bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness and utilization of mental health services through primary care centers during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study among adult individuals in rural Mangaluru, India
Authors: Souza Jencil D. , Olickal Jeby Jose
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Mental health issues were neglected in India. However, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had raised the importance of mental health. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of awareness and utilization of the mental health services provided by primary care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 18 years and above in selected primary health center (PHC) service areas, Karnataka, South India. The sample size was 388. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the information.

Results:

The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of the participants was 42.7 (±15.37) years and 76% were female. The prevalence of awareness was 47% (95% confidence interval [CI] 41.8%–52.0%), and only 1% (95% CI 0.8%–2.6%) had utilized the mental health services through PHCs during COVID-19. About 82% (95% CI 78.0%–85.8%) were willing to avail the mental health services through PHCs. No formal education (adjusted prevalence ratios [APR] = 7.33, 95% CI 1.81–29.60, P = 0.005) and current psychological distress (APR = 2.99, 95% CI 2.08–4.30, P = 0.00) were significantly associated with unwillingness to avail care from PHCs.

Conclusion:

The awareness and utilization of mental health services through primary care centers were poor in the community. Strategic measures must be implemented through the mental health program to improve the utilization of the services.
Prevalence of specific learning disorders in school children in a South Indian city
Authors: Bandla Shailaja , Nappinnai N. R. , Gopalasamy Srinivasagopalan , Avula Vijay Chandra Reddy
Published: February 2023

Background:

Specific learning disorders (SLDs) are an important cause of academic problems in school children mandating assessment and remediation.

Aim:

To document the psychosocial profile and prevalence of SLDs in school children.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 981 children studying in 3rd to 5th standard were screened for the presence of SLDs in a stepwise approach after taking permission from school authorities and consent from parents. Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Malins Intelligence Scale, and NIMHANS SLD Index were used for assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi info software.

Results:

The prevalence of SLDs was found to be 6.1% (n = 60). Dyslexia was the most common SLD (n = 38; 63%) followed by combined type (n = 28; 46%). A significant association was found between consanguinity (P = 0.02) and delayed milestones (P = 0.02).

Conclusion:

There is a need for creating the awareness among parents and teachers regarding SLDs and to screen children for the early identification and remediation.
Prevalence of middle mesial canal in the Indian subpopulation of Greater Noida and the related variations in the canal anatomy of mandibular molars using cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Iqbal Sana , Kochhar Rohit , Kumari Manju
Published: February 2023

Aim:

Missed canals are one of the imperative reasons for failure of endodontic treatment of molars. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of middle mesial canal (MMC) in mandibular molars (1st and 2nd) in the population of Greater Noida and also to find relationship of intracanal distance between mesiobuccal (MB) and mesiolingual (ML) canals with the presence or absence of MMC.

Materials and Methods:

Previous cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of mandibular molars from patients were included. The following data were collected: Identification of MMC, the distance between MB and ML orifices, whether MMC was more prevalent in mandibular 1st or 2nd molar, whether MMC was prevalent in mandibular molars of right or left side. The results were analyzed using the Chi-square test and independent Student's t-test.

Results:

The overall prevalence of MMC was 21.8% (P < 0.05). MMC was more prevalent in mandibular first molar (29.7%) than mandibular second molar (16%) and overall prevalence of MMC was higher on the left side (24.3%) than on the right side (18.8%). The mean distance between MB and ML orifices was 2.9 mm and 3.4 mm with and without MMC respectively, (P < 0.05), i.e., the MB-ML intraorifice distance was inversely related with the presence of MMC. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the possible association between predictor (independent variable) the MB-ML orifice distance and the occurrence of the outcome variable, which was the presence of an MM canal.

Conclusion:

MMC is a common finding in the population of Greater Noida. Along with the use of CBCT, careful exploration of the pulpal floor between canal orifices is crucial to prevent missing the MMC.
Pulp chamber floor anatomy of the maxillary first and second molars in an Indian population
Authors: Pawar Ajinkya M. , Singh Shishir H.
Published: February 2023

Aim:

The purpose of the present descriptive study was to evaluate and depict the form of the coronal pulp chamber floor in the permanent maxillary first (pMFM) and second (pMSM) molars in an Indian population.

Subjects and Methods:

Five hundred freshly extracted pMFM (n = 250) and pMSM (n = 250) were acquired from a pool of freshly extracted teeth unrelated to the current study. The crowns were flattened occlusally till the pulpal anatomy was seen and were photographed using a stereomicroscope at ×4.5 magnification. The number of orifices, shapes of the orifices, incidence of mesiobuccal 2 (MB-2), incidence of discobuccal 2 (DB-2), incidence of palatal 2 (P-2), shape of the access cavity, incidence and shape of isthmus, location of extra orifice, and the shape of the pulp chamber floor according to the Pawar and Singh classification© (K, Y, I, and others) were observed.

