Probable sociobehavioural and environmental risk factors for dengue transmission in Puducherry, India - An exploratory study.

Context: Dengue is one of the most extensively spread mosquito borne disease. Puducherry has experienced outbreaks during the post monsoon season almost every year since 2003. Understanding the dynamics of disease transmission and the conducive factors favourable for its spread is necessary to plan early control measures to prevent outbreaks. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic details of the dengue recovered cases, their clinical features, management, probable sociobehavioural and environmental risk factors for acquiring infection that could favour disease spread. Methodology: An exploratory descriptive study was conducted among 23 individuals recovered from dengue during the outbreak in Puducherry in 2018. An interview guide was used to elicit details regarding the course of illness from its onset until recovery as well as the probable sociobehavioural and environmental risk factors from each participant. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequency, percentage, and mean scores. Results: All 23 were primary cases of dengue with fever and myalgia being the commonest presentation. Two of them developed dengue haemorrhagic fever, of which one completely recovered. Five were found to have dengue-chikungunya coinfection. Lack of awareness about dengue, noncompliance regarding proper solid waste management and environmental sanitation among the public was clearly evident. Conclusion: Local transmission was evident as most cases did not have any relevant travel history outside the State and from the prevailing mosquitogenic environmental conditions. Dengue being a preventable disease can be controlled only with the active participation of all stakeholders including primary care physicians and the community.

Stress, anxiety, and depression among call handlers employed in international call centers in the national capital region of Delhi.

BACKGROUND: Call handlers employed in call centers repeatedly undergo stress in their day-to-day lives and this can have deleterious effects on their health. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to study the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and their predictors among call handlers employed in international call centers in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 375 call handlers aged 18-39 years. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale- 42 (DASS-42) was used to measure stress, anxiety, and depression along with a pretested sociodemographic questionnaire. Univariate analysis was done to find out the association of stress, anxiety, and depression with various factors. Variables with P < 0.25 were included in multiple logistic regression and three models were developed each for stress, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among call handlers was 46.7%, 57.1%, and 62.9% respectively. Abnormal sleep quality, prolonged travel time, and lack of relaxation facilities at the office were predictors of stress and depression. The presence of physical ailments, the absence of hobbies, temporary/part-time employment, and traveling long-distance to office were significant predictors of anxiety among call handlers. CONCLUSION: Call handlers face a high burden of stress, anxiety, and depression. Public health specialists need to pay adequate attention to their health problems.