Characteristics of musculoskeletal pain among employees of fish processing factory in Udupi City, Karnataka.

Fish processing employees are exposed to various occupational risk factors that result in musculoskeletal pain (MSP). The objective of the study was to determine the characteristics of MSP among them and its association with the nature of the job and work condition. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 364 employees of five fish processing factories using standard questionnaires. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test were performed using SPSS software version 15.0. The prevalence of MSP was 77.7% affecting more of the upper extremities (43.8%). Mild and moderate types of pain were more (37.6%) that resulted due to repeated work (30.2%) and work method (35.4%) that include extreme temperature and work posture. The mean numeric pain severity score was 3.02 ± 2.14. Global self-rated health was reported as predominantly good (57.7%). To conclude, the study revealed a higher prevalence of MSP and its various characteristics in detail which help in designing intervention programs.

Prevalence of Foot Complications in People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Community-Based Survey in Rural Udupi.

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of foot complications among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the rural part of Udupi district, Karnataka, India. A cross-sectional observational study design was conducted in the rural area of Udupi district. In the study, accredited social health activists were trained to screen people with type 2 diabetes mellitus for diabetic foot complications at a community level. Adults over 35 years of age were screened for the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus by accredited social health activists who reside in the rural part of Udupi district. Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study. Blood glucose level was measured using a glucometer. Foot examination was done by visual inspection, monofilament, tuning fork, and pedal pulse. In the present study, 2110 among the total participants were found to have type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of musculoskeletal foot complications was 1218 (58%), vascular problem 466 (22.2%), sensory neuropathy 634 (30.2%), autonomic neuropathy 1729 (81.9%), ulcer 134 (6.38%), and infection 561 (26.7%) among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the current study, we found 84.7% of people residing in rural Udupi had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, there is a strong need to create awareness about diabetic foot care in these people.