Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine

1-6

Authors: Itisha Singh.

The hair perforation is a prominent feature in several infected hairs. Different types of perforators are found in human hairs. Various types of hair perforations were seen in different individuals in this study. Other structure and type of hairs, their chemical structures are also reviewed in order to consolidate important aspects of hair diagnosis.

12-18

Authors: Mahesh C. Sharma, Dayanand Singh, Kusum Lata Gaur, Dilip Raj.

Background: Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) is India’s response to the challenge of meeting the holistic needs of children below six years of age, adolescent girls expectant and nursing mothers through the network of Anganwadis. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of Anganwadi Workers of Jaipur Zone (Rajasthan) India. Materials and methods: 8 AWCs were selected from each of the 5 Zones of Jaipur. So, total 40 AWCs were included in the present survey. Performance of each of the AWW from identified AWCs was assessed as per the ‘Form no. (1)’ of ICDS. Performance of various districts and various activities were analyzed and inferred in proportion and percentages. Results: 100% of AWWs of Jaipur zone was well aware about the care of pregnant women and lactating women except Kangaroo Method Care (KMC) which is known to only 10%. All the surveyed AWWs had knowledge about Infant feeding and family planning except the advantage of breast feeding which were know to 72.5%. Referral services about children, pregnant women and lactating mothers were known to 80% of surveyed AWWs. Conclusion: Knowledge of AWWs was excellent except Kangaroo Cara Method, advantage of breast feeding and Referral services.

23-26

Authors: Shilpa K, Amit R Ugargol, Harshal Kawanpure.

Background: Medical profession is a much chosen profession today. It is a noble profession, which requires a great deal of commitment. Ignorance of medical students or doctors can endanger the lives they handle. The present study attempts to find out the medical knowledge of students joining MBBS and the association between medical knowledge and family members being doctors, type of admission (government, management, NRI) and reason for joining the course. Methods: The present study was carried out among 100 first year MBBS students of Azeezia medical college, Meeyannoor, Kollam on the first day of the joining of MBBS course. The study was done in the month of September 2014.Data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire. It consisted of 50 questions related to medical knowledge. Questions were all of multiple-choice type. Data was collected and was analyzed using SPSS software (20 th version). Chi square test was used to find out the association p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 92 students, the performance of 44 (47.8%) was good (score 40-50), 38 (41.3%) were average (score 30-39) and 10 (10.9%) were poor (below 30). 31(33.7%) were male and 61(66.3%) were female. Among the 92 students, 44(47.8%) were admitted under government seat, 32(34.8%) under management quota and 16(17.4%) under NRI seat. The relationship between type of admission and performance was highly significant (p = 0.000). The reason in 88(95.7%) students for joining MBBS was by their own interest, 1(1.1%) under peer pressure and 3(3.3%) on family interest. We found that the relationship between reason for joining MBBS and performance was significant (p=0.03). Conclusions: Our study showed that the medical knowledge among students joining MBBS was average. There was no relationship between parents being doctors or family members being in the medical profession and medical knowledge of students. Those who joined on their own interest rather than under peer or family pressure had better knowledge than others It was sad to notice that some of the students were not aware of the duration of the course and many of them were ignorant of even the basic things.

35-40

Authors: Sumit Saxena, S. B.Gupta, Peeyush Kariwal, V. P. Shrotriya.

Background: Most of the population strongly believed that chickenpox can be cured with home remedies only and their child has to be treated at home. They believed the superstitions that chickenpox was due to their past evils against the spirit of devi and as the deity is the guardian of the locality, this disease can be cured by Goddess only. Objective: To study beliefs and practices regarding Chickenpox and effect of sociodemogrphic variables. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the field practise area of community medicine among women in reproductive age group(15-45years), whose children already suffered from Chickenpox were chosen for study. Total 400 women were interviewed by using pretested semi structured questionnaire which was designed by obtaining the information by women of the villages, ASHA & AWW. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Most of the women, 314(78.5%) believed that chickenpox is supernatural disease. Out of 400 women, 346(86.5%) believed that chickenpox is a supernatural disease and performing the rituals would solace the deity and the child will not suffer again. Conclusion: As per study findings we concluded that in era of advanced medical research and vaccination, still people are using different practices to avoid angriness of deity. They still live in the dilemma that disease can be cured by Goddess only.

44-48

Authors: Donald S. Christian.

International travel is a growing industry and millions of international travellers arrive and depart all through-out the world in this jet age. International travellers are prone to have certain health risks. It includes physical problems, psychological problems, Infectious Diseases, Injuries etc. The health risk to the travellers also depend on the various factors like destination, duration of travel, season of travel, purpose of travel, standards of accommodation etc. Thus it is a big challenge to public health in that way. Travellers with pre-existing diseases pose additional threat to their health. There are certain infectious diseases for which mandatory vaccination is required (e.g. Yellow Fever). SARS, Ebola virus disease and Swine flu are the recent examples which greatly influenced the international travel. Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) and the Hajj Pilgrimage are the two important categories of international travellers worldwide. The International Health Regulations (IHR) aims to prevent, protect against, control and provide public responses to the international spread of diseases. International responses and collaborations are required to combat the public health issues emerging out with rapid international travel. The roles and responsibilities of the travel industry professionals as well as the travellers are also discussed.