Research
Assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI) and General Health Status of Male Auto-Rickshaw Drivers in Garia, Kolkata
Background: In India, auto-rickshaw is one of the main modes of public transport in urban and semi-urban areas; however, auto-rickshaw drivers often suffer from various nutritional deficiencies. Objective: The objective of this work is to assess the body mass index (BMI) and the general health status of the auto-rickshaw drivers of the Garia Southern Avenue auto-rickshaw stand (in Kolkata). Method: To achieve this objective, a cross-sectional study has been undertaken, whereby data have been collected in February-July 2018, regarding duration of work, nature of addiction, ownership pattern, general clinical status, BMI and body fat percentage, of 157 male auto-rickshaw drivers, attached to the aforesaid stand, and belonging to the age-group of 18-55 years. Subsequently, the binomial test has been conducted at 5% level of significance.
Knowledge Evaluation of Accredited Social Health Activists (Ashas) on Maternal and Child Health, in a Rural Area of Gomati District, Tripura
Background: National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) provides a trained female community health worker i.e., Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), to every Indian village. An ASHA acts as a bridge between the rural people and the health service outlets. Objective: The objective is to understand the knowledge levels of ASHAs regarding various aspects of maternal and child health. Method: This cross-sectional study, conducted between April 2017 and July 2017, attempts to assess the knowledge levels of 232 ASHAs, working in Ompi CHC (Community Health Centre), Killa PHC (Primary Health Centre) and Atharabula PHC. These centres are located in Ompi RD (Rural Development) Block and Killa RD Block of Gomati District of Tripura. Knowledge level is assessed by performing binomial test at 5% level of significance.
Evaluation of ‘Referral for Treatment’ System under RNTCP in a Hospital at Kolkata, India
To handle the problem of tuberculosis (TB), Government of India started the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in 1993, whereby Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) was officially adopted as the strategy in 1997. The medical colleges, involved in the RNTCP programme, refer the patients to the DOTS centres near their homes, after assigning the treatment categories. This study attempts to evaluate this ‘referral for treatment’ system during the second phase of RNTCP (RNTCP-II). To achieve this objective, pertinent data regarding 758 patients referred from RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, to various DOTS centres in West Bengal, between 01.10.2006 and 30.09.2007, were collected from the said medical college, the relevant DOTS centres, the patients themselves, using a suitable questionnaire, and also the family members and the neighbours of some patients. Chi-square test at 5% level of significance was used as an analysis tool. The study displays some serious drawbacks in the system of ‘referral for treatment’ in West Bengal viz., non-registration at the DOTS centre after referral, inadequacy of previous TB treatment method (indicating the shortcomings in the referral system going on since 2003), regarding which, the urban-rural divide is significant, low conversion rate from sputum positive to sputum negative patients after 2-3 months of treatment, and possibility of unfavourable outcome (which includes death) following treatment, which is significantly dependent on the type of patient, i.e., whether seriously ill or not. Besides, this work shows a high prevalence of TB in the productive age group i.e., 15-44 years.
A Study to Assess the Nutritional Status of Housewives of the Below Poverty Line Families Living in a Slum in the Kidderpore Area of Kolkata, India
Housewives in the below poverty line (BPL) families are at a high risk of suffering from malnutrition, because of poverty, and the fact that they often give priority to the nutritional needs of other family members, neglecting their own. This study has attempted to assess the nutritional status of housewives of the BPL families living in a slum in the Kidderpore area of Kolkata (India), by employing binomial tests at 5% level of significance, and using three indicators viz., body mass index or BMI, presence of angular stomatitis, and presence of pallor, and one predisposing factor viz., frequency of consumption of green leafy vegetables.
