City Wards Research Articles

Impact of active case finding for tuberculosis with mass chest X-ray screening in Glasgow, Scotland, 1950-1963: An epidemiological analysis of historical data.

Community active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis was widely implemented in Europe and North America between 1940 and 1970, when incidence was comparable to many present-day high-burden countries. Using an interrupted time series analysis, we analysed the effect of the 1957 Glasgow mass chest X-ray campaign to inform contemporary approaches to screening. Case notifications for 1950 to 1963 were extracted from public health records and linked to demographic data. We fitted Bayesian multilevel regression models to estimate annual relative case notification rates (CNRs) during and after a mass screening intervention implemented over 5 weeks in 1957 compared to the counterfactual scenario where the intervention had not occurred. We additionally estimated case detection ratios and incidence. From 11 March 1957 to 12 April 1957, 714,915 people (622,349 of 819,301 [76.0%] resident adults ≥15 years) were screened with miniature chest X-ray; 2,369 (0.4%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. Pre-intervention (1950 to 1956), pulmonary CNRs were declining at 2.3% per year from a CNR of 222/100,000 in 1950. With the intervention in 1957, there was a doubling in the pulmonary CNR (RR: 1.95, 95% uncertainty interval [UI] [1.81, 2.11]) and 35% decline in the year after (RR: 0.65, 95% UI [0.59, 0.71]). Post-intervention (1958 to 1963) annual rates of decline (5.4% per year) were greater (RR: 0.77, 95% UI [0.69, 0.85]), and there were an estimated 4,599 (95% UI [3,641, 5,683]) pulmonary case notifications averted due to the intervention. Effects were consistent across all city wards and notifications declined in young children (0 to 5 years) with the intervention. Limitations include the lack of data in historical reports on microbiological testing for tuberculosis, and uncertainty in contributory effects of other contemporaneous interventions including slum clearances, introduction of BCG vaccination programmes, and the ending of postwar food rationing. A single, rapid round of mass screening with chest X-ray (probably the largest ever conducted) likely resulted in a major and sustained reduction in tuberculosis case notifications. Synthesis of evidence from other historical tuberculosis screening programmes is needed to confirm findings from Glasgow and to provide insights into ongoing efforts to successfully implement ACF interventions in today's high tuberculosis burden countries and with new screening tools and technologies.

Surat’s sustainable future: analyzing compact urban development and population density trends

Rapid urbanization is a challenge for the cities of developing countries like India. The share of an urban area is rapidly increasing in dynamically growing cities. Due to this, the land use is altered, causing sprawl and unplanned development. The consumption of resources is greater, and the impact on the surroundings is negative. The compact city concept is always more efficient and cost effective compared to unplanned organic growth. The compact city optimizes available land resources with its maximum possible capacity in accordance with other available natural resources. The primary study objective is to assess the growth trend of Surat city using satellite images, geographic information system techniques, and census data for the last few years. The analysis considers population density for different city wards from 1991 to 2020. Based on the land use land cover change carried out using the maximum likelihood method from the satellite images, the rate of spreading out, its direction, and causes are also found. In this study, population density is a crucial attribute of the compact city concept. The study shows that wardwise density is increasing in a specific direction and making that portion of the city a dense, compact development. This is observed in ward numbers 48, 42, and 35 in the east, north, and southeast directions from Central Business District, respectively. The average population density in persons per sq. km is continuously increasing from 5006 to 20329 at city level which also shows the compact city development for Surat. The governing authorities must incorporate the compact city concept into the planning policy for sustainable urban development. By this, policymakers can understand housing needs to promote affordable housing, invest in infrastructure development and public services, and identify areas where sustainable transportation options, such as public transit, walking, or cycling, need improvement.

Factors Affecting Health Seeking Behavior of Elderly People in a Community of Pokhara, Nepal

Introduction: Individuals have different opinion regarding willingness to seek help from health care services. Thus, a study aimed to find out the health care seeking behaviour, factors affecting health care seeking behaviour and association between health seeking and those factors among elderly people. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 197 elderly people of 65 years and above in Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No.28. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used. Data was collected by face to face interview technique using self-developed structured interview schedule. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. Inferential statistics (Chi-square test) was used to reveal the association between the selected factors and health seeking behaviour.. Results: Finding showed 77.66% of respondents sought appropriate health care where as only 22.34 % of respondents sought inappropriate health care. Among those who sought care from appropriate health care, 65.48% of respondents sought care from governmental hospital. Among those who sought inappropriate health care still 22.72 % of respondents had belief in traditional healer. Accompany for the treatment of elderly was found statistically significant and other factors was not found statistically significant Conclusion: Based on the findings more than two third of the respondents reported that they seek appropriate health care. Among those respondents nearly half of respondents’ reason for seeking appropriate health care was good experience of medical treatment in the past. Among those whose health seeking behaviour is inappropriate, still one fourth of respondents had belief on traditional healer. Key words: Health seeking behavior; Elderly people; Nepal

