Rural Areas Of Northern India Research Articles

Study of Recurrent Abdominal Pain-RAP in Children Aged 4–18 Years living In Rural Area of Northern India

Study of Recurrent Abdominal Pain-RAP in Children Aged 4–18 Years living In Rural Area of Northern India

Psychological health and its associates - A comparative study among migrants and non migrants in a rural area of Northern India.

Background: Migration, whether voluntary or forced, entails major adaptations. An elaborate insight into the circumstances helps to induce various interventions in migrants. Aims and Objectives: To elicit the psychological health, lifestyle variables, religiosity, spirituality and coping among migrants and compare it with non migrants in a rural locality. Material and Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken among 404 adults aged 20 years and above. The General Health Questionnaire–12, Religiosity scale by Wilkes, The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale and COPE scale were used as psychometric tools for data collection. Data was analysed using SPSS (ver. 20.0). Results: A sample of 137 migrants and 267 non migrants were analysed. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for occupation and education (p=0.002 & 0.000 resp). The mean scores of the psychological health of migrants (10.58± 6.32) were slightly better than that of non migrants (11.49 ±5.69, p= 0.142). Spirituality scores showed migrants being more inclined towards spiritualism (p=0.016). Young age, religious and spiritual propensity showed a statistically significant correlation with better Psychological health (p=0.036, 0.000&0.013resp). Conclusion: Providing psychosocial assistance to migrant populations focussing on educational, occupational & religious-spiritual issues can reduce vulnerabilities especially for psychological health.

The modern monastic Santmat movement of Bihar: building bridges between San\u0101tana Dharma and Sant-Mat

This article analyzes how the modern movement of Santmat, literally “the views of sants,” primarily popular in the rural areas of northern India, uniquely situates itself within the context of “Vedic Dharma.” Through the monastic leadership’s redefinition of the categories of Vedic Dharma and Sanātana Dharma, the Santmat tradition creates a space where vernacular Hindu practices and mystical Vedic paths can co-exist. Thus, it stands apart from other contemporary Sant Mat traditions that reject Vedic Dharma. In this article, I pair an examination and analysis of the Santmat movement’s historical development and methods, in which Vedic wisdom coheres with the sants’ spiritual insights, with an ethnographic analysis of how this movement enacts a creative integration of vernacular traditions. I suggest that this particular Santmat’s “bricolage,” to borrow a term from Claude Levi-Strauss, illustrates a distinctive example of experimental dharmas in the context of vernacular sant traditions in contemporary North India. Santmat’s skillful integration of local religious vernaculars gives expression to its engagement with lived devotional traditions. Such mixing of practices, which illustrate the processes of hybridity and syncretism, has helped to make the esoteric practices more meaningful and relevant to the everyday lives of the masses, including the tribal and rural people of Bihar and Nepal, populations often marginalized in orthodox Hindu practices. I examine the experimentation occurring within the Santmat tradition and argue that Bihar’s Santmat movement may be termed “Vernacular Vedic Dharma.” Furthermore, I address how within the 21st-century rise of extremism, Santmat shows that Vedic Dharma, within its manifold strands of practices and philosophies, encourages an adherence to the harmonizing esoteric spiritual path as well as a universal ethical framework.

Evaluation of Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram scheme and out of pocket expenditure in a rural area of Northern India.

Introduction:The stagnant performance of countries with regard to maternal and child health is linked to low investment in health and out of pocket expenditure (OOP). To address issue of OOP expenses related to maternal and newborn care, Janani Shishu SUraksha Karyakram (JSSK) was launched in the year 2011 in Mewat district of Haryana with the objective to eliminate OOP expenses of obstetric women and sick infants.Methods:A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in rural area of Haryana to know the utilization of JSSK scheme and OOP expenditure. A total of 200 delivered mothers were included as study subjects. The study was conducted from July 20113 to September 2014.Results:Out of 200, 134 subjects delivered in government institutions and hence were eligible for benefits of JSSK scheme. Twenty nine percent of deliveries occurred in private facilities and 17% newborns were sick within 30 days of birth. OOP expenditure was done by 83.5% subjects with median amount Rs. 1100. Most common suggestions given by subjects were the availability of ultrasound facility, cooperative staff and crowd management in hospitals.Conclusion:For reducing OOP expenses, up-gradation and constant supervision is required to maintain the adequacy of services. More evaluation studies need to be conducted to know the utilization pattern of JSSK so as to improve the coverage and removing the bottlenecks to further increase the utilization of JSSK scheme.

