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Background: Despite annual rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) being carried out every year since 2004 to break the transmission of lymphatic filariasis, India has not achieved elimination status in many areas of country. This study was conducted to determine the operational issues in the implementation of MDA for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in selected districts of Jharkhand. Methods: Two districts of Jharkhand state were selected for present cross-sectional study. Multi-staged cluster sampling was adopted to select study participants. Data were collected with use of prescribed questionnaire of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) from the study participants. Data related to socio-demographic details, coverage and compliance of MDA and operational issues were collected. Results: Findings of independent assessment show that percentage of MDA coverage and compliance for Hazaribag district was 96.02% and 88.90%, respectively. On the other hand, percentage of MDA coverage and compliance was found to be only 67.06% and 48.44% in Chatra district. Overall drug consumption was significantly associated with age group (p-value = 0.045), educational status (p-value = <0.0001) and socio-economic status (p-value <0.0001) of eligible population. Most common reason for not swallowing the drugs was found to be absence of family members at the time of MDA rounds followed by no visit of house by drug distributors. Conclusions: Coverage and compliance of MDA was better in Hazaribag district as compared to Chatra district. In order to increase compliance, socio-demographic factors must also be addressed apart from other operational issues.
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Introduction: In order to enhance public acceptability and reduce vaccine hesitancy in the face of the disease, it is necessary to examine the general public's awareness of the coronavirus vaccination. Vaccination resistance to the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccination continues to be a problem throughout the world. Some of the greatest hurdles to dedication to hygienic standards are a lack of scientific testing for the vaccination, the fear of vaccine side effects, and reports of active viruses in immunizations. National and international health groups are launching initiatives to promote public knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccinations. This study aimed to understand the knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine among the people of the Hazaribag district from Jharkhand. Methodology: The present study was conducted in Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital, a tertiary care hospital of Jharkhand. It was a cross-sectional study. The research was conducted from June 2021 to December 2021. Result: The majority of respondents (83.3%) were confident in taking the COVID-19 vaccine, and 76% respondents agreed that the COVID-19 vaccinations now in use were safe; nevertheless, concern was expressed by 8% of respondents, whereas neutrality was expressed by 15.1%. Conclusion: Overall, the participants in the study had a good understanding of the coronavirus vaccine and agreed to take it. The development of mild or major side effects following immunization is the most important determinant for vaccine reluctance. Vaccine acceptability may improve whenever more information about vaccine safety and efficacy becomes available in the public domain, preferably from a centralized, trustworthy source. To promote public vaccination acceptance and reduce vaccine hesitancy, ongoing training and health education programs are required.
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Background: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of fortified milk on various aspects of growth and development among school children in a tribal-predominant district of Jharkhand, India. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was planned in 16 schools (eight in intervention group and eight in control group) of Latehar district of Jharkhand in India. Out of the total 962 study participants, only 528 study participants were considered in study analysis, who were present both during baseline and endline study after 1 year of milk introduction. The study participants were assessed for nutrition, intelligence quotient, and hemoglobin levels with the help of study tools and instruments. Results: The decrease in malnutrition was more evident in the intervention group during endline assessment, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI; 7.37, 7.42) and 95% CI (10.63, 10.58) for the difference in proportion in the intervention and control groups for stunting and thinness, respectively. This was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Anemia also improved with better cognition in the intervention group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In our study, beneficial effects of milk on malnourished children were evident, particularly in combating stunting and thinness, and it also had a positive impact on cognitive skills in school children.
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BACKGROUND: In the tribal state of Jharkhand, there have been very few studies on micronutrient deficiency and how it is addressed among school children. This study was conceived and undertaken to assess the effect of milk supplementation on the micronutrient status of school children. DESIGN: A comparative observational study was conducted among school children of a tribal district in India during 2017-2018. Two groups of schools/clusters were randomly selected, one with milk supplementation and the other without supplementation. A total of 318 children from the two groups of schools were recruited for biochemical analysis of certain micronutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iron (haemoglobin level), using cluster random sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20.0 software, and multiple logistic regression analysis was done to determine the predictors of serum calcium and vitamin B12 level among school children. RESULTS: Almost all children from both groups had vitamin D deficiency. A higher risk of lower serum vitamin B12 level (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.61 to 4.16) and calcium level (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.74 to 6.49) was observed in children of the control group. The difference in the proportion of anaemia in the two study groups was found to be statistically insignificant. Milk consumption was found to be the only significant predictor of normal vitamin B12 and calcium level in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was concluded that milk consumption may help in improving the calcium and vitamin B12 status of school children of a tribal state, whereas it does not have any significant effect on vitamin D level.