Descriptive analysis of road traffic crashes encountered by Tanzanian motorcycle taxi drivers trained in first aid

IntroductionIn Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, death from road traffic crashes (RTC) occurs at roughly double the global rate. In this study, we sought to understand the locations and types of vehicles involved in RTC in Dar es Salaam encountered by a cohort of motorcycle taxi drivers previously trained in first aid. MethodsThis was a quasi-non-randomized interventional study, cohort subtype, with three-month follow-up. Some 186 motorcycle taxi drivers were selected by convenience sampling from 16 heavily populated, central wards and trained in a basic hemorrhage control course. Participants reported the location and types of vehicles involved in RTCs they encountered and intervened upon through performing bleeding control interventions. Surveys were designed on KoboToolbox and administered via phone call at monthly intervals over a three-month period. The main outcome measures were the location of crash encounters and types of vehicles involved. ResultsIn all 62 unique participants (33.3 %) encountered and provided bleeding control interventions to 83 injured individuals following 69 RTC in at least 31 distinct city wards, despite training only having occurred in 16 wards. Eight crash locations were not recorded. Crashes in distant wards typically contained major roads. Most commonly, crashes involved a motorcycle without the involvement of another vehicle (n=20), followed by motorcycle vs. car/three-wheeled vehicle (n=15), motorcycle vs. bus/van (n=10), motorcycle vs. motorcycle (n=9), motorcycle vs. pedestrian (n=7), pedestrian vs. bus/van (n=2), pedestrian vs. car/three-wheeled vehicle (n=1), motorcycle vs. bicycle (n=1), multi vehicle (n=1), and other (n=3). ConclusionsMotorcycle taxi drivers trained in hemorrhage control frequently encounter and intervene upon RTC in wards where they are based as well as in distant locations, commonly in wards containing major roads. Expanding first aid training for motorcycle taxi drivers could improve timely access to emergency care for RTC victims. Since most crashes involved motorcycles, road safety training should be integrated into future courses.

E-waste Management Practices: A Case of Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal

The fast deterioration of electronic gadgets is being caused by the highly competitive electronic market and the rising purchasing patterns of consumers. It can be difficult to handle electronics when their useful lives are ending and when they are replaced or thrown away for various reasons over time. This research aims to comprehend the viewpoint of electronics consumers regarding managing their electronic waste, with a particular focus on Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City's ward no. 05. The factors found in the literature were used to create questionnaires. The questions were created using various sources, including socioeconomic and demographic data, information on E-waste generation and disposal practices, consumer intentions toward E-waste management, and awareness levels. The study's findings demonstrated that while consumers were aware of the issues surrounding E-waste, they lacked a significant amount of knowledge regarding formal recycling centers and other strategies for managing waste. Additionally, it was seen that most respondents were either willing to sell their televisions and desktop computers to scrap traders or wanted to repair them. For instance, the majority of participants reported never receiving any E-waste management training, but many also claimed they would be prepared to pay the E-waste handling organization to participate in E-waste management programs and hence, Itahari Sub-Metropolitan is advised to undertake community-based initiatives to improve E-waste management programs.

Quality Education for Sustainable Development: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Schools of Pokhara

This paper aims to explore the performance of two distinctly established education institutions, private and public schools and compare the quality of educational services provided by them in the perception of parents. The study has been carried out using the qualitative research design. With the use of relevant secondary data sourced from relevant literature reviews and official reports, the informants like parents, teachers and school administrators from the purposively sampled schools of Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward no. 13 were taken as the sources of primary data. The analysis of the data followed a dual approach. Initially, responses from the participants were systematically organized and quantitatively summarized. Subsequently, thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring themes and patterns within the qualitative data. This comprehensive analysis aimed to derive meaningful insights and an understanding of the research questions. The study has tried to investigate the reasons behind school’s selection by the parents and to assess whether the deviation in enrollment in private and public schools is due to differences in quality between them. Although, Nepal is among the leading countries in South Asia in term of accessibility to education, there are numerous challenges when it comes to quality. It concludes that private and public schools should not be seen as competitors of each other, rather they should be regarded as the supplements as both of provide equal contribution in education sector of the country.

