Area Of Kerala Research Articles

Seasonality in groundwater recharge in Coastal Southwestern India and its hydrological implications based on stable isotopes (δ18O, δD)

This study observes and interprets the spatio-temporal variation in the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O, δD) of shallow groundwater in the Southwestern Coastal state of India, Kerala, in terms of seasonally varying rainfall, physiography, and hydrogeological settings of this region. This study identifies effective groundwater recharge sources and their relative contributions and provides first-order estimates of submarine groundwater discharge by interpreting the spatio-temporal variations in the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in groundwater, collected from 225 locations for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in conjunction with the isotopic composition of rainfall. Spatio-temporal variations in the δ18O and d-excess, with other hydrogeological data, reveals that: (1) ∼4.9 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of fresh water from rainfall during May to October mixes with ∼5.9 BCM of residual pre-monsoon groundwater across Kerala. (2) ∼ 11% area of Kerala is additionally recharged by the NE monsoon rainfall. (3) The annual groundwater recharge varies physiographically from ∼2.2 BCM in the lowland to ∼1.5 BCM in the midland and ∼1.2 BCM in highland regions. (4) On an annual basis, 41% of replenishable groundwater is drained as SGD into the Arabian Sea.

Evaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Spatial Cluster Development based on respective local-Urban/Rural area in Kerala, India

Evaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Spatial Cluster Development based on respective local-Urban/Rural area in Kerala, India

A Repertoire of Antibody after Complete Vaccination of Covishield Concerning Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus- 2- an Observational Study

Aim: To assess the repertoire of antibody after complete vaccination of covishield concerning SARS-CoV-2.
 Study Design: Observational Study.
 Place And Duration of Study: The study was conducted in community area in Kerala for a duration of six months from January 2022 to June 2022.
 Methodology: The study was conducted in community area using 30 samples. The participants who fulfill inclusion criteria were selected and samples were collected by convenience sampling from the community and analyzed by the DDRC (Doctor’s Diagnostic and Research Centre) by using Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The collected data was statistically interpreted using SPSS software version 26.0 and the development of antibody after complete dose of vaccination was analyzed.
 Results: In this study blood samples were collected from 30 subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Out of 30 subjects, 12 were females and 18 were males. The mean interval between the doses were 91.63. All the 30 samples produced antibodies greater than 250 U/ml. The study helps to provide qualitative evidence that the vaccine produces antibody response.
 Conclusion: Covid-19 vaccines are being available into public for human use after limited testing and trials. Many efforts are being directed towards development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The information made available from this study can be utilized to prove that covishield vaccine is effective for producing antibodies. Most of the people took vaccines since it was mandatory rather than concerning its benefits. By providing evidence of antibody development after complete vaccination can improve the public attitude towards the vaccination.

Dietary Practices among Adolescents in a Rural Area in Kerala

BACKGROUND
 The rapid physical growth and development in adolescence are associated with increased nutritional needs and this depends on the dietary pattern and eating habits of the adolescents. Adolescence is also a period of increased vulnerability to obesity which is not only linked to food intake but also due to a lack of physical activity in the growing years. Dietary habits that are established during adolescence are often sustained till adulthood. Hence the purpose of the study was to understand the prevalence of unhealthy dietary practices among adolescents that could enable schools to create a health-promoting culture by teaching healthy food choices and creating awareness of the ill effects of unhealthy dietary practices.
 METHODS
 A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire among adolescents in the age group 15 to 17 years in a panchayat in Kerala. The socio-demographic characteristics, the family details and dietary practices were recorded, height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated and ELIZ health pathway for adolescents (EPHA) was used for categorising the study participants. A diet score was also calculated to estimate the prevalence of unhealthy dietary practices among adolescents.
 RESULTS
 The prevalence of inadequate consumption of fruits was 60.9 % and inadequate consumption of vegetables was 36.9 %. Based on the dietary score, 36.7 % had poor dietary habits and 36.6 % had good dietary habits. A significant association was found between the type of school, occupation of mother, educational status of parents, type of family and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables.
 CONCLUSIONS
 An unhealthy lifestyle does not just appear in adulthood, it stems from practices children develop during their childhood and adolescence. Awareness regarding the risk factors of non-communicable diseases should be provided to children to enable primordial and primary prevention as powerful tools to prevent these diseases in future.