Epidemiological profile of injuries due to fall reporting to a tertiary care centre in a rural area of Northern India

Background: Fall is an important contributor to injury and studies conducted over a period of time have established reliable estimates of the incidence of fall-related injury. The current study was aimed at identifying the epidemiological profile of injuries due to fall. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based descriptive study was conducted for a period of 1 year starting June 2014. The study population comprised all consecutive cases of injuries due to fall reporting to the Department of Orthopedics during the study except for those who denied consent to be included in the study. Results: Males and age group 26–45 (n = 222/795, 27.9%) are more prone to injuries due to fall. It is seen that out of 795 cases, most of the participants were students (n = 219/795, 27.5%). The common mode of injuries is fall from stairs 16 (13.2%). It is seen that population educated up to middle standard (n = 155/795, 19.5%) or primary level educated (n = 145/795, 18.2%) had higher incidence of fall events. It is observed that fall occurring outside home (n = 535/795, 67.3%) are higher than fall at home (n = 240/795, 30.2%). Conclusions: Falls are an important contributor to injury affecting the productive and otherwise healthy age group of 15–45 years in majority.

Feasibility of establishing and operationalizing basic Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural area of northern India

Background: Success of public health programmes is dependent on its inherent flexibility to continually incorporate new evidence and new experiences made available through timely, accurate, and relevant information. Unfortunately, routine health management information systems do not provide desired inputs at appropriate times. Objective: To ascertain the feasibility of establishing and operationalizing health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in a defined rural population of district Jammu. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out in 6 villages in field practice area of Postgraduate Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Jammu selected using multistage random sampling methodology. Study area was mapped manually and by using geographic information system (GPS Etrax® system) depicting all households and associated landmarks. All the households were listed and assigned an alphanumeric unique identification number. Information on predesigned formats was then obtained from all listed households at initial and subsequent visit made at 6 months. Possibility of linking facility based data was also studied. Verbal autopsy was conducted as per International network for the demographic evaluation of populations and their health (INDEPTH) standardized verbal autopsy proforma. Result: An HDSS was visibly functional within 6 months’ time of initiation of the project using available manpower, space, and local support. No constraints were felt with regard to availability of separate space for HDSS as it was provided unconditionally either by the health care institution or panchayat. Local health workers and volunteers were retrained by the investigator for which no extra funds were needed. However, no vehicle for transportation was available, therefore personal vehicle was used to move from one village to another. It took 113 days (553 h) for a team of one investigator, one health worker and one volunteer to complete mapping, assign unique identification numbers, and collect baseline information of 1030 household spread over 3.56 km2. Repeat survey took 60% less time i.e., 45 days or 225 h. Each household consumed 15–25 min on initial visit and 10 min on follow-up. A single verbal autopsy took longer time (60 min) to complete. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that HDSS can be established and operationalized using available human and non-human resources albeit with little training and technical assistance. No significant bottlenecks were encountered in operationalizing HDSS. Vehicle, upgradation of available space, data management tools, incentive for staff, and volunteers would be needed to sustain HDSS.

