The Journal of Community Health Management

97-103

Authors: Nanjunda DC

Public health and hospitals fall in the State list, others such as population control and family welfare, medical education, and quality control of drugs are included in the Concurrent list. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (UMHFW) is the central authority responsible for implementation of various programmes and schemes in areas of family welfare, prevention, and control of major diseases. In the case of health the term infrastructure takes on a wider role than mere physical infrastructure. Healthcare centres, dispensaries, or hospitals need to be manned by well trained staff with a service perspective. In this chapter we include medical staff health infrastructure is an important indicator for under standing the health care policy and welfare mechanism in a country. It signifies the investment priority with regards to the creation of health care facilities. India has one of the largest populations in the world; coupled with this wide spread poverty becomes a serious problem in India.

111-119

Authors: Jaimini Patel, Ruhi Varghese

Introduction: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an on major health problem worldwide. The numbers of infected people are on an increase. Knowledge and attitude toward prevention of the disease is necessary among higher secondary student. This study is aimed at assessing the knowledge and attitude about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among higher secondary studying in selected school of Vadodara district and correlation between knowledge and attitude. Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of HIV/AIDS among higher secondary students. To find out co-relation between knowledge and attitude of higher secondary student regarding prevention of HIV/AIDS. To find association between the knowledge and attitude level of higher secondary students and selected demographic variables. Method: Non experimental research was conducted among higher secondary student aged 15-19 years studying in a 12th stander student. Data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire and checklist developed with the help of existing literature, from 60 participants (students). Results: To assess the knowledge score of higher secondary students was 83.3% showed that had average knowledge and attitude scale of higher secondary students was 90% showed that had favorable attitude. The knowledge and attitude co-relation between negative co-relation. Chi-square was used to determine the association between the knowledge score and selected demographic variables and attitude scale and selected demographic variables. It is found that from the all variable significantly not associated with knowledge of higher secondary students so (H01) accepted and all demographic variables significantly not associated with attitude scale of higher secondary students so (H02) accepted. There were several misconceptions about the modes of transmission of the HIV/AIDS Prevention. Conclusion: The research approach adopted in the present study is an evaluative research approach with a view to measure the knowledge and attitude on prevention of HIV/AIDS in higher secondary students. The knowledge and attitude scores The data were interpreted by suitable and appropriate statistical method.

127-139

Authors: Jayaseelan R, Pichandy C, Boobalakrishnan N

Objective: The main objective of the study is to identify which social media is being mostly used by the medical professionals as an informative platform and to enhance their profession in a better way. Study design: Researcher embarked upon adopting an ‘Expost - Facto’ - Research Design, a non-experimental research design, extensively explored in social-science research, mostly relying on survey procedures. Method: To answer the research questions and to understand those intricacies, the researchers developed an attitude scale so as to measure those factors which are taken for the study. The researchers used gender, age, experience and education as independent variables and usage of social media as a dependent variable and selected medical professionals as samples from the state of Tamil Nadu which is the southern part of India with various levels of experience. After removing all incomplete samples, the final tally of respondents included in the study is 312. Results: The results of t-test reveals there is no difference between male and female respondents in terms of sharing information. The results of ANOVA reveals: There is a significant difference in sharing information on social media, discussing clinical issues, giving medical advice, monitoring the patients’ health and according to making friends there no significant difference with patients and Tukey HSD results revealed that there is no significant difference pair wise mean scores for all the networks regarding making patients’ as friends. Conclusion: The overall results of the study reveals there is a significant usage in sharing information, discussing clinical issues, giving medical advice to patients and monitoring them in emergency or critical situation through social media.

144-153

Authors: Seema Singh

Objectives- Falls in older people are a major concern in terms of disability, institutionalization, mortality and socioeconomic burden. Studies on falls in Indian older adults were reviewed to determine the prevalence, consequences, risk factors, and interventional strategies for falls. Data sources- MEDLINE, PubMed, Google, Cochrane databases, Internet searches and IndMED. Study selection- Studies on falls in older adults published in last ten years were found using the key words: falls, Indian older adults or older adults, prevalence, circumstances and consequence, injuries, risk factors, health, balance, and mobility. Data extraction- A comprehensive literature search was done. The search resulted in 20 publications:- 10 national published and 10 international published research studies. Data synthesis- The prevalence of falls in Indian older adults ranges from 14% to 53%. Falls result in considerable morbidity and mortality. Indian elderly people are facing challenges secondary to the changing socio-economic scenario, economic dependency, and decreasing family support. Fall-related injuries impose a substantial financial burden on older adults and their families, in addition to dependency for daily activities and activity restriction. Conclusion- Falls are an emerging public health problem and a barrier to active ageing in India. There is an urgent need for coordinated and collaborative efforts of health professionals, researchers, policy makers, and health care delivery systems to prevent falls and promote active ageing. Falls are potentially preventable. For older adults in the community, exercise programs and vitamin D supplementation in those with deficiency are highly effective in preventing falls. Psychoactive drug withdrawal, home visits, vision optimization and a multifactorial approach are also effective.