Indian Journal of Preventive Medicine

 Adoption is a way to give children the security, a sense of belonging and the unconditional love they need. Adoptive parents have permanent, legal parental rights and responsibilities to the children they adopt. Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status and as such requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction. Adopting a child is not a easy procedure. To adopt a child, individual or couple have to understand the various steps and procedures which prevents many legal and ethical problems in future. Many of us are still not aware of what all has to be done before adopting a child or what are the measures to be taken by the prospective parents before they undergo the process of adoption. Adoption laws are common across India and must be distinguished from guidelines followed in adoption procedures, which do differ from one state to another.

Keywords: Adoption; Parents; Agency; Law; Social Security.

Background: Cancer, which is defined as abnormal growth of cell, can affect any tissue or organ of body. Cancer is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Prevalence and pattern of cancer is known to vary from region to region. Epidemiological information on cancer including the pattern is an important basis for determining the priorities for cancer control in any population group. These days the world is heading towards various types of non-communicable diseases, which are also known as modern epidemics. Among these modern epidemics cancer is the second commonest cause of mortality in developed countries. In the developing countries cancer is one among the ten commonest cause of mortality. Objective: Present work is an attempt to study magnitude, profile and some epidemiological aspects in relation to cancer cases at a tertiary care level teaching hospital. Material and Methods: The present hospital based retrospective study was conducted for the period 1st May 2016 to 31st May2016. Cancer cases diagnosed by all methods or treated during this period were identified from the inpatient registers maintained by the Medical Records Department. All records were studied and analyzed. A total of 422 patients were treated during the period of study. A semi structured Performa was used to collect data such as age, sex, place of residence, type of cancers and treatment given. The data collected were entered in to MS-Excel sheets and analysis was carried out using software spss 20. The information obtained was tabulated and presented in percentages, and numbers. Significance was calculated using chisquare test. Results: A total of 422 cancer patients were treated during the May1st 2016 to May 31st 2016. Among them, 237(56.2%) were females and 185(43.8%) were males. The study revealed that Breast cancer (74 cases, 17.5%), Lung cancer (17 cases, 4%), Cervical cancer (18 cases, 4.3%), Oral cancer (38 cases, 9%) and 208 cases (49.3%) constitute remaining other cancers. Age and sex distribution revealed maximum number of cancer patients were present between 61 to 70 years (22.3%). In males, majority of cases were present in 61-70 Year’s age group (30.81%) and females majority of cases were seen in 41-50 year age group (23.6%). Study sample revealed 46.9% cancer cases (198 patients) residing in urban areas and 53.1% cases (224 patients) were from rural areas. The main methods of cancer treatment were surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, used alone or in combination. Conclusion: Tobacco and alcohol related cancers predominated in males. In females, breast cancer predominated over breast cancer. Human behavior is a major determinant in the successful control of cancer. Understanding cancer magnitude, risk and trends will be of help in cancer control.

Keywords: Cancer Profile; Tertiary Care Centre; Breast Cancer; Lung Cancer.

 Introduction: Mobile phone growth in India has been fast and it has reached all segments of society, especially the young. The cell phone is ever-present on college campuses and is frequently used in settings where learning occurs [5]. College students find the mobile phone to be an important window through which they can communicate and interact with the world. College students as a group appear more vulnerable to developing dependence on the mobile phone than any other segment of society. Materials & Methods: Type of study: Cross-sectional study. Study area: Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Kumbhari, Solapur. Study population: MBBS students of the Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Study duration: 2 months, Study instruments: pre- designed Questionnaire and clearance from the college Ethics committee. Results: students ranging from an age group between 18-23 yrs took part in the study, of which, 144(48%) were females and 156(52%) were males. The parental income-majority (65.3%) falls under the group 5lakhs-10lakhs. More than three forth (89%) of students had android operated phones. In the present study on an average at least 3 mobile phones were replaced by each student since the start. The average cost of mobile used by the students was 16117 Rupees . The average age at which mobile phone was first used was found to be 16.8yrs and the average monthly expenditure made was found to be 219 rupees. Every student who participated in the study had internet enabled on their phone. Conclusions: The mobile phone use had an adverse impact on the students in terms of psychological effects, cutting sleep and hampering studies. The data is indicative of nomophobia to be an emerging problem of the modern era. Multicentric studies are required to assess the real problem and thereby take appropriate steps to tackle the growing problem. make the students aware of the fact that mobile phone indeed serves as an educative tool. Our study paves way for further research regarding which specific educative tools are likely to help the medical students quench their thirst for knowledge.

Keywords: Sociodemographic Factors; Mobile Usage; Nomophobia; Cross Sectional Study.

