Holistic Health and Wellbeing: How to Achieve it | Author : NS Dharmshaktu | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :According to WHO the health is “a state of complete physical, mental, social wellbeing and not merely
absence of disease or infirmity”, which has been widely used for last 70 years for all practical purposes
but it is now realized that many areas are left uncovered and needs amendment. Author justifies that
emerging concept of holistic health and wellbeing, SDG indicators of 2016-2030, global warming etc., are
demanding more domains to be addressed. It is recently also realized that sustainable development goals
will be difficult to achieve in 2030 by member countries if environmental health, healthy yoga lifestyle and
community engagement are not included in universal health coverage approach. Through a definition of
health it may be possible to create advocacy on priority areas needing resource mobilization to achieve
holistic health and wellbeing. This article is expressed by the author in his personal capacity |
| Hospital-Based Surveillance: An Effective Tool for Infectious Disease Control | Author : Shefalee Pai Vernekar , Hemangini Shah | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Objectives: (1) To determine the profile of reported infectious diseases. (2) To analyze the reported infectious
diseases with reference to certain factors. (3) To evaluate the functionality of the notification system.
Methodology: The hospital record-based study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in Goa. The
“Malaria, Dengue, Encephalitis Notification Reports” for a period of 18 months (Jan 2016–Jun 2017) were
scrutinized.
Data was entered in excel and analyzed in SPSS version 22.
Results: A total of 2360 cases were recorded as per reports. 2043 (86.5%) of these were cases of malaria,
225 (9.6%) dengue, 55 (2.3%) encephalitis, 37 (1.6%) leptospirosis, and zero cases of chikungunya. Among
the malaria cases, majority of the cases notified were plasmodium vivax-type. There were a total of 30
deaths reported, majority being due to leptospirosis 7 (23%) and encephalitis 7 (23%). The highest case
fatality rate of 22 was due to cerebral malaria.
Only 48 out of 346 (14%) of the reports were duly complete. Incorrect notification was seen in 2% of the
reports. Many a times (25%), the reports were not sent on a daily basis.
Conclusion: The hospital-based surveillance is an effective notification system for cases reporting to the
hospitals. It is a cost-effective method of surveillance. If the problems of inconsistency, incompleteness,
untimely reporting, etc., are solved, it has potential to revolutionize by timely detection and control
measures on impending disease outbreaks. |
| Medical Tourism in India and Its Future Prospects | Author : Kunal Kanti Majumdar , Jugal Kishore | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Medical tourism refers to people traveling to a country other than their own to obtain medical treatment.
The main objective of medical tourism is to provide ‘cost-effective’ private medical care in collaboration with
the tourism industry, for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. Lower cost in
the developing countries was because of availability of resources and skilled and professional manpower
at lower cost. In the last two decades, globalization and advancement in technologies throughout the
world including India brought many reforms in management of medical conditions. High-quality service
with no waiting time, patient-centric care, exotic experience, Eastern Healthcare Wisdom along with the
expertise of Western medicine all these factors are making India increasingly popular as a medical tourist
destination. Moreover in India, clinical outcomes are at par with the world’s best centers with internationally
qualified and experienced specialists using third-generation equipment and infrastructure as technology,
and competitive costs are around 1/5th of costs in the West. |
| Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Study of Prevalence and Association with Type II Diabetes, Obesity and Dyslipidemia | Author : Meenakshi Sidhar , Vevek Rana , Sandeepa | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The spectrum of NAFLD ranges from mild steatosis to steatohepatitis with chances of progression to endstage
liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Prevalence of NAFLD varies in literature due to difference
in methodologies used by various investigators in the past.
This study was conducted in the department of Medicine and Pathology. This study was done to find out
the prevalence of hepatic steatosis in non-alcoholic asymptomatic adults, presenting with hepatomegaly
or unexplained elevation of liver enzymes with special reference to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis The
study also included study of prevalence of well-known risk factors like diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity
associated with NAFLD in Indian population. This was a prospective study and cases were selected from
OPD and IPD by random selection, aged between 20 and 75 years, who presented with hepatomegaly along
with asymptomatic liver enzymes derangements or ultrasound suggestive of fatty liver in the absence of
history of alcohol intake. Out of 500 patients who agreed to participate in the study, 284 were males and
216 females. A total of 110 cases were found to have fatty liver on the basis of USG report, of which 75
cases were found attributed to NAFLD. Diabetes was seen in 32 cases out of these 75 patients, 43 subjects
had dyslipidemia, 48.67% cases showed elevated aminotransferases level. Liver biopsy was performed in 25
patients and 16% cases showed steatosis, 32% cases showed steatohepatitis and 4% cases showed cirrhosis. |
| Public Perception Survey on Air Pollution in South Delhi | Author : U Venkatesh , S Kumari , P Aparnavi , J Kishore , Mukesh Kumar , P Vandana | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: According to a WHO study, 13 of the 20 most-polluted cities in the world are in India, which
is more than half of the world’s most polluted cities. Delhi is at 11th position. Pollution in Delhi hit almost
30 times the WHO safe limit. On 8th Nov 2017, toxic smog enveloped Delhi, which alarmed the Indian
Medical Association (IMA) to declare a public health emergency. They also advised citizens to stay indoors
and schools to be shut. Air Quality Index (AQI) of neighboring Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurgaon
were also in the emergency category.