Statistical Analysis:

The level of significance for descriptive and frequency statistics was determined at 5%, with 95% confidence intervals.

Results:

Three root canal orifices occurred predominantly in 50.4% pMFM and 69.2% pMSM. The root canal orifices in the MB and distobuccal roots were round, whereas palatal orifices were oval. The access cavities were triangular in 51.6% pMFM, 51.2% pMSM, rhomboid shaped in 34.8% pMFM, 20.4% pMSM, and others in 13.6% pMFM and 28.4% pMSM. The extra orifices in pMFM were in MB in 20.8%, distobuccal in 14%, and palatal in 8% roots. For the pMSM, extra orifices were in MB (7.2%), distobuccal (6.4%), and palatal (2.4%) roots. The K, Y, I, and other classification were seen in 18.4%, 55.2%, 12.8%, and 13.6%, respectively, for pMFM and in 3.6%, 61.6%, 23.6%, and 11.6%, respectively, for pMSM.

Conclusion:

Our study investigated and described the various anatomical patterns of the coronal pulp chamber floor in maxillary molars. The classification applied to the patterns of the pulp chamber floor architecture can help clinicians determine the total number of canals as well as their unique orifice position and better communication.
Evaluation of antimicrobial action and push-out bond strength and compressive strength using mineral trioxide aggregate and triple antibiotic medicament combination as root-end filling material
Authors: Halkai Rahul S. , Begum Raeesunisa , Halkai Kiran R. , Ghatole Kiran , Hambire Ashwini , Ahmed Amaan
Published: February 2023

Aim:

The study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial properties and push-out bond and compressive strength of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) mixed with different ratios of triple antibiotic paste (TAP) against Enterococcus faecalis.

Methodology:

Antimicrobial effect was evaluated using agar well diffusion method. Materials were divided into three groups. Group 1: MTA, Group 2: MTA + TAP (2:1 ratio), and Group 3: MTA + TAP (1:1 ratio) zone of inhibition were determined after 24 h of incubation at 37°C. To evaluate push-out bond strength, 30 extracted teeth were decoronated to a length of 13 mm, followed by root canal treatment, the root resected at 3 mm from the apex, and root-end cavity was prepared and filled. Cylindrical specimens (n = 10 per group) of size 3 mm × 6 mm were prepared of MTA, MTA plus triple antibiotic 2:1 and 1:1 ratio and tested for compressive strength using Instron Universal testing machine. All the data were statistically analysed using Krusal–Wallis test (P < 0.05).

Results:

MTA + TAP (1:1 ratio) exhibited highest antimicrobial activity than MTA + TAP (2:1 ratio) and MTA alone. The push-out bond and compressive strength of Group 1 (MTA alone) was better compared to two groups containing MTA in combination with TAP; however, no statistical significant difference was found between the three groups.

Conclusion:

Combination of TAP with MTA increases the antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis without compromising much of the compressive and push-out bond strength, hence can be advocated for root-end filling.
Sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate, Biodentine, and EndoSequence RRM putty used as retrograde restorative material
Authors: Antony Jesmy K. , George Liza , Mathew Josey , Joy Aleesha
Published: February 2023

Aim:

the present study aimed to evaluate and compare the bacterial sealing ability of ProrootMTA, Biodentine and EndoSequenceRRM putty as retrograde filling material using E-faecalis leakage model over a period of 6weeks.

Materials and Method:

Forty single rooted human premolar teeth were collected, disinfected and decoronated to a standardized of 16mm. Cleaning and shaping was done up to 40#K-file apical preparation and step back method. The roots were sectioned 3 mm from the apex. Root end cavities were prepared using ultrasonic tips (Woodpecker EMS EndoScaler TipE3D) and restored using the three different materials. Specimens were divided in to four groups with a sample size of n =10. Group 1–ProRootMTA, Group2– Biodentine, Group3– EndoSequenceRRM putty, Group 4-Control without any filling. Specimens were then mounted on the E-faecalis (ATCCstrain29212) bacterial leakage models. The bacterial leakage was assessed by measuring the optical density of the broth at every 7th day for a 6 weeks period.

Results:

In the baseline reading there was significant difference between all the groups. In the 2nd week, Group1 has got significantly higher values than Group 3 and not with Group 2. In the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th weeks, Group1 show significantly higher turbidity values than Group 2 and 3. No significant difference between Group2 and 3.

