Induction of a massacre: the conduct and legacy of Accused no 37.

On August 29, 2012, a court in Ahmedabad ruled in a case involving 61 individuals accused of the massacre of 96 Muslims in Naroda Patiya, Gujarat, on February 28, 2002. The massacres occurred a day after a terrible fire engulfed a train near Godhra, Gujarat, in which 59 karsevaks (volunteer workers for a religious cause) were burnt alive, and more than 100 injured. The karsevaks were returning from Ayodhya where they were participating in a campaign to build a temple dedicated to Ram on a site where a mosque had stood. Subsequently, Naroda Patiya was one of many towns in Gujarat affected by riots in which thousands of individuals, mainly Muslims, were murdered, raped, looted, and displaced, their homes ransacked, their livelihoods destroyed by activists of Hindu fundamentalist organisations. For over a decade, victims of these pogroms have sought justice for their murdered kin and for their own injuries, physical and psychological.

Experiences in Sport, Physical Activity, and Physical Education Among Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu Asian Adolescent Girls / 예방의학회지

Multicultural scholarship in sport and exercise psychology should help us understand and apply cultural competencies for all to be physically active. In the present study, two Asian countries, Japan and Singapore, were chosen. The participation rate for physical activities among adolescent girls tends to be lower than that of boys in both countries. Thus, the purpose of the project was to gain knowledge and understanding about sociocultural factors that may explain adolescent girls' perceptions and behaviors toward sport, physical activity, and physical education (PE). A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with focus groups was used to understand meanings of physical activity among Buddhist Japanese, and Hindu Indians and Christian Chinese from Singapore. Each focus group consisted of four or five girls and female researchers. Based on the analysis, we created four themes which were "cultural identities," "Asian girls and sport/physical activities," "PE experiences," "motivation for future involvement." The Buddhist Japanese, Hindu Indian, and Christian Chinese participants each reported unique physical activity experiences, and all the participants were aware of how Asian culture may affect being physically active. Experiences of PE classes were similar but perceptions of their PE attire were different for Christian Chinese and Hindu Indian adolescent girls. Based on the results, the importance of nurturing cultural competencies and ways to encourage girls to be physically active throughout life were discussed.

Study of Psychiatric Morbidity and Psychosexual Dysfunctions in Patients of Alcohol Dependence.

Introduction: Alcohol dependence is a major threat to public health throughout the world. Just as a virus, use of alcohol and alcohol trafficking knows no bounds or limitations. It spreads all over a country; from nation to nation, to the entire globe infecting every civilized society irrespective of caste, creed, culture and geographical location. Aims: To study the psychiatric morbidity and psychosexual dysfunctions among patients of alcohol dependence. Material and Methods : 50 alcohol dependence patients attending psychiatry OPD and admitted in Deaddiction ward under Department of Psychiatry, J.L.N. Hospital, AJMER, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria constituted the sample of study (study group). These alcohol dependence cases were compared with 50 matched controls preferably relatives or family members of alcohol dependence, who were not abusing any substance at present or in the past except tobacco (control group). Psychiatric morbidity and psychosexual dysfunctions were assessed by Eysenck’s Personality Inventory, Indian psychiatry interview schedule, and Brief sexual functioning questionnaire. Results and Conclusion: In conclusion our study highlights that most of studied groups were Hindu male between 31-35 years age and belong to urban area, mostly were married, primary educated, unemployed and belong to joint families, lower and lower middle class status. Most of patients suffered from depression and impotence due to alcohol dependence in comparison of normal healthy control.

Physio-psycho-social Dependence in Indoor Psychiatric Unit Patients.

