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Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding mosquito-borne diseases among migrant laborers from a migrant settlement in Ponekkara, Ernakulam Kerala

Indian Journal of Public Health

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of contraceptive use, determinants and fertility intentions among tribal women in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of contraceptive use and its determinants, knowledge regarding co... more ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of contraceptive use and its determinants, knowledge regarding contraceptives including oral contraceptive pills and fertility intentions among tribal women in the reproductive age group.DesignCommunity-based cross-sectional study.SettingCommunity development blocks in a predominantly tribal district of Wayanad in Kerala, India.ParticipantsWomen in the reproductive age group (15–49 years) from the tribal groups in the district numbering 2495.Outcome measuresPrimaryPrevalence of contraceptive use and its determinants.SecondaryKnowledge regarding contraceptives in general, oral contraceptives and fertility intentions.ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 30.8 years (SD=9.8) and belonged to various tribal groups such as Paniya (59.2%), Kurichiyar (13.6%) and Adiya (10.9%). Current use of contraceptive was reported by about a fourth, 658 (26.4%) (95% CI 27.9 to 24.9) of women. Following logistic regression, belonging to Paniya tribe (adjusted ...

Research paper thumbnail of Uncontrolled Blood Pressure and Associated Factors Among Persons With Diabetes: A Community Based Study From Kerala, India

Frontiers in Public Health, 2021

The coexistence of raised blood pressure (BP) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a... more The coexistence of raised blood pressure (BP) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major contributor to the development and progression of both macrovascular and microvascular complications. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of uncontrolled BP and its associated factors in persons with T2DM in a district in Kerala. Methods The study was conducted in Ernakulam district in Kerala, and a total of 3,092 individuals with T2DM were enrolled after obtaining consent. Those with a BP “above or equal to 140 mmHg” and/or “above or equal to 90 mmHg” were thus considered to have uncontrolled BP. If the BP was equal or >140 and/or 90 mmHg, a repeat reading was taken after 30 min and the average of the two was considered. Basic demographic details were enquired along with electronic measurement of BP, HbA1c estimation and screening for diabetic retinopathy, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and peripheral neuropathy. Quantitative and qualitative variables were...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS among tuberculosis patients in Kerala

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care

Introduction: It is estimated that 10 million people fall ill with Tuberculosis (TB) every year w... more Introduction: It is estimated that 10 million people fall ill with Tuberculosis (TB) every year worldwide. TB continues to be in the top 10 causes of death globally with India being the home to the world's largest number of TB patients. One of the major factors attributing to this is the presence of comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus and HIV/AIDS. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of comorbidities such as Diabetes mellitus & HIV/AIDS among the newly diagnosed TB patients in Kerala in 2019 and also to determine the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using the secondary data from NIKSHAY portal. There were a total of 16,527 cases of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases reported from 14 districts of Kerala from January to September 2019. Using a checklist, data regarding the age, gender, type of case, Type of patient, site of disease, drug resistance were collected separately for TB patients suffering from Diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS. The data was then entered into Excel sheet and was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Out of the total 16,527 study population, most of the patients were elderly above the age of 60 years (28.6%). The prevalence of Diabetes mellitus (22.6%) was higher among TB patients when compared to HIV/AIDS (1.2%). Males in the age group between 50-59 years were found to be significantly associated with TB- Diabetes Mellitus comorbidities. Diabetes was significantly associated with Pulmonary TB patients, while HIV/AIDS was significantly associated with extrapulmonary TB. Conclusion: Both Diabetes Mellitus and HIV/AIDS are comorbidities that have a strong impact on the diagnosis and management of Tuberculosis patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prevent these comorbidities from occurring along with the implementation of early diagnosis and appropriate management strategies. This study is of prime importance especially among Primary care Physicians who are treating TB patients on routine basis. They are particularly important in TB control since they are usually the first to meet a TB suspect, before diagnosis occurs. Both HIV/AIDS and Diabetes mellitus are immunocompromised conditions and these comorbidities can affect the treatment outcomes of TB. Primary care physicians are essential in detecting TB suspects and treating them, thus contribute significantly to reducing the burden of TB.

Research paper thumbnail of Mobile Phone Dependence and its Association with Sleep Quality among Postgraduate Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Center in Kochi, Kerala, India

The inept use of mobile phones is defined as mobile phone dependence. It is a type of behavioral ... more The inept use of mobile phones is defined as mobile phone dependence. It is a type of behavioral or technological addiction[1] which can result in an individual suffering from social and emotional impairment.[2] Mobile phones have now become the necessary evil of this generation. It has many advantages, and at the same time, its excessive use can negatively affect the academic performance,[3] interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, etc.[4]

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of functional limitations and its relation to morbidity pattern among the elderly residing in urban area, Kerala, India

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Ageing is an inevitable process and a person aged 60 years or above is often referred... more Background: Ageing is an inevitable process and a person aged 60 years or above is often referred to as ‘elderly’. Older age is characterized by emergence of several complex health states that tend to occur only later in life and that do not fall into discrete disease categories. These are commonly called as geriatric syndromes. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of functional limitations among the elderly and to determine the association between functional limitations and morbidity pattern among the elderly residing in urban area in Ernakulam district, Kerala.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 302 elderly participants by using cluster sampling technique in two urban areas of Ernakulam. The structured questionnaire included socio-demographic details, diagnosed morbidities and modified Barthel index to assess functional limitations.Results: The overall prevalence of functional limitations was 22.4% among the elderly. Functional lim...