Conclusion:

Within limitations of this study it was concluded that, both ESRRMputty and Biodentine have got comparable sealing properties. ProrootMTA has got higher microleakage than others in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th week. The microleakage for ProrootMTA, Biodentine and ESRRM putty was increasing up to the third week following which it is static.
Assessment of actual pulp status using pulp sensibility tests and pulp vascularity tests
Authors: Janani Krishnamachari , Teja Kavalipurapu Venkata , Jose Jerry
Published: February 2023

Pulp vitality plays an important role in endodontic diagnosis as it has an integral role in primary care. In routine practice, the clinicians rely on pulp sensibility tests. Unfortunately, the major drawback with pulp sensibility tests is that these tests rely on the patient's response to pain and it is subjective in nature. Therefore, the actual status of pulp can be assessed by the vascular response of the tooth. The aim of the systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pulp sensibility test and pulp vascularity test in identifying the actual status of pulp. The databases of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, Science Direct, and SCOPUS were searched up to January 2021. Only clinical studies assessing the status of pulp with pulp sensibility test and pulp vascularity test were recruited in this systematic review. The studies considered were based on the data extraction and analysis of the studies for the quality and publication bias. The data collection form was customized. The primary outcome measure was assessing the status of pulp sensibility test and pulp vascularity test. Only clinical study articles were recruited for the systematic review. The search identified 120 articles, out of which 13 duplicate articles and 107 articles were screened. Sixty-seven articles were excluded during the initial screening. Forty full-text articles were retrieved to assess for eligibility. Twenty articles were excluded as it did not fulfil the criteria of the research question. Finally, 20 articles were included for the systematic review. From this systematic review, it can be concluded that pulse oximeter and laser Doppler flowmetry accurately assessed the actual pulp status when compared to pulp sensibility test.
Chronic Febrile Respiratory Illness with Acino-nodular Consolidations as Presenting Feature of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Authors: Patil Shital , Gondhali Gajanan , Patil Deepak
Published: February 2023

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause for chronic febrile respiratory illness with constitutional symptoms in India being endemic and more prevalent in the nature of disease. Acino-nodular consolidations are documented in infective, inflammatory, autoimmune, and systemic vasculitis with pulmonary involvement. Pulmonary manifestations of systemic vasculitis have very diverse involvement ranging from nodule, consolidation, and cavitation. In this case report, a 40-year male, presented with constitutional symptoms such as persistent fever, anorexia, and minimal dry cough lung parenchymal consolidations. Patients' symptoms progressed over 4 months with poor response to empirical anti-TB treatment without mycobacterial microscopic or genome documentation in sputum. Bronchoscopy workups were inconclusive and tropical screens for bacterial, fungal, TB, and malignancy were negative. Clinical-radiological worsening and acinonodular masses with cavitation guide us to work for vasculitis panel and documented proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive with very highly raised titers. We have started on steroids with cyclophosphamide and observed excellent clinical and radiological response in 24 weeks.
Syncope – An Unusual Presentation of Mediastinal Seminoma
Authors: Lawrence Ria , Ramakrishnan Gayathri Mohammed , Zehran Mohammed
Published: February 2023

Mediastinal tumors are commonly found in the anterior mediastinum, among which thymic tumors and lymphoma are the most common ones. Germ cell tumors constitute about 10%–15% of mediastinal tumors. Among which seminoma is an uncommon tumor. These mediastinal masses usually present with complaints of cough, chest pain, or symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction. Here, we report a case of mediastinal seminoma in a young adult presenting with complaints of syncope.
Evaluation of the effect of favipiravir on patients with COVID-19
Authors: Kamali Alireza , Sarmadian Hossein , Mahmoodiyeh Behnam , Valibeik Shamim , Farmani Farzane , Bashirgonbadi Zahra
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. No specific drug has been accepted for COVID-19 treatment up to now. Favipiravir as an antiviral drug affects RNA viruses like influenza and Ebola. Accordingly, the aim of this study is the evaluation of favipiravir’s effect on COVID-19 outcomes.

Method:

This is a randomized controlled study including 97 patients with COVID-19 randomly allocated into favipiravir or control groups. The primary outcomes were improvement of clinical manifestations and atrial oxygen saturation (SpO2), and the secondary outcome was the length of hospitalization.

Results:

Clinical manifestations recovery of COVID-19 patients was better in the favipiravir group, and the mortality rates were less than in the control group (P = 0.0001 for both). The level of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) was significantly higher in the favipiravir group (P = 0.0001). The mean lymphocyte count was lower in the control group (P = 0.004). In addition, levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) were higher in the favipiravir group (P = 0.033). The length of hospitalization was similar in both groups (P = 0.586).