 Normal level of thyroid hormones is important for normal hepatic function and thyroid abnormality may affect the metabolic functions of the liver. The aim of the study was to determine the biochemical markers (especially enzymes and proteins) of Liver Function Test (LFT) in patients with hypothyroidism and their possible correlation with thyroid profile. Materials and Methods: Thyroid profile and liver function tests (LFT) were evaluated in 60 primary hypothyroid cases and compared it with age matched normal euthyroid controls after applying exclusion criteria. Fasting venous sample was used for analyzing the parameters. Statistical analysis was done using Students ’t’ test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was done to establish the relationships between the parameters. Results and Observations: Subjects with primary hypothyroidism had significantly raised serum AST, ALT, ALP and total protein levels when compared to controls. Conclusion: Primary hypothyroidism is associated with significant derangement in biochemical parameters of liver function. Hence, liver function tests should be regularly monitored in primary hypothyroid patients.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Liver Enzymes; Total Proteins.

 Background: Postnatal period is a critical phase in the lives of mothers wherein most life threatening complications and maternal and infant deaths occur. Yet, this is the most neglected period for the provision of quality care. Almost half of postnatal maternal deaths occur within the first 24 hours and 66% occur during the first week. Objectives: i) To study the utilisation of post natal maternal health services in a rural area. ii)To study the socio demographic co relation of utilisation of post natal maternal health services. Methodology: A cross sectional community based study was carried out in a rural area of Panvel Taluka between Oct 2015 to Nov 2015. 210 women who had delivered in the last 5 years were included in the study. Analysis: was done using SPSS version 20 and applying appropriate statistics. Results: 72% women did not receive postpartum check-up within 1 week. Education was found to be the most significant determinant of post natal care utilisation. The major component of services in PNC period were seen to be physical examination (84.7%) and counselling on breastfeeding (86.6%), contraceptive advise 40%. Almost 50% were told about the warning signs in postpartum period. Only 8% were advised to be tested for anaemia and only 20% took IFA tablets. Conclusion: PNC visit within 1 week of delivery remains a neglected aspect. Other components of post natal care like warning signs and anaemia in postpartum period need to be emphasised.

Keywords: Post Natal Care; Utilisation of Maternal Health Services; Rural.

 Background: Mosquito borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya form a major public health problem in Kerala. Entomological surveillance of aedes mosquito has been standardized on different indices like House index, Container index, Breateau index. In a survey covering 6 wards under the urban field practice area of MES Medical College 97.6% were found positive for mosquito breeding. Hence it was decided to conduct intensive awareness programmes. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the impact of intensive awareness programmes on vector density over 2014-2015. Methodology: An interventional study was conducted in Ward 29 under the urban field practice area of MES Medical College between May 2014 and November 2015. Baseline larval survey was conducted in 2014, once in the pre monsoon period (May) and three serial surveys were done following heavy rains in September, north east monsoon in October and post monsoon in November. 30 random houses were selected from ward 29 for each larval survey. A survey was conducted during December 2014 to identify the gaps in their knowledge and intensive awareness classes on mosquito borne diseases and control measures were conducted during the succeeding four months (January – April 2015). Larval surveys were repeated again in May, September, October and November in 2015. House Index, Container Index and Breateau Index were calculated. Results: All indices in the year 2014 were above the critical level and following the intensive awareness classes the indices came down but still above critical level [HI= 75, 41.5; CI= 54.34, 14.7; BI= 81,38.46]. To conclude the intensive awareness programmes were effective in reducing the menace.

Keywords: Vector Survey; Potential Breeding Sites; Positive Containers; House Index; Container Index; Breteau Index.

 Introduction: The risk factors of pre-eclampsia have to be identified early in order to preventeclampsia, placental abruption and other life-threatening complications to mother and newborn. Objectives: 1. To find association between psychological stress and pre-eclampsia. 2. To study the risk factors of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women admitted for delivery in a district hospital. Methodology: This case-control study recruited 100 pregnant women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and 200 gestational age-matched controls. Age of the mother, parity, diet, previous abortion, pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes, family history of hypertension and multiple gestation were assessed. Psychological stress was assessed using Cohen’s PSS- 10 instrument. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Results: Median PSS score was 14 among cases and 13 among controls. (P value = 0.045). Being a homemaker (aOR = 2.67; 1.32-5.38), first pregnancy (aOR = 3.13; 1.771-5.534), history of previous abortion (aOR= 1.61; 1.23-9.53), oral contraceptive pill use within one year of pregnancy (aOR= 7.88; 1.66-37.40) and BMI > 23 kg/m2 (aOR = 2.40; 1.35-4.29) showed significant association with pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: Interventions to manage emotional stress during pregnancy may be helpful in preventing the development of pre-eclampsia.Antenatal care should focus on these risk factors and prevent complications of pre-eclampsia.

Keywords: Antenatal Care; Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale; Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy; Maternal Health; Pre-Eclampsia; Psychological Stress.