No abstract

Context: Garment Industry is considered to be the second-largest employment sector in India. Occupational health problems among workers are often ignored, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) accounts for the majority of it. The leverage of a healthy workforce is indispensable in the smooth running of the country's economic machinery. Aims: To find out the prevalence of WMSD among the workers and to assess the relationship of WMSDs with sociodemographic, behavioral, and occupational factors. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2017 to August 2019 among 222 workers in three garment factories located in a municipality area of south 24 Parganas District, West Bengal. Methods and Material: Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, occupational differentials, and morbidity profiles were assessed using a pre-designed, pre-tested schedule. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 16.0. Logistic regression was done to determine the associates of WMSDs. Results: Most of the workers were males (70.27%), belonged to the age-group of 36–55 (42.34%) and were illiterate (33.78%). WMSD was prevalent among 70.72% of the workers. Presence of WMSD was significantly associated with educational status{illiterate (OR: 3.59; CI: 1.56–8.22), below secondary (OR-2.89;CI: 1.26-6.62)}, sitting job (OR: 2.02; CI: 1.01-4.03), unsatisfactory working environment (OR: 8.38; CI:1.95–36.06), and level of distress {mild (OR-2.89;CI: 1.26-6.62), moderate-severe (OR: 6.98; CI: 1.46–33.25)}. Conclusions: Improving health awareness and periodic health check-up is the need of the hour for the sustenance of the massive workforce, which can be achieved through the integration of basic occupational health services (BOHS) with primary health care (PHC) infrastructure.

Background: Demanding clinical and academic environments have been potential sources of stress among nursing students. Inability to cope effectively often potentiates this stress. If not intervened early, this may have a detrimental effect on health and may eventually affect the future workforce in rendering care. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the levels and sources of perceived stress and coping behavior among undergraduate nursing students in West Bengal. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two nursing training institutions in West Bengal, from July to September 2018, using a validated pretested self-administered questionnaire comprising demographics, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and coping behavior inventory (CBI). Students having at least 6 months of clinical exposure were invited to participate. Of 256 eligible students, 182 returned completed questionnaires, giving an overall response rate of 71%. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS 16.0 software. Results: “Stress from assignments and workload” and “problem-solving” was the most prominent stressor and coping behavior (Factor rank 1) respectively among students. Statistically significant correlation was observed between overall mean PSS and CBI score ( r = 0.306, P < 0.01). Years of education, self-decision to join, increased screen time, staying at hostel significantly predicted stress ( R 2 = 0.248, F = 9.640, P < 0.01), and coping behavior ( R 2 = 0.223, F = 10.077, P < 0.01) among students. Conclusions: Stress from academics and clinics were high among nursing students. As they are the future carers, it is apt to intervene early to mitigate their stress and enhance their coping skills during professional training and practice.

India’s scheduled tribe population very often bears the brunt of inequity in accessing health care. The mixed-method research assessed the health care–seeking behavior (HSB) of a tribal community residing in the eastern fringes of Kolkata metropolis. An adult, preferably the head, in 209 households was interviewed followed by qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders. Conceptual framework of Andersen’s behavioral model helped in identifying the potential predisposing, enabling, and need factors that influenced HSB. A total of 25.4% respondents reportedly sought informal care during last illness episode. Multivariable hierarchical-regression model (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.381) showed that respondents’ education level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.52 [1.22-5.21]), household size (AOR [95% CI]: 3.14 [1.41-6.95]), nonenrollment to health insurance (AOR [95% CI]: 2.47 [1.08-5.59]), decision making by household head (AOR [95% CI]: 2.40 [1.23-4.71]), distance from the nearest urban primary health center (AOR [95% CI]: 3.18 [1.44-7.03]), and poor perception to illness severity [AOR [95% CI]: 2.24 [1.07-4.72]) were significantly associated to inappropriate HSB. Predominant health system barriers that emerged from qualitative interviews were irregular logistics, unfavorable outpatient timing, absence of female doctors, and nonretention of doctors at local urban primary health center. Community level barriers were poor awareness, self-medication practices, poor health insurance coverage, and poor public transportation. Recognition of these determinants may help in developing health promotion interventions tailored to their needs.

Background: Preventable medical emergencies and accidents accounts for a major share of mortality worldwide. First-aid is the provision of initial, on spot management for an illness or injury, meted out by a trained person, who is not an expert, till professional medical assistance is available. School children have often been projected as a potentially promising agent for radically revolutionizing the health scenario of our society, if properly mentored. The aim of study was to assess the changes in knowledge and attitude of adolescent school children towards first-aid management, after appropriate educational intervention.Methods: It was a school based quasi-experimental study conducted among 201 adolescent children. Baseline knowledge and attitude about first-aid management of selected medical emergencies were assessed using pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. Then, educational intervention was administered in the form of lectures and demonstrations. Post-interventional evaluation was done using the same questionnaire, after two weeks of intervention. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16.0.Results: Health professionals (29.2%) and teachers (26.1%) were the primary source of knowledge. Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test was carried out to determine effect of intervention on knowledge and attitude scores of the students. There was a statistically significant increase in knowledge (Z=-10.982, p<0.001) with large effect size (r=0.54) and an increase in attitude, though not statistically significant (Z=-1.949, p=0.05) with small effect size (r=0.09).Conclusions: There is a need for a uniform, interactive module including hands on activities and periodic mock drills to be incorporated as a separate entity to encourage participation.