Conclusion:

Favipiravir can be effective for clinical and laboratory improvement of COVID-19 patients, and it is a promising drug for decreasing of mortality rate in these patients.
Men’s knowledge of preconception health: A systematic review
Authors: Rabiei Zeinab , Shariati Mohammad , Mogharabian Naser , Tahmasebi Rahim , Ghiasi Ashraf , Motaghi Zahra
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Preconception health is defined as the physical and psychological well-being of women and men throughout their reproductive life. It is a method that raises healthy fertility and focuses on activities that persons can take to minimize risks, raise healthy lifestyles, and increase preparation for pregnancy. The purpose of this systematic review study was to assess men’s knowledge of preconception health. Electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Sciencedirect, ProQuest, Cochrane, SAGE, Springer, Google Scholar, were searched for published studies from 2000 to March 2021 to identify the studies carried out on men’s knowledge of preconception health. The quality assessment was done using the critical appraisal skills program tool for qualitative studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional studies. Of the 1195 references identified in the initial search, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Because of the diversity in the study design and the data collection tools used in studies, meta-analysis was impossible. All the studies of the present systematic review found that men’s preconception health knowledge is poor. This systematic review showed that men’s preconception health knowledge is low. Due to the limited studies of men’s knowledge about the importance of optimizing their health before pregnancy, further study of the issue is still required.
Study of exit survey and awareness program analysis on tobacco cessation counselling amongst the health care professionals of the tertiary care
Authors: Kunkulol Rahul , Tayade Motilal C. , Narwane Sandeep
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Tobacco addiction in the rural community is very high, where we require efforts to break this addiction. Our aim was to find out the impact of awareness program on the current status of counselling on cessation of use of tobacco by the healthcare workers in various OPDs of PRH, Loni.

Material and Methods:

All patients visiting any of the OPD of Pravara satisfying the stated inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. We conducted awareness survey amongst the health care professionals on tobacco cessation counselling.

Results:

In our study, 423 patients (79.2%) were not enquired regarding tobacco use by doctor to the patients, while 111 patients (20.8%) were asked for the same. Of the 111 patients who were enquired about tobacco use, 35 patients (31.5%) were given support for tobacco cessation. Thus overall (out of 534 patients), only 6.17% received support for tobacco cessation. Of these patients, most were given verbal counselling (13, 2.43%), followed by prescription of Nicotine replacement therapy in the form of nicotine gum (8, 1.5%) and one patient (0.19%) referred to the Tobacco Cessation center. Eleven patients (2.1%) did not recall the support provided.

Conclusion:

There is an urgent need for awareness among health care professionals in order to investigate, consult and stop smoking cessation. Our research strongly identifies an opportunity to significantly increase access to tobacco control services in rural India.
“Never Judge a Book by its Cover”-The socio-cultural aspects of non-epileptic seizures in India-A case study
Authors: Bhattacharya Sudip , Tripathi Shailesh , Marzo Roy Rillera , Gokdemir Ozden , Borocco Maddona
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

“Health for All” will never be attained if sociocultural bias and pervasive hypocrisy are not eliminated. The patient mentioned in this case study had difficulty gaining access to health care for more than two decades. The seizure history was modified due to social pressure. The primary healthcare workers’ ability to provide timely access to healthcare regardless of caste, religion, or gender, even in the most remote regions of the country, is of paramount importance. The patient was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism and treated with calcium and vitamin D in high oral doses. The case also illustrates the significance of medical examination in preventing future difficulties in patients with presenile cataract.
Overview of COVID-19 mortality in Zoram Medical College, Mizoram: A hospital-based study
Authors: Laltlanzovi C , Vankhuma C , Vanlalduhsaki  , Chhakchhuak Diana Lalrinsiami , Zothanzauva J.C.
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mizoram is a small state in the northeastern part of India and recorded its first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on March 24, 2020. The first registered death because of COVID-19 in the state was on October 28, 2020 at Zoram Medical College (ZMC), which is a dedicated COVID hospital in Mizoram. COVID-19 cases from different districts in the state were referred to ZMC according to severity of symptoms. NCDIR-ICMR e-Mortality Cell was first started as a project at ZMC in 2019. Since then, all hospital deaths are recorded using a structured questionnaire developed by NCDIR which has also strengthened the data for COVID-19 mortality statistics in the state. The objective of this study is to determine the association of in-hospital COVID-19 mortality in relation to age, sex, vaccine status, and underlying co-morbidities and highlight the utility of ICMR-NCDIR e-Mortality software in the hospital.

Methods:

Data on COVID-19-associated deaths from October 2020 to October 2021 at ZMC were collected from the hospital e-Mortality software and Medical Records Department (MRD). This includes patients’ demographic characteristics including age, sex, vaccination status, and underlying co-morbidities if any. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between variables.

Results:

From October 2020 to October 2021, a total of 324 deaths related to COVID-19 was recorded at ZMC, Mizoram. The majority of the deaths were distributed in the age group 65 years and above and accounts for 49.1% in all age groups. Out of the total deaths, 64.2% (208) were males and 81.48% had an associated underlying co-morbidity besides COVID-19. The most common co-morbidities were hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. More than half, 59.6%, had no vaccination history, and all the cases had no history of taking a booster vaccination dose. A statistically significant correlation between delay in time to admission and length of hospital stay (p = 0.017) was also seen.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 is more severe in the older age group above 65 years of age and in males, particularly in the presence of underlying co-morbidities. Mortality was also higher in patients with no history of vaccination as compared with patients vaccinated. Also, delay in hospital admission increases the length of hospital stay and mortality.
Hashimoto’s encephalopathy versus catatonia: A diagnostic dilemma
Authors: Dhoat Preeti Singh , Kaur Amandeep , Verma Niket , Jain Deepak
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is a rare life-threatening disease entity with clinical presentation like psychiatric as well as neurological diseases, thus making it a challenging clinical scenario for physicians leading to delay in diagnosis and management of the patient. The incidence overall is under-estimated because of low overall awareness about the disease. Here, we report a 44-year-old female who was being treated for psychiatric disorders because of clinical presentation like catatonia but ultimately was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and responded very well to steroids.
Assessment of food labeling knowledge and associated reading barriers among patients with diabetes
Authors: Alshahrani Abdullah M. , Batais Mohammed A. , Mujammami Muhammad H. , Alrasheed Abdullah A. , Almigbal Turky H. , Aljulifi Mohammed Z. , Aldosari Ahmad K. , Almaflehi Nassr
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

The most challenging part of diabetes management for a patient with diabetes is selecting a healthy diet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate participants’ knowledge of food labels, to find out the relationship between the type of diabetes mellitus (DM) and knowledge score of food labels, and to explore the barriers that prevent patients from reading food labels.

Methodology:

This observational study was conducted on patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted at diabetes clinics at King Khalid University Hospital and King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2019 to February 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results:

A total of 310 participants were enrolled in this study, of which 50.3% had type 1 DM, and more than half of them were female (51.6%). Patients with type 1 DM had higher mean declarative and applied knowledge scores than those with type 2 DM, regardless of whether they were taking pre meals insulin or not. The highest proportion (39.9%) had difficulty in understanding the content of the nutrition labels, and some of them (37.2%) did not receive any educational session about it. Only 9.5% of the participants did not have any difficulties in reading food labels.

Conclusion:

Patients with both types of diabetes tended to have poor total knowledge about food labels and faced difficulties in reading them. Provided educational sessions by primary health care and specialized physician and DM educator about food labels are recommended to help them to choose food properly.
Diabetic post-covid mucormycosis: A dermatoglyphic prediction
Authors: Sanga Aradhana , Kumari Rita , Kujur Babita , Ranjan Rajiv , Dubey Ashok Kumar
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Aim:

To identify the characteristic pattern/parameter among diabetic post-covid mucormycosis patients which may further help in identifying such susceptible patients in a much earlier course of the disease.

Materials and Methods:

The study was done with 30 diabetic patients (21 males and 9 females) admitted in RIMS Ranchi during the second wave of Covid-19 for post-covid complications. Palm and fingerprint pattern was taken by ink and pad method to measure the qualitative and quantitative parameters.

Result:

Diabetic post-covid mucormycosis patients were found to have predominantly whorl pattern in males, loop in females, and C-line pattern absent in 36.6%. Proximal axial triradii with ulnar deviation was 76.6%. All the ridge counts (except ab ridge count of right hand) when compared with hypothesized value were found to be significant with P value (<0.005). None of the three angles measured were found to be significant.

Conclusion:

All the ridge counts (except ab ridge count of right hand) were found to be a reliable parameter for the diagnosis of diabetic post-covid mucormycosis. ATD angle known to be the most reliable parameter for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dermatoglyphics is found to be nonreliable with respect to diabetes post-covid mucormycosis.
Perception of care givers regarding danger signs of illness and practices followed in young infants (0–2 months) as per IMNCI at selected areas of Amritsar, Punjab: A qualitative study
Authors: Joshi Pooja , Kaur Hardeep , Devgun Priyanka
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

In India, neonatal mortality contributes to over 64% of infant deaths, mostly occurring during the first week of life. Mortality rate in second month of life is also higher than at later ages. Delay in identification of warning signs of neonatal illness naturally postpones the initiation of treatment and referral to hospital.

Materials and Methods:

The study aimed to explore the perception of care givers regarding danger signs of illness and practices followed in young infants. Care givers who cared for the sick young infants during last six months were recruited using a convenient sampling technique and qualitative research approach. Five semi-structured interviews and one FGD were conducted using an interview and FGD guide. Data was analyzed manually by reading and rereading the transcribed verbatim leading to the emergence of themes, subthemes, and codes.

Results:

Data explored that excessive crying was perceived as a danger sign by entire mothers, and many of them were unable to recognize important warning signs. The delay in decision making for medical care-seeking also shows dwindling awareness. Additionally, mothers were adapting few unhygienic practices as home remedies leading to worsening the symptoms and making a call for additional infections which needs to be addressed by the health authorities at community level.

Conclusion:

Pronounced efforts are expected to raise mindfulness of mothers toward the significance of early identification of neonatal danger signs to stave off the high magnitude of neonatal mortality. Inclusion of excessive crying as neonatal danger sign is recommended as well.
Medical and social implications of alcohol use among adult women in a rural area of Ranchi, Jharkhand: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Shikha Swati , Kumar Mithilesh , Kashyap Vivek
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The harmful use of alcohol is increasing at a huge pace leading to the occurrence of multiple diseases and has become a leading risk factor for global burden of diseases.

