Activity sampling of nurses of a sub-acute ward of a large hospital.

A study was conducted in a 43 bedded subacute family ward of a large hospital to find out the adequacy and efficiency of its nursing service. Activity analysis in respect of nurses was carried out by Activity Sampling Technique. The study revealed that out of 334 activities, observed, 78 (23.3%) were non-productive, whereas 256 (76.7%) were productive. Out of the productive activities, 148 (44.3%) were for direct patient care mainly comprising of 46 (31.1% for carrying out technical procedures, 36 (24.32%) for determining patients' needs, 20 (13.15%) for preparing patients for various procedures and 15 (10.14%) for assisting in technical procedures. Number wise the nurses were found to be adequate.

A study of medico social profile of under five children suffering from diarrhoeal diseases.

PIP: In India, 76 of 290 children (26.2%) under five admitted to the pediatric wards of Command Hospital Pune during April-October 1986 suffered from various diarrheal diseases. Boys were more likely to be afflicted with a diarrheal disease than girls (63.16% vs. 36.84%). Health workers made home visits after hospital discharge. Diarrheal illness was more frequent among the lower socioeconomic classes than the upper classes (65.81% for social class III and 22.37% for social class IV vs. 3.94-7.88 for social classes I-II; p 0.001). The incidence of diarrhea was inversely proportional to maternal literacy status (42.1% for illiteracy, 32.89% for primary school, 10.53% for middle school, 9.21% for secondary school, and 5.27% for higher education). A family size of no more than 4 was associated with a higher incidence of diarrhea than larger family sizes (72.36% vs. 25% for 5-6; 2.64% for 6; p 0.05). Yet, diarrhea was more common in overcrowded households than in non-crowded households (73.68% vs. 26.32%; p 0.05). The most common signs and symptoms in children with diarrheal diseases were dehydration (78.95%), fever (75%), and vomiting (73.68%). Children younger than 24 months who were exclusively breast fed made up a smaller proportion of diarrhea cases than their counterparts who were not exclusively breast fed (20.75% vs. 79.25%). Most diarrheal disease cases (67-92%) suffered from various grades of malnutrition. Laboratory personnel isolated pathogenic organisms from only 36.84% of cases. The most common pathogens were Ascaris lumbricoides (10.54% of all cases), Giardia lamblia (7.89%), and Campylobacter jejuni (5.26%). 50% of mothers did not know anything about oral rehydration therapy (ORT). Of the mothers who did know about it, only 26.32% were using ORT. These findings highlight the great need for health education on ORT for mothers.^ieng

Laboratory evaluation of some larvicidal agents against Anopheles culicifacies in Pune.

A laboratory study to evaluate some larvicidal agents against Anopheles culcifacies was carried out. The findings of this study brought out that the larvae of this species were highly susceptible to temephos, fenthion, Paris green and Mosquito Larvicidal Oil (MLO) in that order. The LC50 values in respect of these larvicides were 0.0009 ppm, 0.0081 ppm, 0.029 ppm and 0.015 ml respectively and LC90 values were 0.0018 ppm, 0.022 ppm, 0.11 ppm and 0.046 ml respectively.

A case control study of cancer cervix patients attending Command Hospital, Pune.

A case control study was undertaken with the objective to determine the association of certain host factors like marital status, age at first marriage, duration of married life, parity, literary status and genital hygiene, in the subsequent development of cancer cervix. A total number of ninety-two cases and an equal number of control subjects, under matched case control design, were studied at Command Hospital, Pune over a period of nine months. Salient findings of this epidemiological study have been highlighted in this communication. Few of the risk factors viz early age at first marriage, longer duration of married life, increased and early parity, low educational status and poor genital hygiene were found to have played significant role in the subsequent development of carcinoma cervix.

Utilisation of health services by "high risk" pregnant women in a semi urban community of Pune -- an analytical study.