Gender Preferences, Inequalities and Female Infanticide in Rural Area of Northern India

Gender Preferences, Inequalities and Female Infanticide in Rural Area of Northern India

Self-Vision Testing and Intervention Seeking Behavior among School Children: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Refractive error is the most common cause of visual impairment among school children. Worldwide, school vision testing is one major area of thrust to address vision screening among school children, and is carried out by a diverse group of professionals and non-professionals, with variable success rates. In a pilot study we aimed to determine how efficiently and reliably students could self-examine their vision and how many actually seek intervention for refraction and eventually wear glasses.Methods: The pilot study was done in 25 schools in a rural area of northern India. The methodology of self-assisted vision examination (SAVE) was directly demonstrated to school children. School children self-examined their visual acuity, and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated after secondary screening by professionals. Students requiring refraction were given referral slips. Frequency of uptake of glasses for those referred for refractive services was assessed in a follow-up visit.Results: A total of 7411 students in 6th to 12th standard were enrolled in the pilot study. Sensitivity and specificity of the SAVE strategy were 96.22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.52–97.43%) and 90.23% (95% CI 87.79–92.23%), respectively. The positive predictive value was 90.83% (95% CI 88.55–92.71%) and negative predictive value was 95.95% (95% CI 94.13–97.24%). At the time of follow-up 66% of students had undergone refraction and 81% of these were wearing glasses.Conclusion: SAVE provides a simple, acceptable and valid alternate strategy for school vision screening. However, factors influencing procurement of glasses and their use will require further study.

Anthropometric Characteristics and Undernutrition Among Older Persons in a Rural Area of Northern India

This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess anthropometric characteristics and estimate the prevalence of undernutrition among older persons in rural Ballabgarh, Haryana, India. A total of 948 participants aged 60 years and above were examined. Their weight, arm span, mid-upper-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and calf circumference were measured using standard techniques. The prevalence of undernutrition was estimated to be 53.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.5-56.9). Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors independently associated with undernutrition. In the assessment of anthropometric characteristics, the strongest correlation was observed between body mass index and mid-upper-arm circumference (r = 0.88; P < .0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that mid-upper-arm circumference has a higher ability (area under curve = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.91-0.96) of detecting undernutrition among older persons than triceps skinfold thickness and calf circumference. The high prevalence of undernutrition among older persons in rural India warrants major public health interventions.

Measurements of indoor radon, thoron, and their progeny using twin cup dosimeters in rural areas of Northern India

Radon, thoron, and their progeny are largest contributors to the radiation dose received by human beings present in the natural environment. The indoor radon depends upon many factors such as building materials, meteorology, ventilation, and occupant’s behavior. This paper presents the measurements of indoor radon, thoron, and their progeny in four villages in rural area of district Kanshiram Nagar (Kasganj) in the state of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. The concentration of indoor radon and thoron varies from 10.32 to 72.24 and 11.61 to 84.49 Bq m−3 with a geometric mean (GM) of 29.49 and 31.20 Bq m−3, respectively. The concentration of radon and thoron daughters was found to vary from 1.11 to 7.80 and 0.31 to 2.28 mWL, respectively. The annual exposure due to radon and thoron mainly vary from 0.05 to 0.30 WLM. The preliminary results (i.e., bare mode exposure of the LR-115 detectors fixed on cards) of this study have been separately published and compared this recent data with those results.

Dietary aspects of pregnant women in rural areas of Northern India

The aim of this article is to document the current dietary profile of pregnant women in rural areas of Delhi. In order to explore the diet the combination of quantitative (24-h recall method) and qualitative methods (food frequency method) were used. The mean intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, namely, iron, folic acid and Vitamin C which play an important role in the pathophysiology of nutritional anaemia during pregnancy was calculated from the foodstuffs, using Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. The preferences and avoidance of various foods by the pregnant women were also elicited. The data were analysed using Epi Info 3.4. The intake of calories, protein, iron, folic acid and Vitamin C was found to be less than the recommended dietary allowance in 100%, 91.2%, 98.2%, 99.1% and 65.8% of pregnant women respectively. Folic acid intakes were significantly lower in younger, primiparous and poorly educated women from low-income families. Vitamin C intake was lower among non-Hindus only. The overall data suggested the presence of food gap rather than isolated deficiency of any particular nutrient.