Radiocesium-bearing microparticles found in dry deposition fallout samples immediately after the Fukushima nuclear accident in the Kanto region, Japan

Radiocesium released by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident still exists in the environment in two forms: adsorbed species on mineral particles in the soil and microparticles containing radiocesium mainly composed of silicate glass (CsMPs). CsMPs are dispersed not only around the FDNPP but also over a wide area of the Kanto region. The behavior and characteristics of CsMPs must be investigated to evaluate the impact of the FDNPP accident. Deposited particles including radiocesium were wiped from metal handrails on balconies and car hoods using tissue papers at six locations in the Kanto region (Tokai village, Ushiku City, Abiko City, Chiba City, Kawaguchi City, and Arakawa Ward) between March 15 and 21, 2011. CsMPs were isolated from the samples, and their characteristics were investigated. In total, 106 CsMPs derived from Unit 2 were successfully separated from 13 tissue paper samples. The radiation images of the two types of CsMPs discovered in Ushiku City demonstrate that CsMPs can easily become susceptible to fragmentation over time, even in the absence of weathering effects.

Study on Plant-Based Traditional Knowledge for Pest and Disease Management of Crop Plants in Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No.32, Kaski

Indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) is knowledge belonging to a particular community or the native group that has been developed over time and still continues to grow with time. A case study was conducted from March to Mid-May of 2023 in villages of ward no.32 of Pokhara metropolitan city, Kaski district of Nepal to explore the indigenous practices followed by traditional farmers of Pokhara-32 for the management of pests and diseases of major crops using plants and their by-products. The data was collected via in-person interviews with the local farmers. A total of 40 farmers were considered for interviews that used a pretested questionnaire. From the interviewed respondents, many common practices using the plants and their by-products in pest and disease management were noted down such as the use of plant debris and wood ashes, intercropping, green manuring, mulching, and using some local plants as pest and insect repellent. A total of 19 plant species were found to be used by local farmers for pest and disease management. During the study, it was discovered that farmers are slowly starting to shift towards the use of chemical insecticides and pesticides. In the study, it was discovered that almost all the farmers are using insecticides and vitamins to increase their yield. The study recommends the concerned stakeholders need put more focus on the preservation of the ITK, document all the indigenous knowledge, and aware people about the importance of indigenous knowledge in producing healthy and organic crops.

Enhancing Municipal Solid Waste Management in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of Rudrapur City, India

Urban solid waste management is a crucial challenge, involving treatment, recycling, and energy conversion for environmental and public health protection. This research explores the management of municipal solid waste in the city of Rudrapur, located in the Himalayan foothills, in the midst of rapid urbanization and industrial development. Rudrapur is confronted with an increasing waste production as a consequence of its expanding population. The study examines waste distribution, evaluates current practices, and proposes effective waste management solutions for local governance. Using secondary data, interviews, and fieldwork, the study assesses waste generation, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal. The waste, comprising biodegradables, recyclables, and non-recyclables, presents challenges like inadequate equipment, unregulated dumping, and inefficiencies. Composite scores reveal disparities in waste management among city wards, uncovering infrastructure and practice gaps. Recommendations include source segregation, expanded composting, improved waste processing, and public awareness. Modern techniques like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing can enhance waste management strategies. The study underscores the urgency of addressing improper waste disposal's environmental and health impacts. By tackling deficiencies and embracing innovation, Rudrapur can transition to a sustainable solid waste management system, fostering a cleaner and healthier urban environment.

“Demolition Planning” in a U.S. Legacy City: Using Stakeholder Input to Plan for the Demolition of Blighted, Vacant Properties in Flint, Michigan

This paper presents a case study of participatory “demolition planning” for blighted, vacant properties in the legacy city of Flint, Michigan. It outlines how the Genesee County Land Bank Authority (GCLBA) used residents’ responses to a survey about demolition priorities to create an algorithm that assigns demolition scores to blighted properties in Flint. The survey results showed that residents’ top priority was demolishing blighted properties located directly next door to occupied properties. Fire-damaged properties, blighted properties in proximity to schools, and blighted properties located in highly occupied neighborhoods were the next highest priorities. There were few spatial differences in survey responses at the neighborhood (i.e., city ward) level. We discuss the implications of these findings and how other communities can adapt and improve upon the GCLBA’s surveying and algorithm creation efforts.

