Urban Bangalore Research Articles

Diversity of moth families in Urban Bangalore with trends in weather patterns

This work focuses on moths, which serve as pollinators in an ecosystem. The study area, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 in Jalahalli (Latitude: 13.05527, Longitude: 77.53591), is a biodiverse green space within the bustling city of Bengaluru. The study sheds light on the diversity and characteristics of moths in a natural ecosystem closely surrounded by urban development. Data on various moth species were collected from an iNaturalist project, which had already documented the area’s biodiversity over more than a year. The present study enhanced this dataset with additional observations. Remarkably, over 230 moth species were recorded in just one year, including the first photographic documentation of a moth from the family Palaeosetidae in India. Researchers classified this data to explore the seasonal diversity of different moth families within the study area. As part of the project, a mercury vapor lamp trap was set up to evaluate its effectiveness in attracting moths. Additionally, the flowering plant species in the study area were documented, classified, and compared with existing data. This allowed researchers to relate observed moth families with the plant species they pollinate. Overall, work contributes significantly to our understanding of moth ecology in this unique urban-natural interface.

Analyzing Determinants of Loan Repayment Performance at Grameen Koota: A Comprehensive Study in Bangalore District

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are pivotal in promoting financial inclusion by providing financial services to underbanked populations. This study investigates the key determinants influencing loan repayment performance at Grameen Koota, a leading MFI in the Bangalore district. Employing a comprehensive mixed-method approach, the research integrates quantitative analysis of loan repayment data from 50 borrowers with qualitative interviews involving 20 borrowers and five loan officers. The findings indicate that borrower income stability, financial literacy, loan size, and loan duration significantly affect repayment performance. Specifically, higher income stability and greater financial literacy correlate with better repayment rates, while smaller loan sizes and shorter loan durations enhance repayment performance. Qualitative insights emphasize the importance of solid borrower relationships with loan officers and community support systems in addressing repayment challenges. These relationships and support mechanisms are crucial for timely and successful loan repayment. This paper contributes valuable insights into the microfinance sector within the urban Bangalore context, adding to the limited research on repayment determinants in MFIs operating in urban Indian settings. The study suggests that implementing financial literacy programs, offering manageable loan sizes, and fostering robust borrower support systems can significantly improve loan repayment rates. The research highlights the need for MFIs to focus on borrower education and community engagement to enhance financial inclusion and sustainability. This comprehensive analysis of loan repayment performance at Grameen Koota offers practical recommendations for MFIs to improve their operational strategies and better serve their clients, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of financial inclusion and economic development.

Effect of early menopause on cognition and brain morphology in an Urban Indian Cohort.

Evidence for the effect of early menopause on cognition among older women is not consistent and is scant among the Indian population. We aimed to examine the effect of early menopause (≤45 years) on cognitive performance and brain morphology among older dementia-free females of the TLSA cohort using a multiple linear regression analysis. In a sample of 528 women, 144 (27%) had early menopause. The linear regression analysis showed that women with early menopause performed poorly in cognition and had lesser total gray matter volume [β=-11973.94, p=0.033], left middle frontal [β=-353.14, p=0.033], and left superior frontal [β=-460.97, p<0.026] volume. Dementia-free women with early menopause had poorer cognition, lower total gray matter, and frontal lobe. More research is needed to explore the link between earlier menopause and cognitive decline and develop ways to address it. Evidence on the effect of early menopause on brain morphology is inconsistent and scant in low and middle-income countries, such as India. In a cohort of dementia-free individuals in urban Bangalore, we observed that participants with early menopause had significantly lower cognitive performance and lower total gray matter and frontal lobe volume. We recommend increasing awareness of this fact among the medical community and the general public. There is an urgent need to explore the underlying biological mechanism and to discover effective interventions to mitigate the effect.

IJCM_240A: A cross sectional study to assess the health literacy among adults attending outpatient clinics at a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore.

