Indian Journal of Preventive Medicine

Keywords: Evidence-Based Public Health; Evidence-Based Preventive Medicine; Journals’ Policies; Journals’ Analysis; Research Evidence.

Vitamin-A Deficiency (VAD) was a public health problem in 1960s. For prevention and control of VAD, a National Prophylaxis Programme against Nutritional Blindness due to vitamin-A deficiency was initiated in 1970. There has been a steady decline in the prevalence of VAD during last 40 years. The nutritional blindness due to VAD is no more documented; however the programme of universal Vitamin-A Supplementation (VAS) is being continued in the country. Presently, the VAS is possibly being done for reduction in under 5 mortality. The current evidence of VAS on under 5 mortality is poor. In the year 2000, Universal VAS was done in campaign mode by Assam government in collaboration with UNICEF. The deaths were reported amongst children which led to poor credibility of the state government for all community based programmes. Judicial enquiry of VA related deaths in Assam convicted state government and UNICEF for negligence and ordered them to pay compensation to the families of children who died due to VAS in campaign mode. Thus, areas with VAD should be identified and the VA prophylaxis and treatment for VAD should be undertaken. What the poor children need is more “FOOD” – not pills, tablets or sprays. Make food intake adequate enough to provide basic energy needs, needs of VA and other nutrients would be met. The sustainable solution of prevention and control of VAD is through promotion of the intake of green leafy vegetables and local available foods. 

Keywords: Acute respiratory infections; Health care settings prevention; Treatment; Vaccinations. 

Keywords: Kuppuswamy’s Socio-Economic Status Scale; All India Average Consumer Price Index; Family Income Per Month. 

Keywords: Tobacco Use; Knowledge; Attitude; Cessation; Rural Area. 

Keywords: Child to Child; Environmental Hygiene; ORS; Personal Hygiene. 

Keywords: Multi-Drug Tuberculosis; Demographic Factors; RNTCP. 

 Background: Hypertension is an important risk factor for CVD and a major public health problem in developing countries around the world. All over the world among all annual deaths, 12.8% deaths are due to hypertension which is about 7.5 million deaths, which accounts 57 million disability-adjusted life years (DALY’S). Objectives: (a) To estimate the prevalence of hypertension among secondary school teachers of Belagavi city. (b) To know the associated risk factors influencing hypertension. Material and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from Feb 2014 to Oct 2014 in Belagavi city among 400 secondary school teachers. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information about demographic and socio-economic factors. Anthropometric measurements were taken for assessment of risk factors of hypertension. An analysis of data was done by using SPSS software version 20 and percentage for prevalence and chi-square to find out association. Result: Prevalence of hypertension among secondary school teachers was 13.25% (14.1% in males and 13.0% in female). Hypertension increases as age advances in both males and females. Hypertension was associated with age, marital status and body mass index. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension among secondary school teachers was high. Sex,  marital status and body mass index were significantly associated with hypertension.