Aim: To assess perception on air pollution and the willingness to contribute to control air pollution among
the general population of Delhi.
Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study, in seven localities of South Delhi district of Delhi
using simple random sampling. 384 adult members (>18 years) residing in the selected households for more
than 6 months and who volunteered for the study were recruited. The sample size was calculated using Epiinfo
software version 7.2.2.2 (developed by CDC). A pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered
questionnaire was used for data collection. Ethical clearance was obtained from administrative authorities
and institutional ethical committee. Data was analyzed using a SPSS 21.
Results: Among 384 participants, 57.6% believed that the current air quality was worse than it was 5 years
ago. People with high income (31.4%) perceived fewer symptoms due to current air quality. More men (61%)
perceived air quality to be worse, but women perceived symptoms of air pollution more. Less-educated
residents are the targetable population for improving environment. Regarding willingness to contribute
for control of air pollution, all the positive questions received a median score of 4 or 5 (on a Likert scale of
1–5, where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree). |
| Use of Mobile Phone and Social Media in Sex Work Client Solicitation amongst Clients of HIV Targeted Intervention Projects in Delhi – An Exploratory Study | Author : Mrinalini Darswal , Parveen Kumar , JK Mishra , Samresh Kumar | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The current study was carried out to describe the use of mobile technology amongst the population at high
risk of HIV infection (clients of Targeted Intervention Project under National AIDS Control Program) in Delhi.
Information was collected from 1520 high-HIV-risk clients registered in targeted intervention projects in
Delhi under National AIDS Control Program, using a structured questionnaire. Around 87.8% of the 1520
respondents admitted to be in possession of mobiles with the lowest levels being amongst IDUs. The
truckers, female sex workers, transgenders, and migrants data shows more than 90% of the clients being in
possession of mobiles, while only 58.3% of injectable drug user clients reported obsessing a mobile phone.
Only 8% of the respondents reported using the mobiles for HIV awareness, though around two-fifths of
the respondents reported having ever used them for social media. The use of mobile phones in soliciting
clients amongst the groups involved in sex work, viz., MSM, transgenders, and female sex workers was
reported to be 83.5%, 80.0% and 77.6% respectively. Messenger apps and video calls are commonly used
for solicitation. Voice calls have been a common way of soliciting clients. WhatsApp messenger was found
to be the most commonly used messenger amongst all the three categories of respondents.
Almost universal availability of mobiles amongst HIV-high-risk population, affordable mobile technologies,
and increasing use of social media may be tapped to increase awareness for prevention and control of
spread of HIV/AIDS for the benefit of the high-risk population. |
| Occupational Health Hazard Among Waste Collectors of Bhopal City | Author : Dileep Dandotiy , Madhav Bansal , Pradeep Dohare , Tanvi Upadhyay | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: The manpower which collects waste from urban localities to dumping or disposal site is
exposed to a number of health hazards which are of physical chemical and biological nature. The waste
collectors have the seventh most dangerous job in the world. The working conditions of waste collectors
are very poor and are violation of human rights.
Objectives:
1. To Identify health problems in solid waste collectors of Zone-2 (old city) of Bhopal
2. To Educate them about their occupational hazards and measures to prevent them
3. To sensitize the municipal authorities about their problems and the need for provision of safety
devices and measures
4. To assess the increase in the use of safety devices and measures
Material and Methods: All workers of zone-2 Bhopal were called for health checkup and health education at
the Urban Health and Training Centre of the Department of Community Medicine, Gandhi Medical College,
Bhopal. Health check up was done to access their health problems. Data regarding their knowledge, attitude
and practices about occupational health hazards was using a semi-structured questionnaire. Thereafter,
they were given health education about the hazards of their occupation and measures to prevent them.
The results of the study were communicated to the municipal authorities for appropriate action.
Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 35 years. All of them denied using protective devices
like boots and gloves during waste collection. The morbidities observed were injuries, injuries with sharp
(41%), dermatological problems (15%), Arthritis (10%), abdominal pain and loose motions (8%) snake bite
(1.6%), others such as high BP, diabetes (13%) and none (11%). The knowledge and attitude of the workers
regarding their health problems was poor |
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