Impact of Educational Intervention in Reducing the Weight of School Bags in Selected School Children.

Background: To assess the effectiveness of educational intervention to reduce the weight of school bags. Material and Methods: The study design was one group pre- and posttest experimental Research design. Place and Duration of Study: Government Senior Secondary School Dhanas, Chandigarh, and Shri Guru Harkrishan Model Senior Secondary School Sector-38D, Chandigarh (A private school) between July and November 2018. Names of the schools can be avoided. Total 760 students from selected sections nursery to 10th class of school were enrolled in the study. At baseline and end line weight of children, school bags and its content were weighed using weighing scale. Length of bag strap, breath of bag, torso of children, and their shoulders size were measured by measuring tape. Bag carrying style, posture, etc., were observed by observation checklist. Interviewed children (5th to 10th class) were using Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire for musculoskeletal system assessment. Educational intervention was provided to the children for one month to reduce weight of school bag by teaching in assembly and displaying the charts in school. (Use of softbound thin textbooks, breaking thin books in 2-3 thin softbound books, use lightweight bag, pencil box, lunch box, and water bottles. Pack bag as per timetable.). Result: The result revealed that heavy school bags were carrying 69.7% children from government school and 80.2% from private school. Children carrying heavy bags reported musculoskeletal problems 5 times higher than their counterparts. After intervention, there was significant reduction in the weight of school bags (P < 0.001 as per paired t-test). Provide the weight of the bags before and after intervention in addition to the P value. Conclusion: Children carrying heavy bags were suffering from musculoskeletal problems. Intervention helped in reducing the weight of school bag.

Task shifting of cardiovascular disease risk assessment to Anganwadi Worker in Northern India.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Task shifting in various forms has been adopted extensively around the world in an effort to increase access to CVD risk assessment for early identification of high-risk individuals. Present study explored the feasibility of task shifting of CVD risk assessment by anganwadi workers (AWWs). Method: An operational study was carried out with the objective to develop the knowledge and skill of AWWs in CVD risk assessment. The study was carried out in the anganwadi centres of Northern India. A total of 40 AWWs were enrolled by using purposive sampling technique. They were trained in CVD risk assessment till they fully developed the skill. These trained AWW carried out CVD risk assessment among subjects aged ≥40 years. Cohen Kappa was used to determine the reliability of risk assessment by AWWs. Communication skills of AWWs were measured by using a standardized communication checklist. Result: Result revealed high interrater reliability of risk scores generated by AWWs and researcher (k = 0.91). Majority of the AWWs (87%) demonstrated good communication skills. Conclusion: Study concludes that AWWs can be trained in CVD risk assessment using WHO/ISH risk prediction charts. With proper training and supervision, the task of the CVD risk assessment can be shifted to AWWs.

Leveraging role of non-physician health workers in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in India: Enablers and challenges.

Due to upsurge of non-communicable disease (NCD) burden, there is accentuated emphasis on task sharing and shifting NCDs-related health care delivery to non-physician healthcare workers especially nursing personnel and grass root level health professionals. This narrative review summates role of non-physician health workers, highlights various enablers and challenges while engaging them in delivery of NCD services so as to prevent and control various NCDs in India. Pubmed, Google scholar databases were searched using various keywords and Mesh terminologies. In addition, reference lists of selected articles were also screened. It is concluded that with regular update of knowledge, training, and supervision, these workers can efficiently deliver promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative NCD-related healthcare services to needy. While engagement of this workforce in NCDs mitigation is a transforming concept, it also has its own challenges and issues which need to be explored and addressed in order to utilize this human resource to their maximum potential.

Workload and Performance of Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives at Selected Health Care Settings in North India

Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are the back bone of primary health care services in India. The horizontal integration of various national health programmes has increased their responsibility and workload. So a need was felt to conduct a study to assess the workload and performance of ANMs. The objective of the study was to explore the workload and performance of ANMs in selected health care settings in North India. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in two selected health care settings of North India. The study was conducted on all the 7 ANMs working in the selected health care settings. Data was collected by observing the activities of ANMs using time activity record sheet. The nursing care procedures performed were observed and scored by using performance check list. T-test was used to compare actual time against standard time for performing procedures. ANMs spent 2/3rd of their time in indirect care activities. Direct care and personal activities accounted for 19 % of their time. Their performance was rated as good. Majority of the time spent by ANMs was utilized in performing indirect care activities. This study recommends that more time is needed to be devoted to direct care by ANMs.​