Self-medication practice in Kathmandu Metropolitan City: A cross-sectional study.

Self-medication is increasingly popular among people in developing nations like Nepal where the expense of healthcare is relatively high and over-the-counter) medications are widely and easily accessible. Although this method has certain advantages, it is also clear that it has some drawbacks, including the potential for adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, medication interactions, and increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the use of self-medication in nine wards of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (ward no. 4, 5, 13, 15, 16, 17, 23, 31, and 32). This cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in the chosen wards of Kathmandu Metropolitan city for 3 months from August to October 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 372 patients who were seeking self-medication. The participants were chosen randomly. Self-medication was common among people (78%). The most frequent ailments for which participants self-medicated were the common cold (17.1%), headache (14.7%), fever (14.5%), and cough (7.6%). Anticold medications (18.2%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.4%), antipyretics (15.2%), and analgesics (9.1%) were the most popular drug classes used in self-medication. The two most frequent justifications for self-medication were the absence of any major ailment (35%) and self-experience (22.7%). When symptoms started, the majority of patients started taking medication for themselves, and 47.7% of them got their prescriptions directly from the pharmacist by explaining their symptoms. When the symptoms were not relieved by the medication used for self-medication, it was found that the majority of participants (79.7%) stopped using the medication and visit the doctor. The prevalence of self-medication in Kathmandu city was ascertained by assessing the practice among residents of the Kathmandu Metropolitan city. The study showed self-medication is common among people and therefore, proper education about drug use and self-medication is needed.

Pandemic within a pandemic! Policy Implications of community-based Interventions to mitigate violence against women during COVID-19 in Urban Slums of Lucknow, India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented adverse impact on women's health. Evidence from the literature suggests that violence against women has increased multifold. Gender-based violence in urban slums has worsened due to a lack of water and sanitation services, overcrowding, deteriorating conditions and a lack of institutional frameworks to address gender inequities. The SAMBHAV (Synchronized Action for Marginalized to Improve Behaviors and Vulnerabilities) initiative was launched between June 2020 to December 2020 by collaborating with the Uttar Pradesh state government, UNICEF and UNDP. The program intended to reach 6000 families in 30 UPS (Urban Poor settlements) of 13 city wards. These 30 UPS were divided into 5 clusters. The survey was conducted in 760 households, 397 taken from randomly selected 15 interventions and 363 households from 15 control UPS. This paper utilized data from a baseline assessment of gender and decision-making from a household survey conducted in the selected UPS during July 03-15, 2020. A sample size of 360 completed interviews was calculated for intervention and control areas to measure changes attributable to the SAMBHAV intervention in the behaviours and service utilization (pre- and post-intervention). The data analysis showed a significant difference (p-value < 0.001) between respondents regarding women's freedom to move alone in the control and intervention area. It also reflected a significant difference between control and intervention areas as the respondents in the intervention area chose to work for the cause of gender-based violence. The SAMBHAV initiative brought an intersectional lens to gender issues. The community volunteers were trained to approach issues based on gender-based violence with the local public, and various conferences and meetings were organized to sensitize the community. The initiative's overall impact was that it built momentum around the issue of applying the concept of intersectionality for gender issues and building resilience in the community. There is still a need to bring multi-layered and more aggressive approaches to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence in the community.

Analysis of the quality of local council elections in Hoima city, mid-western Uganda

Purpose: The aim of this study was to discuss the quality of local council elections by exploring factors that influence vote buying and vote selling during electoral seasons in Uganda.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross-sectional study aimed at promoting free, fair and credible local council elections in Hoima city. The study was conducted in one city ward that is part of Hoima City Cohort Study (HCCS). The HCCS is a population-based cohort that was identified for purposes of this study. A total of 28 registered voters, resident in four study areas were enrolled into the study. Data were collected on socio-econ-political related characteristics. A regression model was used to generate voting frequency as a measure of association for factors that were associated with voter bribery.&#x0D; Findings: Results suggest that voter bribery was high; higher in men than in women. Less than half had participated in more than two previous local council elections while slightly more than half were taking part in the second election. After adjusting for potential and suspected confounder, the factors that were negatively associated with voter bribery were: greed, poverty, and expectations; political party/candidate influence and lack of self-control were positively associated with voter bribery. Since political party/candidate influence and lack of self-control were positively associated with voter bribery in the area of study, targeting those having exorbitant resources to tempt voters may help reduce voter bribery in this area.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Policy and Practice: The results of this study may be useful to policy and practice since they can facilitate managers of electoral management bodies as well as political parties to evolve frameworks that can facilitate credible electoral processes.

