Children In Kashmir Research Articles

Burden of Goitre and Urinary Iodine Status among Primary School Children in Kashmir, India-Evidence from a Population-Based Iodine Deficiency Disorder Survey.

Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable brain damage, with 30% of the world's population suffering from iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). The objectives of the study are to estimate the prevalence of goitre among schoolchildren in the age group of 6-12 years, to find out the proportion of households with adequately iodised salt, and to assess the dietary iodine intake by measuring urinary iodine levels in the urine samples of school-going children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four pre-selected districts of the Kashmir division of Jammu and Kashmir in school-going children aged 6 to 12 years. Multi-stage 30 cluster sampling was used to select the study sample. For the selection of 30 clusters in each district, probability proportional to size (PPS) was employed. From each cluster, 90 children were selected. From a sub-sample of children in each district, 540 salt samples and 270 urine samples were also collected. A total of 10,800 children aged 6-12 years were examined. Grade I goitre was present in 1382 (12.8%) and 116 (1.07%) which were having Grade II goitre. The weighted prevalence of goitre for four districts was 12.6%, lowest for district Ganderbal and highest for district Shopian. Half of the population in all the districts consumed salt with iodine levels of <15 ppm. Urinary iodine levels <99.9 mg/L were present in 15.7% indicating mild to moderate iodine deficiency. Though the present survey showed some decline in the total goitre rate (TGR) from a prevalence of 14.8% in 2017 to 12.6% in 2022, it continues to be a public health problem of mild to moderate intensity in Kashmir. The salt consumed at the household level was inadequately iodised. Hence, efforts in IDD elimination activities need to be scaled up further with emphasis on iodised salt quality control and intensive education at the community level.

Understanding the experiences of children of incarcerated parents and their coping strategies

The children of incarcerated parents remain a highly vulnerable and underrated population in academic discourses, and very little is known about the impact of parental incarceration from the perspective of the children in Kashmir. The passing glimpse into children’s experiences comes from some previous studies that have researched conflict-linked incarceration and its impact on family members, including children. To fill this gap in research, the current article was designed to explore and document the lived experiences of children of incarcerated parents imprisoned for purely nonpolitical offenses or offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Data was collected by interviewing the children of 17 prisoners. The analysis of the data led to the emergence of the following key themes: denial vs shame, ambiguous loss, impoverishment of the prisoner’s family, experiencing stigma, living in constant fear of reprisal from the victim’s family, and coping mechanisms used by the children to overcome the challenges developed due to their parental incarceration.

Non-nutritional causes of severe anemia in Kashmiri children

Background: Anemia is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children. The etiology of anemia is multifactorial including nutritional anemia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, storage disorders, hematological malignancies, anemia secondary to some chronic diseases. Methods: The study is an observational study. Physical signs of severe anemia were looked in patients attending outpatient department or admitted in hospital. Children with hemoglobin levels &lt;7 g/dl and in the age group 6 months to 6 years were recruited in study. The aim is to look for non-nutritional etiology of severe anemia in children in Kashmir. Results: Out of 192 children, 97 (50.52%) females and 95 (49.48%) males, with a male, female ratio of around 1:1. A total of 147 (76.56%) children in our study were having nutritional and 45 (23.44%) were having non nutritional causes. Among non-nutritional anemia 30 cases were hemolytic anemia, 11 hypoplastic anemia, 3 leukemia and 1 patient were diagnosed as Osteopetrosis. Conclusions: Though nutritional deficiency anemias are predominant; it may not always be the case. Hemolytic anemia and leukemias should be ruled out while evaluating a patient of severe anemia and pancytopenia. Bone marrow failure syndrome, storage disorders should be ruled out in patients with skeletal anomalies.

Teachers' perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and virtual teaching on the physical and mental health of children in Kashmir: A qualitative study.

Children inherently want to remain engrossed in the activities as easily as possible within their ecological environment and academic curricular ambit. Covid-19 adversely affected our physical, social, and mental conditions and children were no exception. To understand the experiences of teachers who have been doing virtual teaching to children during COVID-19; To understand the impact of virtual teaching and COVID-19 on physical and mental health of children. The qualitative study was conducted in the Kashmir valley and school teachers teaching students from class Ist to class 8th were involved in the study. Participants were selected purposefully based on the inclusion criteria. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen (16) school teachers, using a preformed interview guide. Data analysis was performed using the thematic analysis method. Data analysis yielded four overarching themes and twelve subthemes viz:- 1) Attitudes towards online sessions among teachers (2) factors affecting the physical and mental health of children (3) Effectiveness of online classes for individual lines of children's mental development (4) External and internal factors impacting child development and pedagogy. The study result explicitly showed mental and physical health of children got considerably affected by online teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. Online teaching especially to children is less yielding in terms of effective academic consequences. Nevertheless, blending online teaching with pedagogy can enhance certain multidimensional capabilities of the children.