Mobile phone consultation for community health care in rural north India

We conducted a study to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of consultation by mobile phone in a rural area of northern India. The mobile phone number of a community physician was advertised to the general public and people were invited to telephone at any time for a medical consultation. Details of the calls received were recorded. During a seven-month study, 660 calls were received. The mean call duration was 2.7 min. Eighty percent of calls were made by men. Forty-eight percent of calls were made during office hours. A total of 417 (63%) calls were for seeking advice, 146 (22%) were for outpatient follow-up, 23 (4%) were for seeking appointments and the remaining 74 (11%) for other reasons. The most common problems were skin, respiratory, mental health and sexual problems. Of the 387 callers who were interviewed at follow-up, 302 (78%) stated that they had followed the advice provided. Of these, 91% found the advice very helpful in managing their health problems. About 96% of users wished to continue to use the service in future. The majority of calls made were of a primary care nature which could easily be dealt with by phone. The concept of using mobile phones for medical consultation seemed to be acceptable to people in rural Haryana.

A stochastic model for the study of last closed birth interval with some biosocial components

We present a stochastic model to describe variation in last closed birth interval for women of a given marriage duration by parity as well as regardless of parity. The model is derived under some simplified assumptions relating to human reproduction process accounting for the non‐exposure period in the beginning of the reproductive life caused by such biosocial components as adolescent sterility and temporary separation between the partners called as an inoperative period. We illustrate the model regardless of parity on an observed set of data taken from a rural area of northern India and estimate the risk of conception before and after the first birth.

Simultaneous projection of population and households: comparative study of methodologies used

This paper deals with simultaneously estimating the trends in future growth of population and households. For this purpose, methods such as household to population ratio, age-specific headship rate, and household composition matrix have been applied, subject to certain assumptions. The system under consideration has been assumed open to migration. The consistencies of projections obtained and the methods employed have also been discussed using the observed data from two sample surveys conducted in the rural areas of northern India over a period of thirteen years. The unit of measurement used is a household. The estimates of population size and the number of households indicate that, of the three methods used, the household composition matrix method is a relatively more consistent one.

Simultaneous projection of population and households a comparative study of methodologies used

This paper deals with simultaneously estimating the trends in future growth of population and households. For this purpose, methods such as household to population ratio, age-specific headship rate, and household composition matrix have been applied, subject to certain assumptions. The system under consideration has been assumed open to migration. The consistencies of projections obtained and the methods employed have also been discussed using the observed data from two sample surveys conducted in the rural areas of northern India over a period of thirteen years. The unit of measurement used is a household. The estimates of population size and the number of households indicate that, of the three methods used, the household composition matrix method is a relatively more consistent one.

Some models for number of births and estimates of natural age-specific fecundability and sterility for a rural part of Northern India

Probability models describing observed distributions of births occuring to women in different segments of the reproductive span are proposed. By applying the models to real data, the values and trends in fecundability and sterility of women in rural areas of northern India are studied.

Organization for Change: A Systems Analysis of Family Planning in Rural India.

This is an examination of the implementation of family planning in the rural areas of northern India during the early 1970s. The information is based on surveys of villagers in rural Allahabad Division and workers in rural health centers and interviews with administrators and officials at the district and state level of the Ministry of Health. The material level of living is low for most of the population in Allahabad few villagers have been exposed to extensive formal education or to contacts with the outside world. Average age at which wives begin to live with their husbands is less than 15 years and begin to bear children before age 18. Infant mortality rate was 200/1000 birthrate was above 50/1000 for 1967-71. A basic reason for high fertility is the role which children play in the lives of parents. A superficial awareness of family planning methods is widespread among the village population but there is very little actual use of contraceptive methods; no more than 14% of the respondents were currently using or have ever used a contraceptive method including abstinence and rhythm method. Only 3.7% were using IUDs or male/female sterilization. Many of the findings support the conclusion that organization and client related factors explain the low use of contraception. Studies on the district and state level show that the majority of the family planning extension staff of the rural primary health care (PHC) centers are not working at expected levels. The nature of family planning programs motivation background training support and organization are discussed. Some problems which are identified are the size of the population the frequent shifts in responsibility changes in approach to family planning pressures of poverty discrepancies between targets and achievements use of coercive techniques. Although there has been expansion of the PHC network the family planning program as a whole has not met with great success. Only an approach that is attentive to the interelatedness and variety of client and organization related factors will help in understanding how the system should work. 3 general guidelines to be followed are: 1) the strategy for client transactions to be chosen has to be suited to the client population 2) the organizing strategy has to be suited to client strategy and 3) organizing strategy has to be suited to the institutional and political context within which it is implemented.