Relative Preference for Living in a Safer Place from Natural Disasters: A Case Study at Tokyo, Japan

While it would be desirable to encourage people to live in places that are safer from natural disasters to minimize casualties and property damage, few studies have focused on people’s relative preference for living in such places. The present study has sought to clarify the extent to which Tokyo residents consider safety from natural disaster to be more important than other factors relevant to the choice of residential location, as well as what personal attributes may be correlated with this perception. An online survey was conducted to collect 1554 valid responses from residents in the 23 city wards of Tokyo, Japan, and statistical analysis (a chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analysis) was then applied to the collected responses. The results demonstrated that, on average, 45.1% of the respondents considered that “safety from natural disasters” was relatively important among twelve such factors related to the selection of a suitable residential location. It was also found that showing a hazard map to Tokyo residents or educating them to take more interest in their health and the surrounding natural environment could be effective to increase the number of people preferring to live in safer places.

Camouflage in the Streets: Emergency Powers, the Military, and the Philippines’ COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Abstract With emergency powers, President Rodrigo Duterte mobilized and deployed military and police to enforce lockdown measures in Metro Manila and Cebu City. For several months in 2020, the deployed forces ran quarantine control points in borders and city wards, and enforced curfew and liquor bans. This article examines how said deployment affected civilian control by the President and local civil-military dynamics. The heightened visibility of uniformed personnel in these urban spaces, and subsequent arrests and detention of quarantine violators came under heavy criticism. Against the backdrop of ex-military dominated national Inter Agency Task Force for Infectious Diseases (IATF), the militarized lockdown failed to stem the virus’ spread and expanded the military’s reach into civilian domain. Its involvement in law enforcement operations alongside the police poses dangers to local civil-military balance and to democracy. President Duterte’s reliance on the state’s coercive apparatus to carry out the pandemic response enabled him to assert control over local governments and to repress dissent.

Frailty and Associated Factors among the Elderly in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Frailty syndrome is common among older people and can lead to various adverse consequences such as falls, cognitive decline, disability, dependent living, increased mortality, excessive drug use, and prolonged hospital stays. Objectives: This research determined the prevalence of frailty and associated factors among older adults in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 584 older adults across five Ho Chi Minh City wards from November 2020 to January 2021. Based on the modified Fried frailty scale, the participants were divided into three categories: robust, pre-frail, and frail. A chi-square test (or Fisher’s test) examined the relationship between frailty categories and other variables. Multivariable logistic regression used variates with a cut-off of p ≤ 0.05 in the univariate analysis. Results: The prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty were 19% and 64%, respectively. The most common frailty component was weak grip strength (63.9%), followed by slowness (36.1%), weight loss (21.6%), low physical activity (19.5%), and exhaustion (18.5%). In addition, the prevalence of frailty was significantly associated with age, BMI levels, living alone, and sarcopenia. Conclusion: The community’s prevalence of frailty among older adults is high. Frailty can lead to many adverse consequences for the elderly. As there were some modifiable factors associated with frailty, it should be assessed in older people through community-based healthcare programs for early diagnosis and management.

Consumer awareness and production practices of farmers on antimicrobial residues in chicken eggs and Chinese cabbage in Dodoma, Central Tanzania.

BackgroundAntimicrobial residues (ABs) in foods contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, which is becoming a major public health concern around the world. Understanding food production practices concerning antimicrobial use and consumer awareness on the possibility of ABs in foods is necessary for developing mitigation strategies. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the production practices and awareness among eggs and Chinese cabbage consumers in Dodoma city.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire and checklist to collect data on awareness and production practices from 420 consumers, 30 chicken egg farmers, and 30 Chinese cabbage farmers in eight city wards.FindingsAbout 42% of consumers of eggs and Chinese cabbages were not aware of the likelihood of antimicrobial residues in these foods. The awareness was significantly influenced by the consumer’s educational level (p = 0.001) and geographical location (p = 0.045), with educated and urban consumers being 7.7 and 1.6 times more informed than their uneducated and peri-urban counterparts. Furthermore, the majority of chicken farmers raised more layers than broilers, and they all used antimicrobial drugs, mainly tetracycline and its variants, to treat and prevent diseases. The findings also revealed that many vegetable producers utilized wastes from animals treated with antimicrobials as manure to amend the soil.ConclusionIn a view of the findings, a considerable number of egg and Chinese cabbage consumers in Dodoma city were unaware on the likelihood of antimicrobial residues in these foods from their production practices. All chicken farmers utilized antimicrobial drugs mainly tetracycline and its derivatives, for the treatment and prevention of diseases while vegetable producers used wastes from animals treated with antimicrobials as soil manure. Therefore, initiatives to inform farmers and consumers about the possibility of antimicrobial residues in these foods and their related public health risks upon long-term consumption are strongly advised.