Enhancing respiratory disease diagnosis by bronchoalveolar lavage in Kashmir: an audit of findings

ObjectiveTo study bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings in various respiratory diseases in children in Kashmir India.DesignProspective observational study.SettingPaediatric department of the tertiary care hospital.PatientsChildren of both genders from 1 month to...

Acute Oral Poisoning in Children in Kashmir

Acute Oral Poisoning in Children in Kashmir

Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth: Spirituality and Self-compassion as Mediators Among Parents Who Lost Their Young Children in a Protracted Conflict.

The purpose of the present study was to expand the knowledge on trauma and post-traumatic growth (PTG) by exploring this relationship in parents who lost their children in Kashmir (India). The main aim of the present study was to examine whether spirituality and self-compassion mediate the relationship between trauma and PTG. Data were collected from 80 parents in the age range of 35-80years (Mean Age = 52.09). Traumatic Grief scale Prigerson et al. (in Am J Psychiatry 154:616-623, 1997), Daily Spirituality Scale (Underwood and Teresi, Ann Behav Med 24(1):22-33, 2002), Self-Compassion Scale (Raes et al., Clin Psychol Psychoth 18:250-255, 2011), and PTG Inventory (Tedeschi and Calhoun, J Trauma Stress 9(3):455-471, 1996) scales were used to measure trauma, spirituality, self-compassion, and PTG, respectively. Results of the study indicated the presence of average amount of spirituality and high amount of trauma among the participants. High level of self-compassion and post-traumatic growth was also found among the participants. The results showed that there is no significant direct relationship between trauma and PTG; however, both the indirect paths (trauma, spirituality, and PTG as well as trauma, self-compassion, and PTG) were found to be significant. The results of the present study supported serial mediation model of Trauma and PTG through spirituality and self-compassion. It implies that trauma would lead to spirituality which in turn would lead to self-compassion and which would finally result in PTG. The result provided another lens to see the relationship between trauma and PTG.

Peer group support intervention in dealing with internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems of orphan children in Kashmir

Peer group support intervention in dealing with internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems of orphan children in Kashmir

Refractive Errors in School going Children in Kashmir

Refractive Errors in School going Children in Kashmir

Prevalence of Seizure Disorder in School Children in Kashmir

Prevalence of Seizure Disorder in School Children in Kashmir

Prevelance of Scabies Among Rural Children in Kashmir

Prevelance of Scabies Among Rural Children in Kashmir

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in school going children in Kashmir

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic paediatric disorder affecting about 40% of children affected. Allergic rhinitis results in day time fatigue, impairment of cognition and memory which significantly affect the learning process and impact on the school performance of children. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in school going children in Kashmir.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; Cross sectional questionnaire based observational study. Study group included the school going children chosen randomly from various schools of urban and rural areas of Kashmir valley aged 6-18 years. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; Out of the 402 children prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 28.85%. Prevalance in urban and rural area school going children was 55.2% and 44.8% respectively. The most common symptom was nasal obstruction 79.31%. The most common allergen was dust mite 77.58% and the most common comorbidity was asthma.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; The prevalence of allergic rhinitis shows a significant rise in last few years, more common in rural areas, and existing as co-morbidity in a significant proportion of children demanding a comprehensive strategic approach to deal with them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

Prevelance of Scabies among School Going Children in Kashmir

Prevelance of Scabies among School Going Children in Kashmir

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children of Kashmir and role of nurse

In Kashmir perpetual turmoil has taken a heavy toll on the people living over here, by destabilizing their physical, social, mental and spiritual health. The impact of this unrest has affected lives of all, irrespective of gender, age, occupation and religion. This paper is written with an objective of, giving description of present mental health scenario and associated behaviour of people of Kashmir especially children.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children of Kashmir and Role of Nurse

In Kashmir perpetual turmoil has taken a heavy toll on the people living over here, by destabilizing their physical, social, mental and spiritual health. The impact of this unrest has affected lives of all, irrespective of gender, age, occupation and religion. This paper is written with an objective of, giving description of present mental health scenario and associated behaviour of people of Kashmir especially children.

Prevalence of Traumatic Dental Injuries to Anterior Teeth of 12-Year-Old School Children in Kashmir, India.