Background: WHO defines health literacy as cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of people to understand, gain access and use the information to obtain good health. Inadequate health literacy has been linked to increased hospital admissions, poorer physical and mental health, lower use of preventive health services like vaccinations and screening tests. These ultimately lead to higher healthcare costs. This study was conducted to assess health literacy among adults attending outpatient clinics at a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Objectives: To estimate proportion of inadequate health literacy and its associated factors among adults attending outpatient clinics at a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult attendees (i.e., patients and companions) of outpatient clinics of a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Based on a study done by Almaleh. R et al. (P = 34.3%) with 7% absolute precision, the sample size was calculated as 200. A total of 200 adults attending outpatient clinics at the government tertiary care hospital were selected using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire for sociodemographic factors and HLS-EU-Q16 (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire short version) for assessing health literacy. The data collected was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS 21.0. Results: The proportion of inadequate health literacy among study participants was observed to be 38%. Factors like educational status, age, and gender were found to have an association with it. Health literacy was found to be least in lower-educated individuals. Conclusion: From the present study, it was found that a large part of adult population had limited health literacy. It should be addressed through proper interventions, like ensuring basic education and health awareness programmes.

A prospective study on health seeking behaviour and post exposure prophylaxis received by animal bite victims at the anti-rabies clinic in a tertiary care centre of urban Bangalore.

Rabies is 100% preventable by administering early and complete post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Animal bite victims must have the knowledge and attitude necessary to seek appropriate medical care at the earliest to receive the required PEP. The present study sought to ascertain the health-seeking behavior of animal bite victims, their knowledge and attitude regarding rabies prophylaxis, the PEP they received, and their level of compliance with the full course of anti-rabies vaccination. The study included animal bite cases that presented to the anti-rabies clinic and matched the eligibility criteria. All the required details were recorded using an internally validated structured questionnaire. All participants were followed up for six months to ensure their health conditions and compliance with the vaccination schedule. Out of 1058 respondents, 57.9% were adults, with 46.6% belonging to middle socioeconomic class. 91.1% of them were informed biting animals as dogs. Before arriving at the anti-rabies clinic, 93.3% of the study subjects washed their wounds, and 62.4% visited to another health facility. Rabies knowledge was inadequate among the study participants, only 54.8% being mindful about the disease and its prevention. The compliance with the full course of antirabies vaccination was found to be 77.9%. All subjects were healthy, confirming that PEP is safe and effective. Regular social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) needs to be implemented with regard to health-seeking behavior.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Expectancies Related to Cannabis Use: A Cross-sectional Community Study Among College Students from Bangalore, Karnataka.

Cannabis use among youth is increasing; this study aimed to assess college students' knowledge, attitude, and expectancies toward cannabis use. Cross-sectional survey using standardized tools among undergraduate and postgraduate college students in urban Bangalore, India (N = 405). Ten percent reported past three-month cannabis use, with 1% reporting daily use. Users were significantly older (median age 21, IQR 22,20 [vs. 20, IQR 21,19], p < .001) and belonged to families with higher monthly incomes (p = .02). Use was significantly higher among males than females (65.9% vs. 34.1%, p = .006) and postgraduate students than undergraduates (51.2% vs. 48%, p = .001). Users were also significantly more favorable toward cannabis use (median score 4, IQR 6,2 [vs. median 3, IQR 4,2], p = .005) and had more positive expectancies from use (median score 2, IQR 3,2 [vs. median 2, IQR 2,0], p = .001). Nearly 30% were unaware that cannabis can affect a person's ability to drive safely or that it can affect executive functions, including academic performance. Over one-third were unaware of the current legal status of cannabis in India. Overall, 36%, 25%, and 17%, respectively, said that cannabis use is safe when used for recreational purposes, cannabis should be legalized as it helps to relieve stress, and cannabis use among youngsters should be acceptable in society as it is "part of college life." Findings build on existing literature on cannabis use among college youth in India, which can guide preventive interventions and policies for this vulnerable group.

Immunization Status of Children 12-36 Months Age of Migrant Workers and Factors Associated with it in Urban Areas of Bangalore East.

Immunization is a cost-effective weapon against vaccine preventable diseases. Children of migrant workers suffer from lack of immunization because of frequent shift of places, poor knowledge, and low socioeconomic status. To assess the immunization status of children 12-36 months of age of migrant workers and factors associated it. To identify the reasons for non-immunization or partial immunization among these children. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 migrant workers' children aged 12-36 months residing in Urban Bangalore east from February 2019 to August 2020. A cluster sampling method was incorporated. The data were collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Epi-info™ Version 7.2.1 and SPSS version-21. Data were summarized in percentages, mean, standard deviation, and logistic regression. The mean age of the children was 25.2340 ± 8.42 months. Out of 500 children, 88.60% were fully immunized, 11.40% were partially immunized, and no child was unimmunized. Significant predictors of immunization status of children were education of father and immunization card. Common reasons for dropout were inconvenient time (80.70%), unaware of need (77.19%), and busy schedule of parents (75.44%). The dropout rate of BCG to MR-1, Penta-1 to Penta-3, and Penta1to MR-1 was 6.49%, 0.85%, and 2.12%, respectively. Immunization coverage in the present study was 88.60%. Inconvenient time was the main reason behind partial immunization.

