Effectiveness of structured Behavior Change Communication methods in control of mosquito-borne diseases: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Behavior Change Communication (BCC) is evidence-based, theoretically supported and utilizes all opportunities for communication. Evidence reports BCC as a relevant tool for averting and controlling many forms of public health challenges. Through schools, many countries have shown health improvements via students and the community's exposure to behavior change messages. The study was planned with an aim of evaluating the effectiveness of mosquito-borne disease control measures implementation through BCC to adolescent school students in a Cantonment area, in North India. Methods: The present study was undertaken as a quasi-experimental study from April 2019 to March 2020. Of the 334 students enrolled in the school as per eligibility criteria, 315 were available during the initial assessment, and 288 were available throughout the study. For the evaluation of effectiveness of the BCC at household level, 200 households (100 intervention and 100 control) were selected. Students' knowledge about mosquito-borne diseases was the primary outcome measure. The difference in proportions was tested using the chi-square test. The difference in proportions for paired samples was tested using Mc Nemar's test. Results: Proportion of students who gave correct responses significantly increased after intervention in post-test as compared to pre-test for most of the knowledge-related questions. The proportion of households with the availability of mosquito nets and self-reported use of mosquito nets was significantly high in intervention group as compared to control group post-intervention. Conclusion: BCC in the form of different intervention programs to adolescent school children was effective in improving the knowledge and attitude toward mosquito-borne diseases and also ensured less mosquito-genic environment in households.

An observational study to assess the possibility of patient participation in implementing pharmacovigilance in a busy tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Monitoring adverse drug reaction is the primary function of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). The national program at the inception allowed only physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to report adverse drug reactions but has recently permitted even the consumers or patients to report. The knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients toward such a program have not been studied, and hence, the present study was conducted to assess the same. METHODS: A questionnaire was prepared based on the review of literature and was filled up by the interviewer based on inputs from patients attending various outpatient departments and dispensary of a tertiary care center after obtaining informed consent. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out, and the results are expressed in terms of means and proportions for continuous and categorical data, respectively. RESULTS: Majority of the patients were male (58.3%) and were using smart phones (63.9%). Most of the participants (91.6%) felt reporting adverse drug reaction is important, but only 37.7% thought of reporting the same. A very low percentage of participants (10%) were aware about the PvPI and the helpline number. CONCLUSION: The Indian health consumer is highly unaware about the existence of the PvPI and various tools available to report adverse drug reactions. It is the need of the hour to create awareness of the same by using the positive attitude toward the program.

A prospective study to assess the medication adherence pattern among hypertensives and to evaluate the use of cellular phone text messaging as a tool to improve adherence to medications in a tertiary health-care center.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess improvement in adherence to medications using mobile phone text messaging (short message services [SMSs] and social media). OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the pattern of adherence to medication in hypertensives and to assess the improvement in adherence pattern to antihypertensive medications using mobile phone text messaging as a tool. METHODOLOGY: After obtaining informed consent, the study participants' blood pressure was recorded, and their adherence to medications was graded as high, medium, and low using the Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Then, messages in the form of either SMSs or WhatsApp were sent regularly (once every 3 days) reminding them of the importance of regular medicine intake. After 2 months of follow-up, again blood pressure was recorded and adherence graded. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Majority of study participants in who were initially placed in medium to low grading of adherence (65.2%) moved toward high adherence (88.4%) at follow-up after receiving messages for 2 months. A statistically significant decrease was noted in systolic (8.3 mmHg,P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (2.4 mmHg,P < 0.002) at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Nonadherence to medication is a global phenomenon to be tackled at the earliest. Our study clearly brings out the importance of improving adherence by regular reminders as messages. Hence, there is a wide scope to avail means to improve the adherence pattern and maximize the health benefits.

Visual impairment among 10-14-year school children in Puducherry: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: According to the 2010 estimates by the World Health Organization, nearly 285 million (4.24% of total population) people of all ages worldwide are visually impaired. Almost 18.9 million children under 15 years of age are visually impaired globally. In developing countries, 7%-31% of childhood blindness and visual impairment is avoidable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study among 1884 school students in Puducherry, in the age group of 10-14 years. A child with presenting maximum vision ≤6/12 Snellen equivalent in the better eye is considered visually impaired. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2013 and analyzed using the statistical software SPSS version 21.0. Chi-square test was applied for testing difference in proportion and a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of visual impairment (vision ≤6/12) among the study participants was 6.37% (95% confidence interval = 5.27-7.47). The prevalence of visual impairment increased with age and it was found to be high among male students (6.6%) when compared to female students (6%). Presenting vision of 6/6 was observed in 79.8% of the children while with pinhole correction, the proportion increased to 94.6%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of visual impairment in our study population was found to be 6.37% and the prevalence was even higher among children who belonged to schools of urban region or private schools. Children with a positive family history of spectacle use were more likely to have visual impairment.