BackgroundTraumatic dental injuries to anterior teeth are a significant public health problem, not only because their prevalence is relatively high, but also because they have considerable impact on children’s daily lives. Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) cause physical and psychological discomfort, pain and other negative impacts, such as tendency to avoid laughing or smiling, which can affect social relationships.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries to anterior teeth among 12-year-old school children in Kashmir, India.Patients and MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in private and government schools of India among 1600 schoolchildren aged 12 years. In addition to recording of the type of trauma (using Ellis and Davey classification of fractures, 1970), over jet, Angle’s molar relation and lip competence were also recorded. The socioeconomic status and academic performance of the study subjects were registered. The data obtained were compiled systematically and then statistically analyzed. The statistical significance for the association between the traumatic injury and the variables was analyzed using the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to identify potential risk predictors of TDIs.ResultsThe overall prevalence of TDI to anterior teeth was found to be 9.3%. The TDI to anterior teeth in male was more than female, but the difference was statistically nonsignificant (P < 0.01). Falls and sports were the most common causes of trauma in the present study. The highest potential risk factor for the occurrence of trauma was over jet. Academic performance was found to be significantly associated to TDI to anterior teeth, when analyzed in a multiple regression model.ConclusionsIt was concluded that the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 9.3%. Traumatic dental injuries among children exhibit complex interaction between the victims’ oral conditions and their behavior. Therefore, prevention should consider a number of characteristics such as oral predisposing factors, environmental determinants and human behavior. It is recommended that specific and proper public places for leisure and sports activities, with impact-absorbing surfaces around the items on which children are most likely to fall, should be provided.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children of Conflict Region of Kashmir (India): A Review.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs due to traumatic events. The last two decades have seen various traumatic events in Kashmiri population, which has led to psychological impact on all population, especially children. PTSD is one of the psychiatric disorders occurring after witnessing of traumatic events. A review of literature regarding PTSD in children of Kashmir (India) has been done to assess the prevalence, causes, neurobiology, risk factors and psychiatric co morbidity associated with it.

Etiology and Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis in Children in Kashmir (India). An Endemic Area of Hepatobiliary Ascariasis

The purpose of the present study was to determine the etiology, management, and outcome of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children in an endemic area of hepatobiliary ascariasis (HBA). This was a prospective, hospital-based study over a 9-year period that included 156 children younger than 12 years of age who had a diagnosis of AP. Of the 156 patients, 71 were boys and 85 were girls with a mean age of 8.4 ± 1.5 years (range 3-12 years). The various factors contributing to AP were biliary ascariasis in 93 cases (60 %), gallstones 16 (10 %), trauma 5 (3 %), choledochal cyst 4 (3 %), impacted bile duct stone 3 (2 %), and gallbladder sludge 2 (1 %). Idiopathic group 33 cases (21 %). Diagnosis was based on clinical picture, abdominal ultrasonography, and elevated serum amylase level. Pancreatitis was mild in 113 (72 %) patients and severe in 43 (28 %). With conservative therapy, 123 patients (79 %) improved, whereas the remaining 33, who had intractable abdominal pain, cholangitis, or worsening cholecystitis, underwent emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for removal of worms (26 patients) and stones in the bile duct (7 patients). Bile duct stones were extracted in all 7 patients with that condition, and worms were extracted from 23 of the 26 patients with ascariasis. Emergency surgery was performed in five patients. Three patients died. Pancreatitis recurred in 16 patients due to HBA. Pancreatitis is not uncommon in children. Ascariasis is a leading cause of AP in endemic areas. Patients usually respond to conservative management, but endoscopic treatment is effective. Surgery is rarely required.

Putative Virulence Genes and Biofilm Production Among Typical Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli Isolates from Diarrhoeic Children in Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh

Fifty-eight typical EAEC isolates from children with diarrhoea were examined for HEp-2 cell adherence assay, presence of dispersin (aap), yersiniabactin (irp2), plasmid encoded toxins (pet), Shigella enterotoxin1 (set1A) and cryptic open reading frame (shf) putative virulence genes by polymerase chain reaction as well as for biofilm production. All the isolates showed aggregative adherence pattern on HEp-2 cells. All but five isolates (91.3%) carried aap gene. While irp2, pet, set1A and shf genes were detected in 68.9, 5.1, 39.6, and 60.3% isolates, respectively. Thirty-three (64.7%) isolates out of 51 tested were found to produce biofilm which was found to be significantly associated only with set1A virulence gene (P=0.025). Highest amount of biofilm was produced by a strain that possessed all the genes studied. Out of 14 isolates in which the most frequent gene combination (aap, irp2 and shf) was observed, only six produced biofilm. It is concluded that there is significant heterogeneity in putative virulence genes of EAEC isolates from diarrhoeic children and biofilm formation is associated with multiple genes.

Ascaris liver abscess in children

Liver abscess in childhood is a very challenging subject both for patients and doctors. In India, pyogenic liver abscesses have been found mostly in children, especially in rural areas. Liver abscess due to wandering ascarids is a common complication in children in Kashmir, although it is rare outside. The study was carried over a period of 10 years at Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar India. Ten cases of liver abscesses due to wandering ascarids in children were encountered. The children were aged 2 years to 13 years. 70% of the children were from rural areas. All ten patients presented with fever, while three patients presented with peritonitis. Ultrasonography was the main tool of diagnosis. All ten patients were managed by open surgical drainage. We conclude that Ascaris infestation should always be kept in mind while dealing with liver abscess in children.