Morbidity profile of the patients attending Mobile Medical Unit camps in Telangana – a record-based study

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) were one of the major initiatives under the National Rural Health Mission. These MMUs help in reaching the unreached. It helps people in remote, underserved areas to access healthcare at affordable prices at their doorstep. Objectives: In this study, we aim to assess the morbidity profile of the patients attending Mobile Medical Unit camps in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district between April 2022 to December 2022. Methodology: This is a record-based study. MMU is run by department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Bibinagar in six selected villages of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district. (Fig.1). A register is maintained for recording the details of patients visitingthe MMU camp. Patient’s name, age, gender, place, mobile number, height, weight, blood pressure (BP), glucometer based Random Blood Sugar (GRBS), diagnosis, and details of medication dispensed were entered in the register. Diabetes was diagnosed using the WHO criteria , hypertension using the Eighth Joint National Committee guidelines , obesity using the WHO Asia Pacific guidelines. Mobile Medical Unit camp data is entered into excel database at the end of every month. As it is a record-based analysis, we used data between April 7th 2022 to December 31st, 2022 for analysis. Results: A total of 1494 patients were treated in the MMU camps during this period. Among them 89.4% were adults & 10.6 % were children (less than 18 years). Among 1336 adult patients, majority of the study participants suffered from osteoarthritis followed by non-communicable diseases. The mean systolic BP of the adult population was 131 (±21) mmHg and diastolic BP of the population was 77 (±13) mm Hg. The mean random blood glucose levelof the adult Population was 150 (±74) mg/dl. A total of 158 children were less than 18 years, out of which 78 participants were males and 80 participants were females. Majority suffered from upper respiratory tract infections among males (23.1%) and females (25%) respectively. Conclusion: The study further suggests that NCD epidemic is spreading to rural areas where necessary health infrastructure is insufficient. MMUs can bring a significant change in the public health system, which needs to re-orient its priorities.