Tobacco Use and Its Determinants among School Going Adolescents

BACKGROUND
 Tobacco use is a serious public health problem worldwide and it is the largest preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases, also acting as a significant hurdle to development gains worldwide. Tobacco use among adolescents is increasing in epidemic proportions and this has profound public health implications. Although the single baseline measure of tobacco use in adolescence is unlikely to capture the lifetime risk of diseases, the prevalence of current tobacco use among adolescents is an important predictor of the future burden of tobacco-related diseases. Due to the enormous psychosocial and health effects of tobacco on childhood and adolescence, it is important to understand its burden and its associated socio-demographic factors for formulating effective tobacco control measures in adolescents. We wanted to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents and determine the factors associated with tobacco use among adolescents in higher secondary schools in Ambalappuzha Block, Kerala.
 METHODS
 A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in higher secondary schools in a block panchayat area in Kerala using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. The use of tobacco was explored using the global school-based student health survey questionnaire (GSHS) and the associated factors were analysed using the chi-square test.
 RESULTS
 The prevalence of tobacco use which was categorised as ever users of tobacco was 13 % and the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 15.9 % among the study participants. A significant association was found between age, year of study, smoking status of parents, feeling of inability to study, poor academic grades and lack of confidence to face exams and tobacco use.
 CONCLUSIONS
 Tobacco use is an important risk behaviour among adolescent students. Risk behaviours can be made less damaging if addressed early in life and schools play an important role in addressing this public health problem by promoting healthy behaviours and lifestyles in adolescents.

A new species and a new variety of Meliolaceae fungi from India

Two new foliicolous fungal taxa from Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Ponmudi forest areas of Kerala are described and illustrated. Meliola veebeehosagoudarii on Helicia excelsa is a new species while Asteridiella elaeocarpicola var. gadgilii on Elaeocarpus gadgili is described as a new variety. Both taxa are compared morphologically with similar taxa reported on members of Proteaceae and Elaeocarpaceae families, respectively.

A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Adverse Effect of Tobacco Use among Adolescent Boys in Selected Areas of Kerala

A descriptive research study was done to assess the knowledge regarding tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala, to find out the association between demographic variables and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys of selected areas of Kerala. In the present study non experimental research design was selected to assess the knowledge regarding tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala. A quantitative research approach was adopted. Convenient sample technique was used for this study. The sample consisted of 60 adolescents boys who were in the age group of 16-19 years. Structured questionnaire was given which consists of knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. The results revealed that only occupation of the guardian showed significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco calculated value is greater than tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance, whereas age, type of family, education of guardian, family income per month and source of information showed no significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco. Also study revealed that out of 60 sample 5% sample had poor knowledge on adverse effect of tobacco use, 48.3% had average knowledge and 46.7% had good knowledge regarding tobacco use.

Effectiveness of Financial Inclusion And Its Awareness Among Rural Women With Special Reference To Ponani Taluk, Kerala

The study has been undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of financial inclusion and it’s awareness among rural women in Kerala. The primary data were collected by distributing 253 questionnaire to respondents spread over different part of rural area in Kerala. The purpose of this research is done by applying various statistical tools like percentage analysis, mean etcThe result reveals that even though almost all rural women are aware about financial inclusive measure adopted by government only up to an extend and Lack of this proper awareness is the main problem for getting financial assistance from the government.

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge regarding Bacterial Infections among Mothers of under five in Selected Community Areas of Kerala

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding bacterial infections among mothers of under-five in selected community areas of Kerala. The objectives of the study were: a) to assess the knowledge regarding bacterial infections among mothers of under-five in selected community areas in Kerala b) to find out the association between knowledge regarding bacterial infections among mothers of under-five with selected demographic variables such as age of mother, type of family, area of residence, educational status, occupation, immunization of the child and source of information. A quantitative approach was used in the study. Purposive sampling technique was used. Sample consisted of 100 mothers of under-five residing in selected community areas of Kerala. The researcher collected the data using self- structured questionnaire regarding knowledge of bacterial infection. The tool was found to be reliable. The study result shows that 04% of sample had poor knowledge, 25% had average knowledge, 16% had good knowledge, 32 % had very good knowledge and 23% had excellent knowledge regarding bacterial infection among mothers of under-five in selected community areas of Kerala and there was significant association between age in years, type of family, area of residence, educational status at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings the investigators have drawn implication which were of vital concerns in the field of nursing practice, nursing administration and nursing education for future development.