Early strong predictors of decline in instrumental activities of daily living in community-dwelling older Japanese people.

ObjectiveOur aim is to determine the strong predictors of the onset of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) decline in community-dwelling older people.DesignA prospective cohort study with a two-year follow-up.SettingKashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan and Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolitan, Japan.ParticipantsThe data were acquired from two cohorts. The final sample comprised 1,523 community-dwelling older people aged 65–94 years (681 men, 842 women). They were individuals who were independent in IADL at baseline and participated in follow-up IADL assessments two years later.MeasurementsAt baseline, comprehensive assessments were performed including: health interview, gait function, hand-grip strength, skeletal muscle mass, balance function, oral function, dietary lifestyle, cognitive function, quality of life, mental status, and social network. When the two-year follow-up was performed, IADL declines were observed in 53 out of 1,523 people. The association of each Z-transformed parameter with the occurrence of IADL decline was examined by employing a binominal logistic regression model adjusting for age, gender, body weight, body height, and medical history. An odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval were calculated and compared between different parameters.ResultsA decrease in walking speed and one-legged stance time, whereas an increased timed up & go test time was associated with significant ORs for the occurrence of IADL decline.ConclusionGait-related parameters appear to be the strong predictors of the onset of IADL decline in community-dwelling older people.

Prevalence of Hyponatremia in Patients Admitted to the Oncology Teaching Hospital

Background: Hyponatremia is a commonly occurring electrolyte disturbance among hospitalized patients, and many studies suggest that individual serum sodium levels may have a prognostic role in assessing probability of mortality. Aim of the study: Determination of hyponatremia prevalence in patients admitted to the Oncology Teaching Hospital. Method: A six-month cross-sectional study of hyponatremia prevalence was conducted in the Oncology ward in Medical City. The patients (105) who were admitted for more than three days with different types of malignancies and causes of admission were investigated for serum sodium, blood urea, random blood sugar, and urinary sodium (single measurement). These results were compared to the sodium levels of control of non-cancer individuals (135) selected using the same exclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of hyponatremia in the admitted patients was 43.7%, whereas it was 0.73% in the control group. Conclusion: The prevalence of hyponatremia in Oncology Teaching Hospital, Medical City ward, was higher than that reported in previous studies (conducted in international cancer centers); hypoosmolar hyponatremia prevalence is almost similar to that stated in previous studies.

COVID-19 Serological Survey-3 Prior to Second Wave in Mumbai, India.

Background:Subsequent to serosurveys 1 and 2 for COVID-19 carried out in three wards of Mumbai in July and August 2020, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai conducted serosurvey 3 in March 2021. This was to identify the extent of exposure by testing specific IgG antibodies against COVID-19.Material and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to find the prevalence of seropositivity in Mumbai, which included 10,197 samples belonging to patients visiting public dispensaries (slum population, 6006) and private (nonslum population, 4191) laboratories of Aapli Chikitsa network for blood investigations for non-COVID illnesses. The ward-wise number of unlinked anonymous samples from 24 wards was predecided by using probability proportionate sampling. The samples were collected using quota sampling technique as per predecided sample for each ward. These samples collected from nonimmunized individuals were tested for IgG antibodies at the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases by chemiluminescence assay (CLIA) method.Results:The overall seropositivity was found to be 36.3% (41.6% in slum and 28.59% in nonslum population). It was more in city wards (38.28%) followed by western suburb (36.47%) and then eastern suburb wards (34.86%), matching with the proportion of cases in these wards during the study period. There was no significant difference in seropositivity among males and females and in different age groups.Conclusions:Seropositivity is higher in slum areas than nonslum areas. It has reduced in slum areas and increased in nonslum areas as compared to findings of serosurveys 1 and 2. This explains the detection of a greater number of cases from nonslum areas in the second wave. The average seropositivity of 36.3% justifies the necessity of immunization on a wider scale in the city. Periodic serosurveys are required at fixed intervals to monitor the trend of infection and level of herd immunity.