Research paper thumbnail of Overdose of mycophenolate mofetil managed in a secondary care hospital in South India

Indian journal of pharmacology

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent and is considered relative... more Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent and is considered relatively safe with minimal side-effects in therapeutic doses. However, data regarding the effects of an overdose is sparse and therefore, concerns remain regarding its safety. Here, we report the case of a 24-year-old young woman who consumed high dose (10 g) of MMF with suicidal intent. We did not observe any complications related to MMF overdose.

Research paper thumbnail of Proportion of pulmonary tuberculosis cases diagnosed at different levels of health care across fourteen districts of Kerala

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: It is estimated that 10.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths occur due to tuberculo... more Background: It is estimated that 10.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths occur due to tuberculosis (TB) globally. More than one quarter of TB cases and TB-related deaths worldwide occur in India each year. Kerala's TB incidence is estimated to be 67 cases per 100,000. Objective was to estimate the proportion of Pulmonary TB cases diagnosed at different levels of the health care system across all the fourteen districts of Kerala from January to September 2019.Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on information obtained from the NIKSHAY portal from January to September 2019. Proportion of cases detected at PHC, CHC, THQ, District hospital and other tertiary care facilities was computed. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0.Results: The maximum number of new TB cases (70.8%) was being detected at the primary care level, while 20.3% of new cases were detected from tertiary care centres and 8.9% from seconda...

Research paper thumbnail of Oral health care-seeking behaviour and influencing factors among 18-34 years old women in Kochi, India

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Oral health, though an integral part of general health, is accorded low priority and ... more Background: Oral health, though an integral part of general health, is accorded low priority and remains an issue of neglect. Women during their reproductive years suffer from various oral problems that warrant timely utilization of care. Understanding factors affecting health-seeking behavior is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine the personal level and system-level factors that affect utilization of oral health care among 18-34 year-old women visiting a dental health care facility.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 18-34 year old women. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a tertiary dental health care facility. A Chi-square test was used to determine the association of sociodemographic variables on factors affecting the utilization of oral care.Results: A total of 194 responses were obtained. The mean age of study participants was 27.1±5.2 years. Around 62% of women suffered from multiple dental prob...

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding mosquito-borne diseases among migrant laborers from a migrant settlement in Ponekkara, Ernakulam Kerala

Indian Journal of Public Health

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of contraceptive use, determinants and fertility intentions among tribal women in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open

ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of contraceptive use and its determinants, knowledge regarding co... more ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of contraceptive use and its determinants, knowledge regarding contraceptives including oral contraceptive pills and fertility intentions among tribal women in the reproductive age group.DesignCommunity-based cross-sectional study.SettingCommunity development blocks in a predominantly tribal district of Wayanad in Kerala, India.ParticipantsWomen in the reproductive age group (15–49 years) from the tribal groups in the district numbering 2495.Outcome measuresPrimaryPrevalence of contraceptive use and its determinants.SecondaryKnowledge regarding contraceptives in general, oral contraceptives and fertility intentions.ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 30.8 years (SD=9.8) and belonged to various tribal groups such as Paniya (59.2%), Kurichiyar (13.6%) and Adiya (10.9%). Current use of contraceptive was reported by about a fourth, 658 (26.4%) (95% CI 27.9 to 24.9) of women. Following logistic regression, belonging to Paniya tribe (adjusted ...

Research paper thumbnail of Uncontrolled Blood Pressure and Associated Factors Among Persons With Diabetes: A Community Based Study From Kerala, India

Frontiers in Public Health, 2021

The coexistence of raised blood pressure (BP) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a... more The coexistence of raised blood pressure (BP) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major contributor to the development and progression of both macrovascular and microvascular complications. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of uncontrolled BP and its associated factors in persons with T2DM in a district in Kerala. Methods The study was conducted in Ernakulam district in Kerala, and a total of 3,092 individuals with T2DM were enrolled after obtaining consent. Those with a BP “above or equal to 140 mmHg” and/or “above or equal to 90 mmHg” were thus considered to have uncontrolled BP. If the BP was equal or >140 and/or 90 mmHg, a repeat reading was taken after 30 min and the average of the two was considered. Basic demographic details were enquired along with electronic measurement of BP, HbA1c estimation and screening for diabetic retinopathy, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and peripheral neuropathy. Quantitative and qualitative variables were...