A study on ectoparasites with special reference to chigger mites on rodents/shrews in scrub typhus endemic areas of Kerala, India

The main goal of this investigation was to record the ectoparasites living on rodents in scrub typhus endemic areas of Kerala state, India. Rodents captured alive using Sherman and wonder traps from four diverse habitations revealed, a total of 59 rodents/shrews constituted by 5 host species from families Muridae and Soricidae. In total, 1135 ectoparasites were collected on these rodents/shrews and were identified representing 23 species from 10 genera in 4 families Trombiculidae, Laelaptidae, Ixodidae and Pulicidae. Dominant insectivore species was Suncus murinus (57.6%). 42 (71.2%) rodents and shrews were found to be plagued with at least one of the 23 species of ectoparasite harvested. Mites belonging to the family Trombiculidae were the predominant ectoparasite species collected. Study revealed Tatera indica (35.5%) as the primary host harboring the chigger mites. Xenopsylla cheopis and Xenopsylla astia the flea species important vectors for the transmission of zoonotic diseases such as Leptotrombidium deliense, Schoengastiella ligula and Echinolaelaps echidninus were recorded. Twenty species of mites were reported for the first time in Kerala which add knowledge on the ectoparasites distribution.

Influencing factors among rural households on their awareness level about mosquito borne diseases-a descriptive cross-sectional study from endemic area in Kerala

Background: The global burden of vector borne diseases (VBDs) is 17% of all infectious diseases. Health systems in many tropical and subtropical countries are overwhelmed by outbreaks of dengue, malaria, chikungunya with highest burden among poorest populations. India carries 85% of the global malaria burden. WHO-Global vector control response identified behavioural change need and initiated education to improve public awareness. Malaria, filariasis, chikungunya, JE, dengue is currently endemic in rural Kerala. Main objective of this study was to assess the awareness level in general about the mosquito borne diseases (MBDs) among households from rural field practice areas and to find out its association between influencing factors.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted by household survey in 2019 in Perumatty panchayat of rural Kerala. Participants were interviewed separately. The mixed pattern questionnaire consisted of dichotomized and multiple answer questions with scoring and interpretations to assess the awareness level in general. The final outcome was categorized as good, partial and poor awareness and analysed for frequencies and associations.Results: More participants were in 31-45 years age group (39.5%) with mean age 43.5±13.6. Only 7% good, 70% partial and 20% poor awareness levels were found. 32.9% participants had completed secondary school. 43.9% belong to middle class family. 75% participants were aware on ‘mosquito bite’ as mode of transmission. 14.3% aware on all major symptoms. Education, family history, SEC and Knowledge source had significant influence between awareness categories.Conclusions: Low awareness level on MBDs among the rural population needs proper health education interventions.

Towards the Development of an Intervention to Address Social Determinants of Non-Communicable Disease in Kerala, India: A Mixed Methods Study.

In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD), with hypertension as its foremost risk factor, has the highest prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and a rising mortality. Previous research has found a clustering of behavioural and social risks pertaining to NCDs, though the latter are infrequently addressed in public health interventions in India. This paper reaches toward the development of a social intervention to address social determinants of NCD relating to hypertension and diabetes. We used Theory of Change (ToC) as a theoretical approach to programme design. Mixed methods were used, including qualitative interviews with community members (n = 20), Accredited Social Health Activists (n = 6) and health professionals (n = 8), and a stakeholder workshop (n = 5 participants). The recruitment of participants from one local area in Kerala enabled us to map service provision and gain a holistic understanding of how to utilise the existing workforce to target social risk factors. The findings suggest that social interventions need to focus on ensuring health behaviour information reaches all parts of the community, and that those with more social risk factors are identified and supported to engage with treatment. Further research is required to test the resulting intervention model.