Background: The patient dependence can be concretely assessed on the basis of the ability of the patient to care for himself/ herself with regard to various activities of day to day life. While the patient is sick & hospitalized this dependence is met by the professional support and assistance provided by health professionals, primarily nurses. Thus, the patient dependence as a quantitative measure can be considered as a base from which many aspects of care and progress can be investigated as well as other managerial decisions can be made. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the levels of dependence among patients admitted to the psychiatric unit of a tertiary hospital using a standardized scale. Methodology: A total of 50 subjects were studied for duration of one month while the dependence was quantitatively measured on three occasions, at time of admission and twice at an interval of 15 days each. Results: The results revealed that 70% of the subjects had high level of dependence. Also there were differences in dependence scores in different domains of dependence. The study also assessed the impact of demographic variables and other disease related variables on the level of dependence. Conclusion: Taking into account, the various dimensions of dependence in clients with mental health problems, the current study implicates the need to identify the ways to optimize the staff resources for best quality outcome meeting the established standards of care.

Prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among urban adult men in India: A comparison of slum dwellers vs non-slum dwellers.

Background: Tobacco use is reported to be rampant in urban slums in developing countries. Demographical variations in tobacco use between males living in urban slums vs those living in non-slum areas in India has not been reported, and this study was undertaken to address this issue. Materials and Methods: Secondary data analysis of National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) was undertaken to study demographical variations in tobacco use between urban slum dwellers and non-slum dwellers in eight Indian cities. Demographic determinants for use of smoking and chewing forms of tobacco in the two groups were analyzed. SPSS® version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Result: The study population comprised 6887 (41.8%) males from slum areas and 9588 (58.2%) from non-slum areas of eight urban cities. Cigarette/beedi smoking was the commonest form of tobacco use among the study population. Pan masala use was the least common form of smokeless tobacco use, next only to snuff. There was a high statistical significance observed within the various demographic parameter studied in both the slum and non-slum dwelling males in study population. However, on studying the differences between the two groups, it was observed that statistical significance of P≤.001 was observed with age (15-49), secondary education, religion, household structure and marital status. The difference between the two groups in the mean number of cigarettes/beedis smoked was not statistically significant (P=.598). Discussion and Conclusion: Male slum dwellers are a distinct urban population, whose health needs assessment requires a different approach than that for non-slum dwellers who often can afford the services that an urban Indian city can offer.

Original research paper trends of fatal poisoning in saurashtra region of gujarat (a prospective study).

Everyday around the world almost 700 people die from the poisoning and several thousands more are affected by poisoning. Poisoning occurs in all regions and countries and affects people in all age and income group. Major occupation in Saurashtra region of Gujarat is farming with majority of population living in rural areas where the cases of accidental and suicidal poisoning are common and incidences are increasing day by day due to the use of pesticides for a wider variety of purposes. A detailed knowledge about the nature and magnitude of the poisoning cases in this particular area is not only important for early diagnosis and prompt treatment but also it may help to form policies to curb the access of the population to certain very toxic substances. The present study was undertaken in the department of Forensic Medicine at Rajkot (Gujarat) to know the pattern of fatal poisoning. Total 208 cases of death due to fatal poisoning were selected for this prospective study, which were brought to us for postmortem examination during the span of one year (From January 2007 to December 2007). Our study revealed that most of the victims of fatal poisoning were Hindus, married males of middle socio-economic status who died due to self ingestion of some poison.

Geriatric Mental Health in a Tertiary Care Centre: Socio-Demographic and Clinical variables.

Background: Nearly 50% of the aged have some physical ailment and are in need of active health care. Geriatric psychiatry is a sub-specialty of psychiatry, which deals with psychopathology occurring in the elderly and the various aetiological factors which cause the mental disorders in old age. Method: This is a descriptive study with sampling in a tertiary centre where the diagnoses were made based on the tenth edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD- 10) and were evaluated for sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as general medical conditions. Results: Mean age of the patients was 69.81 years, male constituted 73.58% and female 26.42%, Hindu were 56.60% and Islam 43.40%. Mean duration of stay in psychiatry ward was 5.7 days. 77.36% of patients were discharged on advice, 15.09% were transferred to another department, 1.89% absconded, 1.89% referred to another hospital and 3.77% referred to another department. 9.62% patients had general medical conditions alone and 40.38% had psychiatric disorders alone while 50% had combined psychiatric disorders with general medical conditions. 42.31% patients had organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders; 3.85% had mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use; 26.92% had schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders; 28.85% had mood [affective] disorders; 5.77% patients had neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders. Conclusion: Within the limitations of nongeneralizability of findings, present study throws light in important areas of geriatric mental health including general medical conditions.