A Study on Human Rights Awareness Among Quarry Mining Employees

Human rights are universal basic rights that give equal rights to all individuals irrespective of caste, creed, religion, language, color, or culture. Human rights include all fundamental rights such as the right to equality, education, work and to lead a life with dignity. Human rights help to resolve conflicts and address grievances and discrimination to create a sustainable society. The objective of the present study is to understand the level of human rights awareness among quarry mining employees particularly from the mining sector. There are very few studies that focused on the mining employees on social aspects. Hence, the study was undertaken to assess the level of understanding and awareness among quarry mining employees in urban Bangalore, Karnataka, India. For the said purpose, a descriptive quantitative study using survey–based method was applied and data was collected through random sampling using survey questionnaires. Statistics and thematic analysis on quantitative data indicate urban employees had a general awareness of the subject, but lacked the essential awareness, particularly in terms of economic, social, and cultural rights.

Comparison of Platelet Counts Estimated by Peripheral Blood Smear Examination and Automated Haematology Analyzer

Introduction: Platelet count estimation is one of the common as well as important investigations in clinical practice to diagnose many diseases like dengue, malaria, etc. Different methods for platelet estimations are available. These methods are manual counting semi-automated and automated hematology analyzer counting, platelet count estimation by peripheral blood smear (PBS) method, etc. Semi-automated or automated analyzers may produce erroneous results in the presence of particles or light scatter like giant platelets, fragmented red blood cells, and platelet clumps, so alternative methods like PBS examination can be used for validation. Aim: To compare platelet count estimation performed by the automated cell counter method and the PBS examination method. Objective: Peripheral Blood smear examination acts as a good quality control tool to validate the results produced by the automated cell counter. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Akshaya Health Centre, Urban Bangalore. The study included 100 random blood samples collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vacutainers over 3 months. These were analyzed by both peripheral blood smear and automated cell counter for platelet estimation. The statistical analysis was done for test performances and their comparisons by using the coefficient of variation (CV), linear regression, and mean differences with SPSS software. Results: No significant difference (p = 0.06635) was observed between the manual peripheral blood smear (PBS) method (platelets average per 100x, multiplied by 15000/ µl) of platelet estimation (207.13 ±15.898 x 1000/ µl) and that of automated cell counter platelet value (206.53 ±16.278 x 1000/ µl). A significant positive correlation was observed between the results of both methods (r=0.9995, p &lt; 0.001) when analyzed by the Pearson correlation test. Conclusion: The peripheral blood smear platelet estimation results are comparable with automated analyzer results. Hence, the PBS examination serves as a quality control tool in assessing the results of the automated cell counters.

Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure and Its Relationship With Anthropometric Risk Factors in Students of a Pre-university Girls' College in Bangalore: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background There is a growing concern regarding elevated blood pressure in adolescence. Children and adolescents with high blood pressure are at risk for adult hypertension. Being overweight and obese are important risk factors for hypertension. This study aimed to determinethe prevalence of elevated blood pressure and its association with anthropometric risk factors among students of a pre-university girls' college. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 337 students at a pre-university girls' college aged 15-19 years in urban Bangalore. A self-administered, semi-structured, pretested questionnaire collected the sociodemographic details, family history, and lifestyle. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were measured. Standard cut-off levels were used for body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-height ratio (WHtR). Resting blood pressure was determined using a digital blood pressure monitor. It was classified into normotensive, pre-hypertension (>90th to <95th percentile), and hypertension (>95th percentile). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Pre-hypertension and hypertension were considered as having elevated blood pressure. Results The prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension was 21.4% (n = 72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 17.0-25.7) and 9.8% (n = 33, 95% CI = 6.6-13.0), respectively. The prevalence of overweight was 20.2% (n = 68, 95% CI = 15.9-24.5) and obesity was 12.2% (n = 41, 95% CI = 8.7-15.7). WC, WHR, and WHtR were abnormal in 34.7% (n = 117, 95% CI = 29.6-39.8), 47.5% (n = 160, 95% CI = 42.1-52.8), and 45.7% (n = 154, 95% CI = 50.4-51.0), respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation betweensystolic blood pressure and BMI (p < 0.001), WC (p < 0.001), and WHtR (p < 0.001), as well asdiastolic blood pressure and BMI (p < 0.001), WC (p = 0.008), and WHtR (p = 0.011). Statistically significant differences in mean BMI (p = 0.004), WC (p < 0.001), WHR (p = 0.007), and WHtR (p = 0.001) between normal, pre-hypertensive, and hypertensive students were also noted. Conclusions Pre-hypertension and hypertension are fundamental problems in pre-university girl students. With a similarly increased prevalence of obesity and other anthropometric risk factors, students must be aware of hypertension and its risk factors.

