Search

Bhutanese-Nepali refugees are one of the largest refugee groups to be resettled in the U.S. in the past decade. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer disparity in this population, yet screening rates are suboptimal. Nepali-speaking interviewers administered a community health needs questionnaire to a convenience sample of Bhutanese-Nepali refugees in a Midwestern city between July to October of 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to describe socio-demographic characteristics, Pap smear beliefs, post-migration living difficulties, and screening status. Differences in Pap test uptake between groups were tested using t test and Chi square statistics. Of the 97 female participants, 44.3% reported ever having had a Pap smear. Screening rates were lowest among women who did not know English at all. Most women had positive perceptions of Pap smears (80%) and 44.4% had received a Pap test recommendation from their healthcare provider, family, or friends. Pap testing was significantly higher among those who had positive perceptions (58.3 vs. 11.1% for women of negative perception, p = 0.01) and those who had received a recommendation (87.5 vs. 18.6% for women who had no recommendations, p < 0.001). Significant predictors of having a Pap smear were having a healthcare provider/family/friends recommendation (OR 65.3, 95% CI 11.4-373.3) and greater number of post-migration living difficulties (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.37). The results of this study have important implications for the development of cervical cancer prevention programs targeting Bhutanese-Nepali refugees. Providing cancer prevention interventions early in the resettlement process could impact Pap test uptake in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective study was conducted to find out the incidence density rate and to identify the attributed risk factors of Tuberculosis development among ART receivers. All patients who were registered in a nodal ART centre of India within 1st January 2008-31st December 2008 and had been initiated ART in the year of 2008 were considered as a cohort and were followed up till 31st December 2012. This study was started with 169 ART receivers and ended with 129 patients. During total 631.1 person-years observation, 39 TB cases (31 pulmonary and 8 extra pulmonary) were diagnosed. TB incidence density rate reduced from 12.08/100 to 1.12/100 person-years during the follow up periods. Cox regression model revealed that patients having past history of Tuberculosis were at 5 times higher risk (Hazard ratio = 5.205; 95 % CI 2.439-11.106; p = 0.000). Patients with WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 at the time of enrolment had 2 times more risk of development of TB (Hazard ratio = 2.081; 95 % CI 1.502-2.884; p = 0.000). This study highlighted that special attention should be paid on earliest identification of TB among the HIV patients who had past history of TB or suffering from WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 to prevent the silent transmission and multidrug resistance development of Tuberculosis in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a Cross-Sectional Study and was conducted in Post-graduate department of Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar between Feb. 2012 and Jan. 2013. The sample size of 1,041 was estimated. The study was conducted to estimate the effect of relationship of salt iodine level and prevalence of goiter among women of reproductive age group in two districts of Kashmir valley, district Srinagar and district Ganderbal, which were selected randomly. A frame of the blocks and villages in the two districts and their population was formed. From each district 10 % of the blocks were selected using simple random sampling. From each block, 5 % of the villages were selected using simple random sampling. A door to door survey was conducted in the selected villages and all the women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) identified and examined clinically for goiter after taking informed consent. Salt samples (one teaspoonful) from every household were taken and assessed for iodine content on spot and the iodine content of salt was assessed qualitatively by spot testing kits. The results of the present study have indicated that iodine deficiency continues to be a health problem. Almost the whole population consumes powdered salt but the storage and cooking practices diminish the iodine content of salt and results in decreased intake. Thus the need of the hour is to make people aware about proper storage and cooking practices. Women in the reproductive age group especially need to be made aware about the importance of consumption of adequately iodized salt because of the wide range of ill effects of iodine deficiency on the developing fetus and the growing child. In addition monitoring of iodine content of salt at distributor level should be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide. It increasingly affects people from developing as well as developed countries. Over the coming decades the burden from NCDs is projected to rise particularly fast in the developing world. There is a lack of optimal data collection about the burden of risk factors related to NCDs especially in the developing countries. To assess the burden of healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket costs associated with NCDs in an Indian setting. A cross sectional study was performed to enroll a convenient sample of 166 participants aged 18 years and above from a tertiary hospital in Punjab, a Northern state of India. The data was gathered during the period of Feb 2010-April 2010. A mixed methods approach was used to assess the burden of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and their associated risk factors. Further we evaluated the burden of healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket costs associated with these conditions using self-reported assessments. Results showed the average age of the participants was 50 years, 63 % (n = 104) were females, 32 % (n = 53) had education less than high school and 20 % (n = 33) had no formal education. About 96 % of the study participants were living with a partner. Majority of the study participants were non-smokers and 17 % (n = 27) of them reported to have history of alcohol consumption. The majority of the participants had access to cell phones (94 %; n = 156) and about 40 % (n = 66) had computers at home. About 33 % (n = 55) of the study participants had some form of previous knowledge of computers. Majority of the study participants went to the private hospital (47.5 %) for seeking healthcare. About 32 % (n = 53) also sought healthcare from some kind of healthcare professional including a primary care doctor or a nurse or even a pharmacist in a village setting. Doctor visits related to diabetes were higher as compared to the individuals either with hypertension or high cholesterol. However; the out-of-pocket costs of the visit to the healthcare professional were much higher for hypertension than for diabetes or high cholesterol. A strengthened surveillance system, effective inter-sectoral action, and improved access to basic healthcare are pivotal to prevent NCDs. A multifaceted NCDs surveillance system could help us measure the burden of risk factors, its associated health care utilization and out of pocket costs, and further facilitate interventions that can guide evidence based decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional survey of 507 in- and out-patients, with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was undertaken to study the relationships between personal, disease and treatment-related factors and diabetes control in a tertiary care hospital. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, self-efficacy (odds ratio (OR) = 2.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.92-4.54); P < 0.001) was the single most important determinant of current diabetes control (HbA1c ≤ 7%), along with absence of hyperglycemic symptoms in the past year (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.15-2.93, P < 0.01), current treatment with oral medication (OR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.17-2.66; P < 0.007), and adherence to dietary restrictions (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.28-5.88; P < 0.009). Self-efficacy was itself influenced by educational status, employment, availability of family support, and positive mental attitudes. Our findings suggest that health care delivery inputs, patients' personal characteristics including education and attitude, and family support for care are complexly processed to determine patients' ability to manage their disease, which ultimately influences disease outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community health worker (CHW) programs have become popular tools in reducing the burden of childhood illnesses. However, the efficacy of CHWs in facilitating behavior change, as a means of preventing waterborne diseases, remains unclear. Using a household survey (n = 225),in rural Tamil Nadu, South India, we assessed the effects of a CHW program on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to diarrheal illness through comparison with a control population that was not enrolled in the program. The CHW program in the experimental village entailed behavior change aimed at preventing diarrheal illness through home visits, community events and health education. Correlates of four key variables on knowledge of drinking water contamination and behavior change were examined by using logistic regression models. We found that while the program was effective in raising awareness of drinking water contamination, it did not significantly increase hygiene and water sanitation practices in the village community in comparison to the control population. Furthermore, villagers enrolled in the CHW program were unable to recognize the connections between contaminated drinking water and disease. The results of our survey indicated the CHW program did not significantly affect behavior in the experimental village. Possible shortcomings in the program are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]