PIP: The study aim was to estimate the prevalence of high-risk pregnant women during May and November 1986 in the New Modikhana area (semi-urban), Pune, India. The study also aimed to determine the extent of use of prenatal health services. Data was collected from 159 married, pregnant women reporting amenorrhea of over 12 weeks duration. The criteria for determining high-risk pregnant women was based on World Health Organization specifications. 44.65% (71 pregnant women) were identified as high-risk, of whom 73.24% (52) were using health services. 26.76% (19 women) were not using any health facilities. 31.81% had anemia, 28.12% had a birth interval of less than 2 years, 25% had a systemic disease, 25% were adolescents, and 20% were over 35 years old. Statistically significant differences by maternal age and use of health services was not confirmed, although use was higher among women under 20 years old. The highest use of services was among women with a secondary school education or higher (90.90%). No statistically significant differences in health service use appeared between illiterate women and women educated up to the middle standard. Increased education of the husband or socioeconomic status measures were not found to show statistically significant differences in health services utilization. Women in socioeconomic class I had 100% use, compared to 71.87% use by class II women, and 62.86% use by class III women. 83.87% of women in their third trimester (at 7 months and after) used health services, compared to 65% in the second trimester. 84.61% of the high-risk pregnant women used services at the local military hospital affiliated with the Armed Forces Medical College, which was 4 km away. Only 15.39% used services within 1 km at the Cantanment General Hospital. 63.15% (12) of non-use of facilities was motivated by ignorance of existing facilities.^ieng

Medico-social profile of male teenager STD patients attending a clinic in Pune.

A study of 250 male teenager STD cases was carried out to determine the association between certain medicosocial factors e.g. age, type of infection, educational status, source of infection, knowledge about mode of acquiring infection and prophylaxis etc. Salient findings of the study such as gonorrhoea being the commonest type of STD, curiosity being the main reason for first sexual exposure and prostitutes being the major source of infection have been highlighted in this communication.

PIP: Diagnosis and social characteristics of 250 male adolescents attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Pune, Maharashtra State, India in April-August 1985 are described. 75% of the teens were 18-19 years old. their diagnoses were gonorrhea 37.6% chancroid 36.0%, primary syphilis 11.2%, balano-prosthitis 4.8%, condyloma acuminata 3.6%, lymphogranuloma venereum 3.2%, herpes genitalis 2.8% and secondary syphilis 0.8%. 99.2% were single. 56% were employed and 31.2% were students. Of the types of families reported, most lived in nuclear, joint or 3-generation families. 18% were illiterate, the rest had completed either 6th or 9th standard or high school. 22.0% had incorrect knowledge, and 64.4% no knowledge about STDs. 80.8% were ignorant of prevention and 13.6 had inaccurate knowledge, reporting folk methods such as application urine after intercourse or avoiding intercourse with menstruating women or those that did not look clean. 69% reported that they contracted their infection from their 1st sexual contact, while 90% reported that they had done so during a subsequent contact. Most of their sexual contacts had been prostitutes, although some paid in meals or gifts rather than money. These young men also reported that they knew about sexual intercourse at the age of 14 (85%), and had their 1st experience between age 15 and 18 years old. Most stated that curiosity or peer pressure was the chief reason for their 1st sexual experience.

A study of morbidity pattern among prostitutes attending a municipal clinic in Pune.

The findings of the present study revealed that out of 200 prostitutes attending a clinic for various ailments, 81.50% were suffering from sexually transmitted diseases (STD) thus posing a potential risk of transmitting these diseases to their clients. Syphilis was found to be the commonest STD afflicting 36.80% of the respondents, the next common being the chancroid (31.28%); 5.52% of the respondents were found to be suffering from concomitant venereal infections. The other important communicable diseases with which some respondents were found to be afflicted, included--tinea infection (3 cases), scabies (2 cases), leprosy (2 cases), pulmonary tuberculosis (4 cases) and upper respiratory tract infection [3 cases). Thus, the prostitutes remain an undisputed potential source of infection not only of STDs but also several other communicable diseases. Therefore, their continuous surveillance, early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and subsequent follow-up should be meticulously carried out. On the other hand the public, particularly the sexually promiscuous individuals must be imparted vigorous health education to avoid exposure to this source.