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BACKGROUND: This study intends to find the growth patterns of selected school children. Globally accepted statistical methods were used to evaluate the data and prepare a growth chart. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with school-going children from 16 selected schools of a tribal district in Jharkhand using multistage cluster random sampling. In each selected school, 60 students, 30 boys and 30 girls, were chosen randomly, totaling 960 children (full data was for 935 children only). Growth charts were created using Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) chart maker version 2.5 for height, weight and body mass index (BMI). In the charts, the LMS values with Z scores for each age and respective height and weight for boys and girls were recorded. RESULTS: The 468 boys and 467 girls were in the range of 6-14 years of age. Percentile values obtained for the measured heights in centimetres were evaluated and compared with Indian Academy of Pediatrics reference charts for boys and girls for the same age group, and our values were found to be on the lower side. We were able to plot a growth chart of the data set; as the tribal children's ethnicity is different, this growth chart might be used to assess nutritional status. CONCLUSION: We concluded that growth curves for height, weight, and BMI may be used for evaluating children of age 6-14 years in the tribal population. The measures can be a good indicator of their nourishment status and overall growth patterns, which might be indigenous to their ethnicity. A larger sample size of similar tribal populations may give a clearer picture.
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BACKGROUND: This study attempts to assess the differentials of cognitive development and nutrition of school children in tribal areas of Jharkhand, India. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 16 schools of Jharkhand amongst 962 children during the period of November to December 2017. Anthropometry, hemoglobin and IQ tests were assessed along-with their socio-demographic characteristics using standard procedures after obtaining their guardian's consent. Various tests of significance were used such as an independent sample t-test and Fisher's exact test along with multinomial logistic regression for determination of predictors for low-normal to borderline IQ among school children. RESULTS: Stunting and thinness were noted in 38% and 35% children, respectively, whereas anemia and low IQ were observed in more than 4/5th of the total children assessed. Anemia was more common in children >12 years of age and IQ was lower in tribal ethnic children (p < 0.05) amongst socio-demographic characteristics. Among the predictors, only tribal ethnicity appeared to be associated with low IQ [odds ratio (OR)-1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.25, 2.75]. CONCLUSION: Despite various nutrition-related programs being run in government schools, the malnutrition and hemoglobin status of the children presents a poor picture. Cognitive development of children particularly tribal children is unsatisfactory and needs to be worked upon by government agencies.
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Desarrollo Infantil , Cognición , Demografía , Estado Nutricional , Población Rural , Clase Social , Adolescente , Antropometría , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , India , Pruebas de Inteligencia , Masculino , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Depression is one of the under-recognized health problems in adolescents. Emotional instability resulted from childhood to adulthood transition makes adolescents vulnerable to depression. AIMS: The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of depression and its associated sociodemographic factors among school-going adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken from January 2016 to June 2016 in adolescents studying in 9-12th standard from forty schools located in an urban area of Patna, Bihar. The self-administered questionnaire of Beck's Depression Inventory II was utilized to assess the prevalence of depression. Statistical analysis was done with Pearson's Chi-square test using SPSS software version 21.0. RESULTS: Among the 1412 selected students, the prevalence of depression was found to be 49.2%, wherein the prevalence of severe depression was 7.7%. The overall prevalence of depression was significantly (P < 0.001) higher among girls (55.1%) than boys (45.8%). The prevalence of depression was found to be higher among students belonging to minorities (Buddhism, Jainism, etc.) (63.3%, P < 0.001). Elder students were found to be more depressed than younger students. Depression was found to be statistically significantly associated with gender and religion (P < 0.005). Guilty feeling (69.48%) was one of the most prominent clinical factors associated with depression followed by pessimism (58.14%), sadness (56.52%), and past failure (55.81%). CONCLUSIONS: Mental health is one of the most neglected aspects of our society. There is a need to increase awareness about depression among teachers and parents to identify and help depressed adolescents in the school.