ABSTRACT
Background: India accounts for (4%) of all malaria cases worldwide. The World malaria report 2017 showed that, by 2016, global progress against malaria had stalled and was off track to meet the Global Technical Strategy milestones for 2020. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess knowledge of rural medical officers (RMO) and health workers on malaria epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment as per National Vector Borne Disease Control Program of India guidelines. Materials and methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was done among government health personnel’s using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: In the present study, 258 health personnel’s participated comprising multipurpose health workers female (MPHW-F), multipurpose health worker male (MPHW-M), and RMO. The standardized score on knowledge of vector biology and epidemiology was 72% and 54% for RMO and (MPHW-M), respectively. On malaria diagnosis, MPHW-M has got median score (53%) as compared to RMO (46%). On national malaria drug policy, there is a marginal difference between median score of RMO (42%) and MPHW-M (40%). Overall, there is incomplete and poor knowledge of treatment of malaria among all health personnel’s with lack of concept about presumptive treatment. Training showed some positive impact on the knowledge of MPHW-F but no impact on MPHW-M. Graduates and experienced workers have got better knowledge than undergraduates and MPHW-M have more knowledge than MPHW-F. There is poor knowledge of reporting formats, and usage of rapid diagnostic kits among all the health personnels. There was no significant impact of education qualification, in service training and work experience on the knowledge of Male health workers. Conclusion: Training needs to be suitably tailored as there is a lot of scope of improvement in the knowledge regarding malaria diagnosis and treatment among health workers.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Emergence of new Delta strain of Corona virus has created havoc with all health care systems across the globe, there has been tremendous pressure due to shortage of health care workers forcing government to involve MBBS interns to overcome the shortage of health staff in Covid care. Aims & Objectives: To assess magnitude of anxiety, stress and depression among MBBS interns working in Covid Isolation facility of Government Medical College, Patiala. Material and methods: The Google form was created and the link to the online questionnaire was circulated through whatsapp group to the MBBS Interns working in Covid isolation facility during June to July 2021. The form included two instruments the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) and the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety-4 (PHQ-4). Results: A total of 144 interns participated in the survey .Patient Health Questionnaires and Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4 ) scores of interns were 56% and 49% respectively. Anxiety and depression symptoms requiring further evaluation were seen in 19% of the Interns. Univariate analysis of PHQ-4 and PSS-4 shows statistically significant association with past history of psychiatric ailment .Conclusion: Careful monitoring of psychological and mental wellbeing of interns during the pandemic will go a long way in mitigating the worsening psychological wellbeing of budding doctors and interns.