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Papers by Nilesh Chatterjee

Journal of community health …, 2005

Community center workers serving children and families in a predominantly Hispanic, low-income ne... more Community center workers serving children and families in a predominantly Hispanic, low-income neighborhood were interviewed qualitatively, to ascertain their perspectives on obesity and barriers to control and prevention, to design a practical and culturally appropriate intervention for obesity control. All 19 respondents recognized obesity as a problem, identified healthy eating and physical activity as requisites for controlling obesity, and mentioned fast food and cultural influences in Hispanic families as contributory factors. Lack of time emerged as a major barrier to all preventive practices related to eating healthy or being physically active. Safety concerns and lack of safe places for walking and running were mentioned as a barrier to being physically active. Further studies have to be conducted with parents of at-risk children, to understand time constraints. Community health workers should be sensitive to issues of time constraints and incorporate time management recomm...

Population Medicine

INTRODUCTION Tobacco-free schools (TFS) are critical for preventing tobacco-use among adolescents... more INTRODUCTION Tobacco-free schools (TFS) are critical for preventing tobacco-use among adolescents, who constitute nearly 21% of India's population. This study tested the effectiveness of a teacher-training intervention for achieving tobacco-free schools in the state of Maharashtra in India. METHODS A quasi-experimental post-only study was conducted in four districts in Maharashtra state. Starting in 2013, designated teachers from 2188 government schools in two intervention districts received a day-long tobacco-free school training intervention each year for five years. About 1707 similar schools in two comparison districts did not receive the intervention. At the end of five years, in 2018, we assessed adherence to 11 TFS criteria by visiting randomly selected schools in the intervention and comparison districts. RESULTS In intervention districts, 37.8% (34) of visited schools fulfilled all 11 TFS criteria, 34.4% (31) fulfilled 7-10, and 27.8% (25) schools fulfilled ≤6 criteria. This was significantly (p<0.001) higher than in comparison schools, where none fulfilled all 11 criteria, 13.2% (9) met 7-10, and 86.8% (59) fulfilled ≤6 criteria. CONCLUSIONS The TFS intervention achieved 100% fulfillment in nearly two out of five schools, with another one in three schools fulfilling 7-10 criteria; in contrast, 4 out of 5 schools in the comparison districts fulfilled ≤6 criteria. The proportion of tobacco-free schools can be increased and the process accelerated in rural districts by adding more components to the existing teacher training intervention.

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: In India, the state of Madhya Pradesh has one of the highest infant mortality rates (... more Background: In India, the state of Madhya Pradesh has one of the highest infant mortality rates (IMR) as compared to the national average. About two out of every three infant deaths in Madhya Pradesh, are of neonates. Given the high neonatal mortality rate in the state, this study aimed to explore the perceptions, practices, barriers and enablers related to critical newborn care behaviors, such as cord-care, thermal care, skin-to-skin care, and early initiation of breastfeeding, in the first 24 hours of life.Methods: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 53 respondents including mothers and fathers of the newborn, mothers-in-law, elected community and tribal leaders, local NGO representatives, and frontline health workers, in two districts of Madhya Pradesh.Results: Few mothers knew about the benefits of cord care, thermal care and early initiation of breastfeeding. Fathers lacked knowledge and perceived newborn care as the mother’s responsibility. Skin...

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research

Objective: An estimated 72 million in India live with diabetes; the country faces an impending he... more Objective: An estimated 72 million in India live with diabetes; the country faces an impending health-care crisis with prevalence and complications of diabetes forecasted to multiply in the next decade. Improving patients’ knowledge about diabetes to manage the disease better is an urgent and important public health goal.Methods: Knowledge about diabetes, its complications, and management was surveyed using a structured questionnaire among 167 Type 2 diabetes patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India.Results: None of the participants had ever received any formal diabetes self-management education previously. Respondents’ mean and median correct knowledge scores were 20 of 32 test items. Although majority answered statements about blood sugar levels and complications, there was lack of knowledge about the causes and management of diabetes. Around 82% stated that medication was more important than dietary intake and physical activity in managing diabetes. A multiple...

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, Dec 1, 2016

Purpose: Factors associated with ever-use and differences between ever-users and non-users of tob... more Purpose: Factors associated with ever-use and differences between ever-users and non-users of tobacco among adolescent school students from low income families in Mumbai were assessed. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, completed by 1918 students from grades 7, 8 and 9 in 12 schools managed by the city municipal corporation in July 2015, gathered data on socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco use and tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. Results: Although only 1% of respondents thought tobacco was cool, nearly 35% were unaware of associations between tobacco use and health problems. Male students were almost twice as likely (OR=2.5, P <= 0.05) to have ever used tobacco compared to females and Supari (areca nut) users were eight times more likely (OR=8.99, P < 0.001) than Supari non -users. Tobacco-users were more likely to agree with statements: ‘People who use tobacco have more friends’ (OR=2.8, P = 0.004), ‘Smoking relieves stress’ (OR=...

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, Sep 27, 2017

Background: In India, 267 million adults use tobacco with prevalence of 35% in rural areas and 13... more Background: In India, 267 million adults use tobacco with prevalence of 35% in rural areas and 13% among those between 15 and 24 years. With 40% of India’s population below 19 years, tobacco-free schools (TFS) can be a critical strategy for preventing tobacco-use among youth. This study examined the extent of and factors associated with complete adherence to national TFS guidelines among rural schools in the state of Maharashtra. Methods: Trained observers visited 507 rural schools to check adherence to eleven TFS criteria and conducted a cross-sectional survey of school-level indicators. These data were coupled with school-based information from the District Information System for Education (DISE) to analyze factors associated with TFS-adherence. Results: Only 11% of schools adhered to all eleven TFS criteria. Majority (72%) prohibited sale of tobacco inside and within 100 yards of the school; 63% displayed no-smoking posters; and 59% banned tobacco use inside premises. However, on...

Global health, science and practice, Sep 19, 2017

India has 274 million tobacco users and a tobacco use prevalence of 38% in rural areas. Tobacco c... more India has 274 million tobacco users and a tobacco use prevalence of 38% in rural areas. Tobacco consumption causes 1 million deaths and costs the health system nearly US$23 billion annually. Tobacco control policies exist but lack proper implementation. In this article, we review the Tobacco-free Village (TfV) program conducted in Maharashtra state in India and describe its process to help villages in rural India achieve "tobacco-free" status (i.e., the sale and use of tobacco are prohibited by law). We reviewed program documents and conducted 22 qualitative interviews with program staff and village-level stakeholders. From 2008 to 2014, Salaam Mumbai Foundation implemented the TfV program in 60 villages in Maharashtra state. The program used a number of strategies to help villages become tobacco free, including collaborating with a community-based organization, leveraging existing health workers, conducting a situation analysis, training health workers, engaging stakehold...

Public Health, May 1, 1999

Many married women in India have still not heard of AIDS despite increasing risks, intensive heal... more Many married women in India have still not heard of AIDS despite increasing risks, intensive health education campaigns and widespread scientific and media attention. Cross-sectional survey data collected from 350 married women in Bombay, India, revealed that one out of three women had not heard of AIDS. The women who had not heard of AIDS had significantly fewer years of formal education, lower personal and family incomes, less exposure to the mass media and were more likely not to know of condoms in comparison to the women who had heard of AIDS. The results suggest that there are socio-economic barriers to health information. Specific interventions targeted to this group using specific channels of communication are urgently needed.

Disability and Rehabilitation, 2006

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved

Journal of public health management and practice: JPHMP

Sexually transmitted infections