DIVERSITY OF THE GENUS CHROOCOCCUS NAGELI (CHROOCOCCACEAE, CYANOBACTERIA) FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHAT REGIONS OF KERALA, INDIA

Cyanobacteria are one of the ecologically and economically relevant microorganisms that perform both photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Among them, unicellular species such as Chroococcus have immense applications in biotechnological as well as agricultural fields. Due to the cellular simplicity, Chroococcus was easy to isolate, cultivate and multiply. They are good fixators of atmospheric nitrogen, and also performs oxygen production. Kerala forests are one of the least explored area with respect to cyanobacteria. This study aims at collecting divers Chroococcus species from selected forest areas of Kerala. While the investigation, a total of eleven Chroococcus species found from selected forest areas.

Biodiversity of butterflies in endosulfan-affected areas of Kerala, India

BackgroundButterflies are considered as bio-indicators of a healthy and diversified ecosystem. Endosulfan was sprayed indiscriminately in large plantations of Kasaragod district, Kerala which had caused serious threats to the ecosystem. In this study, we surveyed the butterflies for their abundance and diversity in three differentially endosulfan-affected areas viz., Enmakaje—highly affected area, Periye—moderately affected area, Padanakkad—unaffected area, carried out between the end of the monsoon season and the start of the winter season, lasting approximately 100 days. Seven variables viz., butterfly abundance (N), species richness (S), Simpson’s reciprocal index (D), the Shannon–Wiener index (H′), the exponential of the Shannon–Wiener index (expH′), Pielou’s evenness (J) and species evenness (D/S), related to species diversity were estimated, followed by the one-way ANOVA (F = 25.01, p < 0.001) and the Kruskal-Wallis test (H = 22.59, p < 0.001).ResultsA population of three different butterfly assemblages comprised of 2300 butterflies which represented 61 species were encountered. Our results showed that Enmakaje displayed significantly lower butterfly diversity and abundance, compared to the other two communities.ConclusionSo far, this is the first study concerning the effect of endosulfan on the biodiversity of butterfly in the affected areas of Kasaragod, Kerala, India. This study may present an indirect assessment of the persisting effects of endosulfan in the affected areas, suggesting its long-term effects on the ecosystem.

An account of snake specimens in St. Joseph’s College Museum Kozhikode, India, with data on species diversity

This paper presents details of the snake collection in the museum of the Zoology Department, St Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Kozhikode and provides data to assess the diversity and abundance of snake fauna in the Kozhikode area of Kerala. Twenty-four species of snakes in five families are vouchered for Kozhikode region. The number of individuals catalogued in St. Josephs College collection serves as an approximate indicator of the species composition of snake fauna of the area and offers a proxy to the measure of snake abundance at Kozhikode. The most abundant well collected species in the collection was the Common Cobra, Naja naja.&#x0D;

Prevalence of alcohol use and the interventions needed among adults: A community study in a rural area in South India.

Background:The health issues and social problems associated with alcohol use are well known. This study seeks to identify the prevalence of alcohol consumption and dependence among alcohol users in a rural area of Trivandrum district.Objectives:To assess the prevalence of alcohol use among adults of Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Trivandrum, Kerala, to find out the interventions required among the alcohol users, and to identify persons with harmful and hazardous use of alcohol using AUDIT.Settings and Design:Cross-sectional study in Nellanad Panchayat, Trivandrum district, Kerala.Methods and Materials:A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1545 residents in Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Kerala, by interviewing adults with the help of a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS.Results:The overall prevalence of current alcohol use was 146 (9.5%). The prevalence among males was 143 (18.3%) and females was 3 (0.4%). ASSIST scores showed that 99 (50%) of ever users required health education, 74 (37.8%) required counseling, whereas 23 (11.7%) required de-addiction.Conclusions:Among males, the alcohol consumption is still as high as 18.3%. The most important factor affecting alcohol use is peer pressure. Health education is the most required intervention to reduce burden of alcohol use.