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS among tuberculosis patients in Kerala

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care

Introduction: It is estimated that 10 million people fall ill with Tuberculosis (TB) every year w... more Introduction: It is estimated that 10 million people fall ill with Tuberculosis (TB) every year worldwide. TB continues to be in the top 10 causes of death globally with India being the home to the world's largest number of TB patients. One of the major factors attributing to this is the presence of comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus and HIV/AIDS. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of comorbidities such as Diabetes mellitus & HIV/AIDS among the newly diagnosed TB patients in Kerala in 2019 and also to determine the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using the secondary data from NIKSHAY portal. There were a total of 16,527 cases of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases reported from 14 districts of Kerala from January to September 2019. Using a checklist, data regarding the age, gender, type of case, Type of patient, site of disease, drug resistance were collected separately for TB patients suffering from Diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS. The data was then entered into Excel sheet and was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Out of the total 16,527 study population, most of the patients were elderly above the age of 60 years (28.6%). The prevalence of Diabetes mellitus (22.6%) was higher among TB patients when compared to HIV/AIDS (1.2%). Males in the age group between 50-59 years were found to be significantly associated with TB- Diabetes Mellitus comorbidities. Diabetes was significantly associated with Pulmonary TB patients, while HIV/AIDS was significantly associated with extrapulmonary TB. Conclusion: Both Diabetes Mellitus and HIV/AIDS are comorbidities that have a strong impact on the diagnosis and management of Tuberculosis patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prevent these comorbidities from occurring along with the implementation of early diagnosis and appropriate management strategies. This study is of prime importance especially among Primary care Physicians who are treating TB patients on routine basis. They are particularly important in TB control since they are usually the first to meet a TB suspect, before diagnosis occurs. Both HIV/AIDS and Diabetes mellitus are immunocompromised conditions and these comorbidities can affect the treatment outcomes of TB. Primary care physicians are essential in detecting TB suspects and treating them, thus contribute significantly to reducing the burden of TB.

Research paper thumbnail of Mobile Phone Dependence and its Association with Sleep Quality among Postgraduate Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Center in Kochi, Kerala, India

The inept use of mobile phones is defined as mobile phone dependence. It is a type of behavioral ... more The inept use of mobile phones is defined as mobile phone dependence. It is a type of behavioral or technological addiction[1] which can result in an individual suffering from social and emotional impairment.[2] Mobile phones have now become the necessary evil of this generation. It has many advantages, and at the same time, its excessive use can negatively affect the academic performance,[3] interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, etc.[4]

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of functional limitations and its relation to morbidity pattern among the elderly residing in urban area, Kerala, India

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Ageing is an inevitable process and a person aged 60 years or above is often referred... more Background: Ageing is an inevitable process and a person aged 60 years or above is often referred to as ‘elderly’. Older age is characterized by emergence of several complex health states that tend to occur only later in life and that do not fall into discrete disease categories. These are commonly called as geriatric syndromes. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of functional limitations among the elderly and to determine the association between functional limitations and morbidity pattern among the elderly residing in urban area in Ernakulam district, Kerala.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 302 elderly participants by using cluster sampling technique in two urban areas of Ernakulam. The structured questionnaire included socio-demographic details, diagnosed morbidities and modified Barthel index to assess functional limitations.Results: The overall prevalence of functional limitations was 22.4% among the elderly. Functional lim...

Research paper thumbnail of Overdose of mycophenolate mofetil managed in a secondary care hospital in South India

Indian journal of pharmacology

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent and is considered relative... more Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent and is considered relatively safe with minimal side-effects in therapeutic doses. However, data regarding the effects of an overdose is sparse and therefore, concerns remain regarding its safety. Here, we report the case of a 24-year-old young woman who consumed high dose (10 g) of MMF with suicidal intent. We did not observe any complications related to MMF overdose.

Research paper thumbnail of Proportion of pulmonary tuberculosis cases diagnosed at different levels of health care across fourteen districts of Kerala

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: It is estimated that 10.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths occur due to tuberculo... more Background: It is estimated that 10.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths occur due to tuberculosis (TB) globally. More than one quarter of TB cases and TB-related deaths worldwide occur in India each year. Kerala's TB incidence is estimated to be 67 cases per 100,000. Objective was to estimate the proportion of Pulmonary TB cases diagnosed at different levels of the health care system across all the fourteen districts of Kerala from January to September 2019.Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on information obtained from the NIKSHAY portal from January to September 2019. Proportion of cases detected at PHC, CHC, THQ, District hospital and other tertiary care facilities was computed. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0.Results: The maximum number of new TB cases (70.8%) was being detected at the primary care level, while 20.3% of new cases were detected from tertiary care centres and 8.9% from seconda...

Research paper thumbnail of Oral health care-seeking behaviour and influencing factors among 18-34 years old women in Kochi, India

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Oral health, though an integral part of general health, is accorded low priority and ... more Background: Oral health, though an integral part of general health, is accorded low priority and remains an issue of neglect. Women during their reproductive years suffer from various oral problems that warrant timely utilization of care. Understanding factors affecting health-seeking behavior is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine the personal level and system-level factors that affect utilization of oral health care among 18-34 year-old women visiting a dental health care facility.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 18-34 year old women. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a tertiary dental health care facility. A Chi-square test was used to determine the association of sociodemographic variables on factors affecting the utilization of oral care.Results: A total of 194 responses were obtained. The mean age of study participants was 27.1±5.2 years. Around 62% of women suffered from multiple dental prob...