Evaluation of physical and mental health status of orphan children living in orphanages in Sonitpur district of Assam: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Orphan children living in orphanages are often neglected. These children's physical and mental health status is essential as they are highly prone to malnourishment and psychosocial distress. We aim to evaluate the orphan children's physical and psychosocial status living in orphanages. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design conducted with the children living in the orphanages using a pretested, predesigned schedule. A total of 83 children (aged 5 to 19 years) living in three different orphanages in the Sonitpur District of Assam were randomly selected for the study. Body Mass Index (BMI) for age and height were then determined using WHO standards. Thinness was defined as BMI for age below -2 SD (Standard Deviation) and thinness as height for age below -2 SD. The behavioural and mental status of children aged 10-19 years were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-21) with a cut-off value of SDQ score > 15 as the presence of emotional and behavioural distress. RESULTS: Almost 50% of orphans were in the age group of 10-14 years, 62.7% were females, and 42.2% had a primary level of education. 52.5% of orphans exhibited severe thinness for < -3 SD. Observed severe thinness more among the 5-9 years and 10-14 years (p-value < 0.05) group and among the male orphans (p-value < 0.05). Of 65 children aged 10-19, 18.5% had behavioural and mental distress. Emotional (32.3%) and poor conduct problems (23%) were observed significantly among male adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Orphaned children, particularly those living in orphanages, are at risk of malnutrition and experience behavioural and psychosocial problems. Frequent assessments of their physical and mental health are advocated for early detection, prevention, and timely intervention.

Drug resistance profile in postbiliary and gastrointestinal surgical-site infection cases from a tertiary care hospital.

In the developing world, surgical-site infection (SSI)-associated pathogens are becoming more drug resistant implicating higher morbidity and management cost. Here, we tried to analyze the drug resistance pattern in our SSI-related isolates. Over 2 years, 191 clinically diagnosed SSIs (postbiliary tract and postgastrointestinal surgery) were included, and wound swabs were processed by conventional aerobic and anaerobic culture. Antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the Epsilometer testing. Multidrug-resistant phenotypes were detected as per guidelines. The rate of SSI was 5.3% with Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas, growing predominantly, and no anaerobe detectable. About 19.4% of Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and one-third of them had raised macrolide MIC. About 58.2% of Enterobacteriaceae isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Isolates with raised meropenem MIC were observed. Antibiotic-resistant level in SSI cases is alarmingly high, and in susceptible strains, MIC is approaching the resistant level. Urgent corrective action is an emergency necessity.