduce the unmet need for contraception.
Background: Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was launched in India during 1975, to tackle the high prevalence of malnutrition among under 5 children. NFHS 3 (2005-06) reports that only 33% of ICDS services were utilized by them. To ensure the effectiveness of the scheme, nutritional status of under 5 children and the form of nutritional supplement - either Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) or Take Home Ration (THR), preferred by the beneficiaries must be assessed. Methods: A Cross sectional study was done among under 5 children in 2015 for a period of 2 months, in three randomly selected villages, Rural Field Practice Area, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Puducherry. Weight and Height were measured for all the eligible children using standard procedures. World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards were used to assess their nutritional status. The mothers were enquired about the nutritional supplement utilization, type of nutrition supplement (HCM/THR) utilized by their children and the reasons for preference. Statistical significance was assessed by chi-square test. Results: Among 153 children enrolled, 138 (90%) were consuming HCM and 15 (10%) were THR utilizers. The overall prevalence of under nutrition was 59%. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting were 28%, 28% and 38.5% respectively and it was found significantly (p value <0.05) higher among THR utilizers (74%, 60% and 53% respectively) than those receiving HCM (25%, 36% and 23%). Conclusions: HCM was preferred more than THR. The children receiving HCM were better nourished than THR utilizers.
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