Urban‐rural differences in the prevalence of Subjective Cognitive Decline in India: A comparative study

AbstractBackgroundSubjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), defined as a self‐experienced persistent cognitive decline with a normal performance in objective neuropsychological assessments is one of the first clinical manifestations of dementia. SCD has a strong association with depression, and more research is needed to understand the relationship between the two. When they co‐occur the risk of developing dementia increases. Despite the increased focus on the preclinical stages of dementia such as SCD there is limited research on its prevalence specifically in India. The present study aims to bridge this research gap by estimating the prevalence of SCD in India and assessing urban‐rural differences in its prevalence as well as sociodemographic factors.MethodThe study used data from two ongoing community‐based prospective cohort studies, namely the Tata Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TLSA) and Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence and COGnition (SANSCOG) in urban Bangalore and Srinivaspura respectively (Sundarakumar et al., 2020). Baseline data collected from 4429 participants aged 45 years and older were included in the analysis. The study used Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) scores and participants' responses to the questions pertaining to subjective cognitive impairment in Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to estimate the prevalence of SCD.ResultOf 4429 participants recruited between 2015 and 2022, a total of 1010 (22.8%) participants [median (IQR) age, 60 (15)] were classified as having SCD. As shown in Tabe1, the prevalence was higher in the rural cohort than in the urban cohort (25.1% vs 14.0%, p&lt;0.001). The rural cohort was also found to be comparatively younger (57 (15) vs 63 (14)), and have fewer years of education (4 (9) vs 15(2)). Depression was found to have significant association with SCD in both the cohorts, with more depressive symptoms observed in the rural cohort. As shown in Table 2, the prevalence of SCD was higher in women than men in the urban cohort.ConclusionThe study’s findings indicate that despite being comparatively younger, the rural cohort had a higher prevalence of SCD, potentially due to the protective effect of higher years of education in the urban cohort.

Sleep profile and its correlation with clinical variables in fibromyalgia syndrome: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveA scarcity of literature exists on sleep quality in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in Indian patients. The current study described the sleep profile of patients with FMS with poor sleep quality residing in urban Bangalore and determined the relationship between poor sleep and fibromyalgia variables. MethodsEighty-six patients with FMS were included in the study. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) were used to evaluate the sleep profile and fibromyalgia variables. Spearman's rank correlation, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used for the analyses. ResultsNinety-one percent of patients with FMS were identified as poor sleepers (PSQI >5). The mean PSQI global score of the included patients was 12.04 ± 3.5. The global sleep score varied with sex (p = 0.003) and fibromyalgia severity (p = 0.001). A significant correlation was found between PSQI global score and FIQR total score (r = 0.4, p < 0.001), FIQR subdomains (r = 0.2–0.4, p < 0.05), and FMS duration (r = 0.26, p < 0.05). The PSQI global score was also correlated with pain, depression, memory, anxiety, balance, and sensitivity (r = 0.2–0.3, p < 0.05). ConclusionSleep disturbance is highly prevalent in patients with FMS residing in urban Bangalore. Sleep quality tends to worsen in females with increasing FMS severity and duration but does not differ across other demographic variables. Sleep quality is significantly correlated with somatic as well as psychological variables. Future studies evaluating the predictors of poor sleep are needed to further corroborate these findings.

COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors in pregnant women in urban Bangalore, South India: A qualitative analysis

IntroductionThe World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020, and this was followed by a series of preventive measures that included social distancing, travel restrictions and lockdowns in India. Pregnancy is a vulnerable time, with several physical and psychological changes associated with it. The added burden of pandemic could lead to significant stress, and it would be helpful to understand the mitigating factors of stress in this population.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the mitigating factors associated with COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women.MethodsThe study was conducted in an Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC) in Bangalore that provides maternity care to low-middle income population. Antenatal check-ups are conducted here daily. Pregnant women visiting the clinic for routine antenatal care were approached and informed consent was sought for an interview. 295 women consented to participate in the study. The qualitative interview was conducted in a quiet room. Open ended questions were used to understand the participants’ personal, familial, occupational, and social factors related to COVID-19. The transcripts of the interviews were manually coded for recurring themes by two research assistants. These were examined and similar or identical themes were grouped together. These were further analyzed, and themes were summarized.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the participants was 24.9 (4.2) years, approximately half of the participants were in their first trimester and primiparous. The majority were high school educated and self-employed. 25% of the participants reported mild to moderate depressive symptoms assessed using PHQ-9. The most predominant theme among personal factors was negative emotions that included fear and anxiety. The uncertainty about the transmission and the lack of clarity about the causes during the pregnancy were the reasons for these fears. They reported that they found news and media more stressful. They reported that even though the lockdown restricted their movement, they enjoyed the time they spent with the family, especially their husbands. Most participants reported job loss, theirs and their husbands’ and had to encounter severe economic difficulties. However, the predominant theme was the social support that they received from family, friends, neighbors, and local governing bodies.ConclusionsSocial support was reported to be the most predominant factor that helped the pregnant women to cope with the problems presented during the pandemic. Social support, both instrumental and emotional were important mitigating factors for stress during the pandemic. Strengthening the social support system by support groups and community networking should be a crucial component in government- led initiatives as a factor that may promote resilience in difficult situations like the pandemic.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Rural South Indian spirometry values show wide variation compared to existing prediction equations.

India, a highly heterogeneous country, has no common reference standards for predicting spirometry values, with very few recent studies from south India. This study aimed to create reference equations for rural south Indian adults, based on a population-based survey in Vellore, south India and compare it with other equations from India. The data from 583 non-smoking, asymptomatic participants (30 years and older) from a spirometry-based survey for airflow obstruction (rural Vellore, 2018), were used to develop equations for FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FVC. The dataset was divided for development (70%) and validation (30%), by gender. Differences between observed and predicted values were assessed using the new equations and comparisons made with other equations from India. Predictions with Vellore rural equations were closest to the previous south Indian equations from urban Bangalore. However, the Bangalore equations led to overestimation of FVC values in males, and of both FEV1 and FVC values in females. Using the rural Vellore equations also led to a higher percent of males being classified as having airflow obstruction, compared to the Bangalore equations which underestimated airflow obstruction in this rural population. Comparison with previously derived Indian equations from other parts of the country showed pronounced variations. Our study reiterates the need for representative rural and urban studies of adults from various parts of India, to obtain region specific reference equations, given the wide variations in spirometry values in "normal" individuals, due to social heterogeneities of the Indian population and resulting complexities in defining normal.

Cutaneous Lyme Disease in a Child in Urban Bangalore.

Cutaneous Lyme Disease in a Child in Urban Bangalore.

Influence of Covid Pandemic on the Prevalence of Myopia in Urban School Going Children - Experiences of a Survey Study

Background Myopia is a common refractive error among children. Various studies have linked excessive near work and less outdoor exposure with increasing incidence of myopia among children. With the onset of Covid pandemic in 2020 education switched to online mode exposing children to digital media at an unprecedented scale. With strict lockdown measures in place outdoor activities became almost nil exposing all children to these known risk factors of myopia.Aim To investigate the prevalence of myopia among school children and compare it with pre-pandemic prevalence to assess influence of excessive screen exposure and less outdoor time among the urban school going childrenMethod This survey was carried out to assess the effect of increased screen time and less outdoor exposure on the eye health in children aged between 5 to 16 years using a validated questionnaire. After obtaining clearance from Institutional Ethics Committee informed consent from parents and assent from participants was taken. Information was collected and then compared with the previous studies to assess the change in myopia prevalence post-pandemic. Myopia Risk Factor Questionnaire containing five domains namely near work family history socioeconomic status outdoor activities and diet with a total of 55 questions was used to collect the information. The collected data was entered in Microsoft Excel 2007 and statistically analyzed.Results This study found the prevalence of myopia in Urban Bangalore school children as 22.79 which is higher than the previously reported prevalence of myopia in urban school going children indicating that Covid pandemic-related lifestyle changes might have impacted the eye health of children.Conclusion This study showed an increase in the myopia incidence in urban school going children after Covid pandemic. It was also found that childrens increased use of electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets affected myopia progression during the pandemic.