The NQO1 allelic frequency in hindu population of central India varies from that of other Asian populations.

CONTEXT: The enzymes encoded by the polymorphic genes NAD (P) H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) play an important role in the activation and inactivation of xenobiotics. This enzyme has been associated with xenobiotic related diseases, such as cancer, therapeutic failure and abnormal effects of drugs. AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of NQO Hinf I polymorphisms in a Hindu population of Central India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Polymorphisms of NQO1 were determined in 311 unrelated Hindu individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in peripheral blood DNA for NQO1 Hinf I polymorphism was used in 311 unrelated Hindu individuals. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Allele frequencies were calculated by direct counting. Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium was evaluated using a Chi-square goodness of fit test. RESULTS: The observed allelic frequency was 81% for C (wild) and 19% for T (mutant) in the total sample. CONCLUSIONS: The allelic frequency of “C” was higher than in other Asians (57%), but similar to Caucasians (81%). The genotype distributions for Hinf I polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Cómo enfrenta el hinduismo un dilema ético-clínico / How does Hinduism analyze an ethical clinical dilemma

It is indispensable for physicians to understand and recognize the fusion of different cultures, to deliver the best possible service to patients with different cultural backgrounds, especially when ethical-medical problems are involved. The Hindu community in Chile differs in significant ways with the western culture. This is especially true for some issues such as the belief in reincarnation or gender inequality, among others. These discrepancies can be relevant for the analysis of several bioethical problems. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the different beliefs, traditions and Hindu visions. We hereby present a review of Hinduism, its relation with medical practice and, as an example, a case of abortion in a Hindu family. Reviewing the traditions, beliefs and methods will help to understand and respect the beliefs of different cultures in contemporary and globalized bioethics.

Religion, spirituality, health and medicine: why should Indian physicians care?

Religion, spirituality, health and medicine have common roots in the conceptual framework of relationship amongst human beings, nature and God. Of late, there has been a surge in interest in understanding the interplay of religion, spirituality, health and medicine, both in popular and scientific literature. A number of published empirical studies suggest that religious involvement is associated with better outcomes in physical and mental health. Despite some methodological limitations, these studies do point towards a positive association between religious involvement and better health. When faced with disease, disability and death, many patients would like physicians to address their emotional and spiritual needs, as well. The renewed interest in the interaction of religion and spirituality with health and medicine has significant implications in the Indian context. Although religion is translated as dharma in major Indian languages, dharma and religion are etymologically different and dharma is closer to spirituality than religion as an organized institution. Religion and spirituality play important roles in the lives of millions of Indians and therefore, Indian physicians need to respectfully acknowledge religious issues and address the spiritual needs of their patients. Incorporating religion and spirituality into health and medicine may also go a long way in making the practice of medicine more holistic, ethical and compassionate. It may also offer new opportunities to learn more about Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine and have more enriched understanding and collaborative interaction between different systems of medicine. Indian physicians may also find religion and spirituality significant and fulfilling in their own lives.

Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking by south Asians in India and Britain

The current article reviews alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking amongst South Asian Indians in Britain. Inequalities due to income, health economics and social issues amongst different groups of Indians are explored. Articles from PubMed, Medline and WHO databases were sought. ICF criteria were applied for selection of articles: impact factors; rated by relevance; criteria for selection [appropriateness of methodology; adequacy of subject numbers; specificity of sex and/or age of subjects; and statistically significant response rates to survey questionnaires]; time frame of 1990-2007. Out of a total of 122 articles, 112 were accepted and 85 utilised. In 1999, the incidence of drinking more than 21 and 14 units of alcohol per week amongst Indians in Britain was 14% in men and 2% in women, respectively. This was considerably less that equivalent consumption in the general population of 30% and 18%, respectively. In 1999, the incidence of cigarette smoking and the use of tobacco products amongst Indians included 23% of men smoking cigarettes and 5% using tobacco products, and 6% of women smoking cigarettes and 2% tobacco products. The overall prevalence of tobacco use was 32% amongst men and 27% amongst women in the general population, respectively. Studies of populations of South Asian Indians from lower social groups with larger numbers of samples resident in Britain should help to confirm associations between health and alcohol and/or tobacco smoking. Research is required to identify the exact causal factors amongst South Asian Indians in particular Indians that result in the increase [mis]use of alcohol and tobacco smoking

District-level religious composition and adoption of sterilization in India.

This paper examined the influence of religion on the adoption of female sterilization, using data from the 1992/93 Indian National Family Health Survey. The influence of religion at both individual and district levels was examined, and a multi-level modelling methodology was used for assessing community variations in the influence of religion on the adoption of sterilization. Individual religion was a strong predictor of the decision to adopt sterilization, and residence in a district in which more than 20% of the people were Muslims significantly lowered the odds of adoption of sterilization. There was more variation in the adoption of sterilization between districts for Muslim women and women from minority religious groups. The results demonstrate the influence of community conservatism on the choice of contraceptive methods and point to the mediating effects that community characteristics can have on access to sterilization services for women from religious minority sub-groups.

Medico-historical study of "aśvattha" (sacred fig tree).

Aśvattha (Ficus religiosa Linn.) is a tree which has got mythological, religious and medicinal importance in Indian culture since ancient times. As per Vedic Index Aśvattha means horse stand, a place or site or an object where or under which horses stand. Aśvattha is also known as Pipal and Bodhidrma. This tree is the oldest depicted tree in India. In Vedic times it was used to make fire by friction and considered sacred. Atharvavĕda associates it with the third heaven. It discusses medicinal properties of Aśvattha along with Soma and Kuştha. Aśvattha is associated with the triad of Gods-Brahma, vişņu and siva. Reference to Aśvattha is found in Rămăyaņa, Mahăbhărata, Bhagavadgĭta, Buddhistic literature, Arthaśăstra, Purănăs, Upanişads etc. non-medical literature also. According to Ayurvĕda it has several synonyms. Most of them symbolize its sacredness. Aśvattha is useful in various ailments like consumption, vomiting, ulcers in oral cavity, burns, gynaecological problems etc. Thus its medico-historical importance, regional nomenclature, morphological features in brief etc. are being presented in this article with few illustrations.

Profile of fatal poisoning in and around Jamnagar.

The paper presents the study of 132 cases of poisoning received in the Dept of forensic Medicine M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar for post-mortem examination (PME) during the span of one year. Out of 826 PME done during the study period 132 (15.98 %) cases were that of poisoning. The cases were then analysed on various epidemiological parameters feeding the information in the proforma prepared for this purpose. We concluded that majority of victims were married, Hindu, males from rural area and low socio economic group. Majority of victims died within 1-6 hours of consumption of poison. Suicidal cases were for more commoner than accidental one. No case of homicidal poisoning was detected in present study. Chemical analysis of viscera was done in 115(87.12 %) cases (snake bite cases excluded). During the span of study we could get report of C.A. in 98 (85.21 %) cases. Insecticides still toped the list as killer no one, while snakebite was second most common fatal poisoning. This study differs from most of the contemporary studies in one important aspect that is we could get C. A. report in large no of cases. C.A. reports were positive in 90 per cent cases.