Today I received some abstracts from my students. I am psoting them here. There are studies on Tuberculosis patient defaulting, Breast feeding practices, prevalence of hypertension
1.

Magnitude, Profile & Pattern of Category II patients & Risk Factors associated with Non-Adherence to DOT in RNTCP centres, Eranakulam district

Name of Authors: Johns Shaji Mathew
Salman Mohamed Kutty, C

Institution: MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery

Background: Tuberculosis (Tb) continues to remain one of the most pressing health problems in India. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), which adopted WHO’s Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) regime was introduced in 1997 for combating Tb after the failure of National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP,1962). Not much published data is available on retreatment patients under RNTCP, causes for their being retreated and their treatment outcome. In this project we would like to shed some light on these issues.

Objectives: To assess magnitude, pattern and profile & risk factors associated with Non-Adherence to DOT among Category II patients re-registered at randomly selected RNTCP centres, Eranakulam District.

Materials & Methods :
A cross sectional study was done among subjects (retreatment patients) from 6 RNTCP centres in Eranakulam District during the last quarter of 2007. Subjects were interviewed with the help of a structured questionnaire on past history of Tb and other socioeconomic parameters.

Results: These results are simple proportions.
Magnitude of CAT II patients-21.38%.
Patients were found to be belonging to higher age group (>50)
with 100% Male predominance. Large proportion of the subjects were found to be using Alcohol and Tobacco.
Defaulters-50%, Relapse-21.42%, Failure-28.57%
Most important risk factors for Non-Adherence to DOT (Defaulters) were- Male Gender (100%), Alcohol(71.42% ) & Smoking(57.14%).

Conclusion:
We found that males, alcoholics & smoking were predictive factors of default with DOT. Devoting attention to those with predictive risk behaviors from the initiation of the treatment with close supervision and counseling would minimize incidence of defaulters and hence speedy achievement RNTCP goals.

2.

Title Of The Study:
Awareness and Practice of Breast Feeding among Nursing Mothers in M.O.S.C Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery, Ernakulam District.

Name of Authors: David Vincent,
Lakshmi Priya Menon.

Institution: MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery.

Background: Baby friendly hospital initiative was introduced for betterment of both mother and child. Though Kerala has been declared as a baby friendly state, it was of concern whether the principles of baby friendly hospital initiative were being practiced satisfactorily. Stressing on the various aspects of breast feeding, this project tries to assess the present awareness and practice of breastfeeding among nursing mothers in MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery.
Objectives: Assess awareness and practice of breast feeding among study subjects.

Materials & Methods :
A cross sectional study was conducted at postnatal & pediatric wards of MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery from October to November 2007. A total of 300 nursing mothers of children between the age group of 0-6 months were consecutively identified .The subjects were interviewed and data was collected using structured, pretested peer reviewed questionnaire.

Results:
43 % were aware that 4-6 months is period of exclusive breast feeding . 54.82% were aware that breast feeding should be continued for upto 2 years. 89.63% claim awareness about ideal breast feeding practices. 78 % normal deliveries initiated breast feeding within ½ hour. 51.23% caesarean sections initiated breast feeding within 4 hours. 90% gave colostrum. 80% practiced demand feeding. 100% employed correct positioning while feeding. 98.5% practiced burping after breast feeding.

Conclusion:
Majority of people have good awareness about healthy breast feeding practice. Area which requires improvement are duration of exclusive breast feeding and required period of breast feeding for children.

3.

Prevalence of hypertension among rural population above the age of 30 years.

Name of Authors: Vivek Krishnan.
Indu R.

Institution: MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery.

Background: Hypertension is an emerging epidemic with high mortality .It has several modifiable risk factors including obesity, dietary factors, alcoholism, smoking, sedentary lifestyle. Community surveys have documented 10 times increase in the prevalence of hypertension in rural population. We designed this project to find out the prevalence of hypertension and also the socio demographic factors & behavioral aspects of community people and relate it with risk for hypertension.

Objectives:
1. To find out the prevalence of hypertension among rural population above the age of 30 years.
2. To find out the risk factors.
3. To find out the socio-demographic factors associated with hypertension.

Materials & Methods :
A cross sectional study was done at Aikkarnad panchayat, Vadavukode block during October –November 2007. The total number of study subjects were 180. Among which 74, who were hypertensive were interviewed for prevalence of risk factors using a structured, pre-tested and peer reviewed questionnaire.

Results:
Prevalence of hypertension 41.1%. It was found that increase in number of
hypertensives with increasing age, 2.7% in age group 30-39, 6.7% in 40-49, 33.7% in 50-59, 25% in 60-69, 37.8% in 70- 79 & 9.4% in above 80 age groups .
Major risk factors were male preponderance (55.4%), lack of exercise (83.7%), smoking (37.8%), consumption of alcohol (27 %.), lack of salt restriction(62 %).

Conclusion:
A high prevalence of hypertensives are encountered(41.1%). Smoking, alcoholism, lack or only mild exercises, no salt restriction were highly prevalent among these hypertensives & should be controlled at the initial phase of treatment to reduce mortality & morbidity caused by hypertension.