Long Term Follow-up Study of a Trachoma Vaccine Trial in Villages of Northern India

A field trial of two high titer bivalent trachoma vaccines was done in a rural area of Northern India in children under the age of 6 years. Three months later 310 of the original 451 children in the study received a booster vaccination of either of the two vaccines or a placebo. Both the sucrose gradient purified and the Genetron purified vaccine protected against trachoma infection for one year. Significant protection for two years was found only with the gradient vaccine. A 12-year follow-up study located and examined 201 subjects that had received booster vaccine. It was found that 31, 27, and 28% of the individuals in each of the three groups (two vaccine and placebo) had evidence of mostly minimally active trachoma. Additionally, from 6 to 10% of the subjects in each group had signs of mild to moderate potentially blinding sequelae. The results showed no protection by either vaccine, and there was no evidence of adverse effects from the vaccines.

Widow remarriages in some rural areas of Northern India

It is commonly believed thai widows belonging to high-caste Hindus in India do not remarry because of various social restrictions imposed on their remarriage. Though some information on widowhood and widow remarriages is available, there is need for more detailed information. A study, carried out by the author, of 1 percent of the rural households in Mathura and Saharanpur districts in Uttar Pradesh and in Rohtak district in Panjab has brought out that nearly SO percent of the ever-widowed are remarried. The survey covered 6,211 households, of which 887 were Muslim and the remaining were Hindu.Of the ever-widowed females, 84 percent in Saharanpur, 25 percent in Rohtak, and 19 percent in Mathura were found to have remarried. With a view to finding out whether differences in widow remarriage percentages by districts were real or were due to variations in the distribution of the ever-widowed females by age, occupation, caste, and the number of living children, the standardized widow remarriage rates were obtained. The population of Saharanpur district was taken to be the standard population. As a result of standardization for age, number of living children, and caste, the difference narrowed down considerably; and, while the widow remarriage percentage was 34.2 in Saharanpur. it was found to be 334 in Rohtak and 31.1 in Mathura. A 3 percent lower figure for Mathura district could be a result of the Brahminic influence.Widow remarriages were found to be very common among younger widows, since nearly 90 percent of those below age 16 and 80 percent of those in the age group 15-19 were remarried. Also, roughly 80 percent of those who did not have a child at the time of their widowhood were remarried. But the per-centage of remarried widows declined with an increase in age and in the number of living children. The percentage of widow remarriages was highest among the Muslims-between 35 and 37-because they put no restrictions on such remarriages. Among the Hindus, the lower castes, such as Chamars, Bhangis, and artisan castes, had the highest percentage of widow remarriages-around 30-because of the absence of social restrictions on such remarriages. Among the high-caste Hindus, the Jats (one of the warrior castes) had the highest percentage of remarried widows. The reason for this is that they have socially permitted such remarriages. Widow remarriages, though on a smaller scale, were also found prevailing among other warrior castes, such as Gujjars, Ahirs, and Rajputs. Among other high-caste Hindus, such as Brahmins, Banias, Khatris, and Aroras, cases of widow remarriages were very few-only around 7 percent. This is the result of a long standing religious sanction against such remarriages.On the basis of our data, we are inclined to say that in the rural areas of northern India no marked change in the social position regarding widow remarriages is noticeable.