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this study is to assess the health profile of adult women and to find out the medical and social effects of alcohol consumption.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area, Ormanjhi of RIMS, Ranchi, for a duration of 27 months (September 2016 to November 2018) among 336 women by multistage random sampling. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Templates were generated in MS Excel sheet and analysis of data was done using SPSS software (20.0).

Results:

The mean BMI of the study subjects was 21.62 ± 3.33 kg/m2. Anaemia was present in 42.6% of the women, 10.4% women were hypertensive and 9.2% were suffering from diabetes. The association between alcohol consumption and occurrence of co-morbidities was found insignificant. The social effects of alcoholism varied ranging from going into debts seen in 35.42% of the women; 62.5% of the women were criticised about their drinking habit by relatives or children. About 9.5% of the women were found to consume alcohol during their last pregnancy, and among women who were on regular intake of alcohol even during pregnancy, majority (65.62%) of them delivered by normal vaginal delivery.

Conclusion:

Alcohol consumption among females caused several adverse social consequences without any significant effect on health.
A qualitative study to explore the ethnomedicine practices towards hepatitis among the Irula traditional healers in Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Kumar Dhasarathi , Peter Roshni Mary , Kaur Harpreet , Joseph Alex
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Irulas are known for their traditional medicine and healing practices. Ethnomedicine primarily describes the traditional medical approaches that take consideration of the cultural perspectives on health, illness, disease while addressing the delivery of healthcare and therapeutic modalities. The current study explores the ethnomedical practices towards hepatitis among the Irula traditional healers in Tamil Nadu.

Methodology:

A Community-based in-depth interview (IDI) study was conducted among eight traditional healers (5 males and 3 females) from Irula settlements in Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts. Apart from traditional healers, 11 Irula adults were interviewed to understand their cultural perspectives on health and illness.

Results:

The major themes that emerged from the codes were the perception towards traditional healing and the process of treatment on hepatitis, the list of important conditions treated by the traditional healers, and the list of medicinal plants used for treating people.

Conclusion:

This qualitative study highlights the voices of the Irula tribal community and offers a rich source of information about ethnomedicine practices towards hepatitis among the Irula traditional healers in Tamil Nadu, India.
Roles and challenges of primary healthcare workers: lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Alzahrani Mohammed Hassan , Alzahrani Saud Mohammed , El-Desouky Ahmed Shaker , Alghamdi Ali Dakhel , Alzahrani Mohammed Abdullah , Alzahrani Abdullah Ali , Alzahrani Abdulrazaq Bakheet , Alzahrani Ahmed Hassan , Asiri Bader Oudah
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Context:

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the structure of the healthcare system. As a response to the pandemic, the ministry of health applied many changes to the primary healthcare system. These changes created new challenges for healthcare workers (HCWs).

Aims:

To identify the roles and challenges of practitioners in primary healthcare (PHC) centers during COVID-19 in Al-Baha city, Saudi Arabia, in 2022.

Methods and Materials:

An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 2022 in Al-Baha city, Saudi Arabia. An electronic online questionnaire was distributed formally to HCWs in PHC centers. All primary HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Al-Baha city, Saudi Arabia, were included.

Results:

A total of 424 responses were analyzed. Half (50.7%) of the participants had fieldwork roles during the pandemic. The two most commonly agreed-upon challenges were stress (78.7%) and worry about getting infected (79.8%). The majority (74.4%) of the participants’ roles involved direct contact with suspected COVID-19 cases, whereas 50.9% involved direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Direct contact with confirmed cases showed a significant association with worrying about getting infected (P = 0.019).

Conclusions:

Workload, overtime, conflict ambiguity, fear of getting and transmitting the infection, stress, and lack of personal protective equipment were challenges faced by the primary HCWs, which negatively impacted the quality of delivered services and mental health. We recommend facilitating access of primary HCWs to psychiatric clinics to improve stress and help cope with new roles during the pandemics and changes in the healthcare system.
Subdividing ART patients and analyzing the medical burden by modeling of CD4 cell count
Authors: Min Li , Qunwei Wang
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To subdivide the antiretroviral therapy (ART) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients by modeling the CD4 cell count variable, with an aim to reduce the medical burden from lifelong ART.

Materials and Methods:

The data of outpatients at the research unit between August 2009 and December 2020 were exported and mined. A recency-frequency (RF) model was established for data subdivision, and data of non-churn ART patients were preserved. Common factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on the three indicators of the baseline/mean/last CD4 cell counts to obtain critical variables; then, k-means modeling was used to subdivide ART patients and their medical burden was analyzed.