Effectiveness of Life Skills Intervention for Children From Disadvantaged Backgrounds: Insights Form 4-year Longitudinal Study

The present study examines the effectiveness of an After-School Life Skills (ASLS) intervention to improve the life skills of 110 students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds at public schools of urban Bangalore in south India. These students completed ASLS intervention from 2014 to 2018 during which the life skills were assessed on a yearly interval and the data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. The results show that ASLS intervention significantly improved the students’ life skills. Post hoc comparisons at time 1 shows that young students who participated in ASLS intervention significantly improved their life skills over the 4 years’ time, although no significant variances were observed between measurement periods. The overall effect was found to be significant in improving the life skills, which shows that integrating life skills education in the school curriculum is critical and a timely need.

Epidemiology of Animal Bite Cases of Children Attending Tertiary Care Center of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru: A Retrospective Study

Background Rabies or hydrophobia is an acute highly fatal viral illness of the central nervous system caused by Lyssavirus type 1. About 30ndash60 of rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years. Bites that occur in children go unrecognized and unreported. In up to 99 of the cases inland dogs are accountable for rabies virus transmission to humans.Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological pattern of animal bite cases of children up to 15 years of age attending the anti-rabies clinic. Methods A record-based retrospective study was undertaken in February 2022 from registers maintained in the anti-rabies clinic ARC of a tertiary care hospital.Results In this study out of 656 bite victims upto 70.3 were male children and about 29.70 were female children. 65.50 of the children were between 6ndash12 years of age. 98.5 of the cases were bitten by the dog. Based on area-wise distribution most of the victims came from urban Bangalore 69.5 among them 34.8 were referred for rabies immunoglobulin where the vaccination status was unknown. 95.70 of cases belong to category-3. Only 29.4 of the cases completed the anti-rabies vaccine schedule. The study also showed that the majority of bites are reported during April and May.Conclusion In our study we found that the majority of the bite victims are school-going children and most incidents were during summer vacations. Hence more awareness to be given to the public and in schools for the primary prevention of animal bites.

Blockchain: an EOM approach to reconciliation in banking

PurposeThe study aim is to evaluate the contribution of Blockchain technology (Cryptobanking) using expected operating model (EOM) to address the pain points in reconciliation at middle and back-office operational levels in assessing the significance of this technology on return on investment.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was designed to collect primary data using a stratified sampling method from 120 respondents working in leading Investment banks operating in the geographical locality of urban Bangalore. Demographic variables, accounting variables, data reporting variables, approach variables, variables of EOM were considered to validate the hypothesis with the help of statistical tools, namely ANOVA, and Multiple Stepwise Regression Analysis.FindingsThe results obtained confirm that there is significant difference in reconciliation with implementation of an innovative business process. Financial analysis is the highest predictor of ROI when integrated with technology as the adapted Blockchain innovation in reconciliation is the most influencing factor in enhancing, improving ROI playing a pivotal role in the Investment banks.Originality/valueBlockchain technology (Cryptobanking) facilitates in transforming the reconciliation process of these banks with improved operational efficiency. Blockchain and settlement platforms offer inter-organization solutions facilitating in the reconciliation of various transactions in real-time through a trust-based network in the form of digital settlements with better consortiums.

A trend analysis of people living with human immunodeficiency virus attending an anti-retroviral therapy centre in urban Bangalore

Background: HIV infection in India is a major public health problem. The anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre is the backbone of the national acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) control program (NACO). To assess the trend of new people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) registered at an ART centre in Bangalore and their treatment status.Methods: All the PLHIV registered at an ART centre from 1st January, 2009 to 31st December, 2018 were included in the study. PLHIV registered but not initiated on treatment, were excluded.Results: Out of 4428 PLHIV registered at an ART centre, 2964 were initiated on treatment. The youngest PLHIV registered was 6 years, oldest was 79 years and the decadal median age was 38 years. Majority (41.4%) were in the age group of 31 to 40 years. Predominant gender was male. A declining trend of new PLHIV, LFU/stopped/missed cases over the past decade was observed. The 1658 are alive, 402 died, 305 cases either missed, stopped or lost to follow up, 32 cases were opted out of the treatment and 567 cases were transferred out.Conclusions: A decline in number of new PLHIV, LFU, missed and stopped over the decade was observed.