Flood 2018 and the status of reservoir-induced seismicity in Kerala, India

Floods in India, which were once mostly confined to southern part of the Himalayan region, have now started spreading over to many regions of India, including the urban conglomerations and the desert tracts of Rajasthan too. The flood that occurred in Kerala during August 2018 is one such major disaster that caused huge damages to man, infrastructure and properties, estimated to the worth of 200 billion USD. Besides, they are expected to cause a chain of other hazards, and one among these is reservoir-induced seismicity (RIS). The RIS occurs in deep reservoirs with high water column. While the water column increases the total stress on the earth crust, the infiltration causes pore pressure increase which in turn decreases the effective strength of the earth crust. Such changes in the stress regime cause RIS (earthquake). The rocks of the Western Ghat Mountains of Kerala are highly deformed with folds and faults of Archean/Precambrian tectonics and have undergone morphological modifications during Pleistocene tectonics. The region is also seismically active. Further, the Western Ghats cover vast area in Kerala; almost all the dams and reservoirs are located in the highly folded, fractured, faulted and along the deep valleys of the Western Ghats. In the context of recent August 2018 flood disaster, the probability of RIS has increased. So, GIS analysis was carried out using various geosystems, seismicity, distribution of dams, zones of heavy rainfall 2018 and the flood inundation, which indicates that 50% of the reservoirs are highly prone to RIS. The RIS would have occurred during August 2018 flood itself, but for the release of water from the overflowing reservoirs. However, owing to the proneness of the region to RIS, optimal water management is necessary for the dams and reservoirs of Kerala.

Prevalence of Voice Disorders in School Teachers in a District in South India

Many professions tend to carry inherent risks for the practitioners. In such cases, it becomes mandatory for them to be aware of the risks and counselled about the preventive measures. The inevitable first step, however, is to ascertain the burden of risk. In the case of school teachers, it is known that they are prone to voice disorders of varying hues, at some point of their career. There should be an attempt to find the prevalence in the community. Presently, there is no such data documented from Kerala, a highly literate State in southern India. The primary objective of this study was to document the prevalence of subjective dysphonia among the school teacher community. The secondary objective was to compare the prevalence and severity of dysphonia between primary and secondary school teachers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 28 schools, using a screening questionnaire, based on similar ones used in other studies. All the schools were in the city of Kochi, the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. Teachers reporting a current voice complaint at the time of study were administered the validated vernacular version of the voice handicap index questionnaire (VHI 30). The completed questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. The screening questionnaire was administered to 702 teachers; 165 were Primary school teachers (Class I-V), 242 Secondary (Class VI-XII), while 279 teachers had to take classes in both sections. The reported prevalence was 45.4% for present difficulty related to their voice, 52.8% for some voice problem in the last 1 year, and 70.1% for problems experienced during the duration of their teaching career. Possible risk factors like age, total years of teaching, hours of daily teaching and number of students taught did not show any significant association with voice problem. Nearly, half of all the screened school teachers reported a current voice problem, increasing to nearly three-fourths for symptoms during entire career. This is clearly a significant burden which must be addressed at various levels. The secondary school teachers seem to bear a bigger burden in this study.

Instrument for measuring service quality and dimensions of service quality affecting image, value and trust in medical tourism area

This paper focuses on developing a measuring instrument for determining service quality in the medical tourism area of Kerala. The measuring instrument MEDIPERF is developed based on SEVPERF method and data are collected from 411 international patients. Reliability and validity of the developed instrument are verified. This research considers a new dimension, role of information and communication technology for measuring service quality. Using regression analysis, it is inferred that the dimensions such as personnel quality, process of clinical care, hygiene and administrative procedures have significant influences in deciding the image of the hospital. It is also found that the dimensions such as personnel quality, process of clinical care, role of information and communication technology, hygiene and safety indicators have significant influences in deciding the value of service. The study also reveals that the dimensions affecting trust with the hospital are personnel quality, process of clinical care, hygiene and administrative procedures.

Should pregnant women be excluded from a community-based lifestyle intervention trial? A case study

Kerala, the southernmost Indian state, is known as the diabetes capital of the country. A community-based lifestyle modification program was implemented in the rural areas of Kerala, India, to assess effectiveness in reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among individuals at high risk. High-risk individuals for T2DM were identified through home screening and enrolled into the program after an oral glucose tolerance test to rule out T2DM. Pregnant women were excluded from participation in the trial without justification. An analysis is offered to show that exclusion in this case compromised the ethical requirements of fairness and favorable risk-benefit ratio: specifically, pregnant women were deprived of the benefits of screening for high-risk status and subsequent potential involvement in the lifestyle modification intervention, an effective preventive strategy. Exclusion of pregnant women from translational and implementation research with known benefits over risk violates several ethical principles and further limits the exploration and advancement of research for future disease prevention in the population at large. Clearer guidelines on minimal risk and benefit need to be established in order to facilitate research that is beneficial to pregnant women and the developing fetus.