Results:

A total of 12,106 samples of non-churn ART patients were preserved by RF modeling. The baseline/mean/last CD4 cell counts served as important variables employed for modeling. The patients were divided into 15 types, including two types with poor compliance and poor immune reconstitution, two types with good compliance but poor immune reconstitution, four types with poor compliance but good immune reconstitution, and seven types with good compliance and good immune reconstitution. The frequency of visits was 5.25–9.95 visits/person/year, and the percentage of examination fees was 44.24%–59.05%, with a medical burden of 4114.24–12,676.66 yuan/person/year, of which 42.62%–70.09% was reduced.

Conclusion:

The CD4 cell count is not only an important indicator for judging post-ART immune recovery, but also a major modeling variable in subdividing ART patients with varying medical burdens. Poor compliance and poor immune reconstitution lead to excessive visits and frequent examinations, which were the leading causes of the heavy medical burden of ART.
Flood 2022 in Pakistan: Managing medical flood relief camps in a developing country
Authors: Amin Faridah , Luxmi Shobha , Ali Farheen , Fareeduddin Muhammad
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Floods are the most common natural disasters in the world. Currently Pakistan is in an acute emergency situation due to the recent flood that occurred as a result of the monsoon rains in July–August 2022. Unfortunately, the country was already under an economic crisis and was just recovering from the COVID pandemic when this devastating calamity struck. Almost one-third of the country’s land was affected, with millions of houses damaged and property lost. As the victims are displaced and local health units are flooded, their medical needs are being met through medical flood relief camps arranged by public and private sector welfare organizations. Due to a lack of disaster preparedness and policies, most of the healthcare workers are untrained to manage medical flood relief camps and are hence learning from experience rather than following any standardized policy guidelines. We did not find any guidelines for organization and management of a flood relief camp in previous literature. As natural disasters continue to cause mass destruction every few years, there is a need to devise policies and procedures for disaster preparedness and hazard reduction. This paper is thus an effort to provide the best possible delivery of acute health services in a developing country during and after a flood in the transit phase, while the government and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) help communities rebuild their health system.
Myths, beliefs, and attitude toward cancer among the family caregivers of cancer patients: A community-based, mixed-method study in rural Tamil Nadu
Authors: Ajith Karthik , Sarkar Sonali , Sethuramachandran Adinarayanan , Manghat Sreeja , Surendran Gayathri
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim:

Family support is one of the most crucial components of cancer care. The familial beliefs and myths associated with cancer can seriously affect the quality of life and treatment outcome of cancer patients. This study intends to explore the prevailing myths, beliefs, and attitude toward cancer among the family caregivers of cancer patients.

Materials and Methods:

A community-based, exploratory, mixed-method study was conducted among family caregivers of cancer patients in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Content analysis method was used for in-depth interviews. Sociodemographic characteristics and attitude of the study participants were described using proportions.

Results:

A common myth about causation of cancer was that it was contagious or of infective origin. Disbelief in tobacco’s causation of cancer was found among the study participants. Family members’ support was viewed as an essential component for cancer patients. Majority of the participants in the quantitative survey showed favorable attitude toward cancer patients. The common misconception about cancer treatment was that surgery/biopsy can spread cancer and herbal products can cure cancer.

Conclusion:

Even though a majority of the participants showed favorable attitude toward their cancer patients, false beliefs and myths regarding causation and treatment of cancer are prevalent in the community.
Acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccine among Qassim populations: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alharbi Muslet , Alharbi Norh M. , Almutairi Shumukh M. , Alharbi Maha K. , Alsaud Jolan S. , Alnssyan Badr , Al Abdulmonem Waleed
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The approval of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines and obtaining herd immunity raise the optimism about seeing the end of this pandemic but vaccine hesitancy or refusal to vaccinate is a major threat to progress toward achieving herd immunity. In this study, we identify baseline knowledge, myths, misconceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward the COVID-19 vaccine. This help to develop new strategies to raise awareness, correct misconceptions and improve acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. This study aim is to evaluate the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among population in Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study conducted among target people who were more than 11 years old in Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia using the snowball sample study. A self-administered online questionnaire was used that evaluates the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among this population.

Results:

The results show that the participants’ high knowledge of COVID-19 translates into good and safe practices, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health workers worldwide should concentrate on enlightening and building faith among the unsure and reluctant population regarding security, effectiveness, and adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusions:

The study findings are useful to the policymakers and healthcare professionals who are working on vaccine awareness programs of COVID-19. The findings conclude that the health education interventions should be directed to population of Qassim, Saudi Arabia, at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
Prevalence and determinants of emotional violence faced by married women in Delhi, India: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Joshi Rajneesh Kumar , Arora Manisha , Mukherjee Reema
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Context:

Emotional violence is the lesser recognized form of intimate partner violence (IPV) but causes long-lasting harm to a woman’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Aims:

To estimate the prevalence and describe the determinants of emotional violence faced by women residing in a metropolitan city of India.

Settings and Design:

This cross-sectional study was conducted among ‘presently married’ women living in an urban residential area of Delhi.

Methods and Material:

We used the NFHS-3 questionnaire and criteria to record the study participants’ responses regarding their experience of ‘emotional violence’. Women saying yes to emotional violence further quantified the frequency of each type of abuse into ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ in the past 12 months. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the Institutional Ethics Committee approved the study.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Logistic regression analysis was used to determine emotional violence with various socio-demographic factors and other forms of IPV.

Results:

A total of 99 (19.8%) women had ‘ever’ faced psychological abuse by their husbands. 15.2% of women were humiliated by husbands, and 11.6% of women were insulted and made to feel bad about themselves. Women whose husbands consume alcohol (OR = 1.74 (1.07–2.84), exhibit controlling behaviour, (OR = 2.79 (1.74–4.46) exhibit physical (OR = 10.83 (6.4–18.32) or sexual (OR = 5.53 (3–10.2) violence were at significantly higher risk of facing psychological abuse within their marriages.

Conclusions:

Physical violence and controlling were found to be significantly associated with the experience of emotional violence after adjusting for all other variables. Primary care physicians should be sensitized to this critical health issue.
Waning of Antibody Response Among Vaccinees who Received Two Doses of Covishield Vaccine
Authors: Haritay Shivani , Patil Rithia , Maldar Arif , Kumar Anil , Reddy Vikrama , Oswal Deshna , Tahashildar Masood Ahmed , Kolakar Akshay , Kabbur Satish , Prasad Jang Bahadur , Shivaswamy M. S. , Paranjape Ramesh , Angolkar Mubashir
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

There are limited data available on the long-term presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in circulation among the elderly population. This study aims to examine levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccines who have completed at least 6 months since the second vaccine dose. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 among 199 vaccines aged 60 years and above residing in Belagavi city, who received two doses of the Covishield vaccine.

Methods:

Antibody response to SARS-COV-2 virus whole cell antigen was measured by a kit COVID KAWACH IgG Micro LISA (J Mitra and Company, India) in 199 participants who had completed at least 6 months after receiving the second dose of Covishield vaccine. The antibody response was measured as a ratio of optical density (OD) in the participant’s sample to the mean OD in negative control test by normal (T/N). Independent Kruskal–Wallis test was applied to test the difference between the T/N ratio by months of vaccination since the second dose and by the age group strata.

Results:

The median T/N values among participants who completed 6, 7, 8, and 9 months since the second vaccine dose were 14.17, 10.46, 7.93, and 5.11, respectively, and this decline in T/N values was statistically significant. Antibody response values showed a decline with increasing age for participants in the age strata 60–69, 70–79, and 80 and above, respectively.

Conclusions:

A significant decline was observed in antibody response over 9 months supporting the administration of booster dose of vaccine.
Immune thrombocytopenia in infants: a retrospective study with comparison to toddlers
Authors: Lee Anselm Chi-wai
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common cause of acquired bleeding in childhood, but little is known about the clinical course and outcomes in infants with ITP.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study of all infants (1–12 months of age) and toddlers (13–47 months of age) diagnosed with ITP from a single centre during a 13-year period. The following data were compared between the two patients groups: demographics, severity of bleeding, platelet counts, duration of illness, development of chronic ITP, treatment and association with recent vaccination.

Results:

Twenty-two infants and 30 toddlers were diagnosed and followed up for ITP during the study period. Infants with ITP generally had minor or mild bleeding (19, 86.4%) and seldom required treatment (7, 31.8%), and their thrombocytopenia resolved at a mean of 1.90 months after diagnosis. Besides age, the sex ratio, severity of bleeding, platelet counts and proportion that required treatment were comparable between infants and toddlers. Fewer infants developed chronic ITP (1/22 vs. 9/30, P = 0.032), but more infants had a history of vaccination in the preceding 6 weeks prior to diagnosis of ITP (13/22 vs. 1/30, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

ITP in infants is almost always a self-limiting and transient illness, and the majority of cases do not require treatment.
Взаимно ортогональные латинские квадраты как групповые трансверсали
Authors: Pradhan Rohitesh , Jain Vivek Kumar
Published: February 2023

Предлагается метод построения полного множества взаимно ортогональных латинских квадратов порядка $m$, где $m$ - нечетное простое число или его степень, как группы трансверсалей группы Фробениуса.
Булевы функции, построенные по разрядным последовательностям линейных рекуррент
Authors: Gruba Andrey Alekseevich
Published: February 2023

Изучается класс булевых функций, построенных по разрядным последовательностям линейных рекуррент над кольцом $\mathbb{Z}_{2^n}.$ Для него исследуются: расстояния между функциями, мощность класса, нелинейность и веса функций. Показано, что этот класс состоит из функций, значительно удаленных от класса всех аффинных функций.