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PubMed1994

Iron nutritional status of adolescent girls from rural area and urban slum.

Iron nutritional status of adolescent girls belonging to an urban slum and rural areas was assessed by measuring serum ferritin levels. Overall anemia was observed in 25% of the girls irrespective of their urban rural residence. A higher percentage of rural girls (37.5%) especially below the age of 12 years showed evidence of anemia. Thereafter, the prevalence was similar in both urban and rural girls who had not attained menarche. With increasing age, urban girls who had attained menarche showed an increase in the prevalence of anemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 12 micrograms/dl) showed a progressive increase from 60% at < 12 to 28% at > 14 yrs especially in the girls not attained menarche in the girls not attained menarche in the rural area. Overall iron deficiency was of much higher order in the rural girls irrespective of the menarcheal status. Distribution of iron/folate tablets to cover girl population may go a long way to correct the anemia and iron deficiency in the vulnerable groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The prevalence of infection by intestinal parasites in an urban slum in São Paulo, Brazil.

Sedimentation parasitological examinations were performed in stool specimens from a random household-based sample of 407 dwellers, all age groups being represented, in a slum of São Paulo, south-eastern Brazil. Intestinal parasites were detected in 45.7% of the specimens. The most prevalent parasites in this population were Ascaris lumbricoides (23.8%) and Trichuris trichiura (17.2%); only 17 individuals (4.2%) harboured Giardia duodenalis and 6 (1.5%) harboured Entamoeba histolytica. Taenia and hookworm eggs were not found. Simultaneous infection by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was diagnosed in 34 subjects (8.4%). The prevalence rates of infection by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura (including those of mixed infections by both species) were highest among children aged 2-12 years. In samples positive for A. lumbricoides and/or T. trichiura, egg counts were done on Kato's thick smears and the results expressed as eggs per gram faeces (e.p.g.). The mean intensity of infection (measured as e.p.g.) in A. lumbricoides-infected subjects was highest among children aged 6-12 years and young adults under 25 years, while in T. trichiura-infected subjects the highest egg counts were observed in children aged 2-12 years. The frequency distributions of eggs of both nematodes passed by the host population were overdispersed. Moreover, a strong positive correlation (P < 0.0001) was observed between counts of eggs of both species passed by the same hosts.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of indoor air pollution on the respiratory system of women using different fuels for cooking in an urban slum of Pondicherry.

BACKGROUND: Some of the highest exposures to air pollutants in developing countries occur inside homes where biofuels are used for daily cooking. Inhalation of these pollutants may cause deleterious effects on health. We studied the effects of exposure to indoor air pollution from the use of cooking fuels on lung functions and respiratory symptoms in women aged 15-60 years. METHODS: The study was conducted in Kuruchikuppam, an urban slum in Pondicherry. The study participants were 105 women using biofuels, 105 using kerosene and 105 using liquid petroleum gas (LPG), selected from among 1117 women aged 15-60 years, by a stratified random sampling technique. These women were interviewed at home to collect information about exposure to fuel smoke and presence of respiratory symptoms. Lung functions were assessed by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Occurrence of respiratory symptoms over six months was noted by making monthly follow up visits. RESULTS: Women using biofuels experienced more respiratory symptoms (23%) than those using kerosene (13%;p > 0.05) or LPG (8%; p < 0.05). Lung functions-FVC, FEV1, FEV1% and PEFR-were significantly lower in biofuel users compared with both kerosene (p < 0.01) and LPG users (p < 0.001). Lung functions in kerosene users also were significantly poorer when compared with LPG users (p < 0.01). Predicted pulmonary functions using multiple regression equations, derived from the data set of the present study, indicated that women using biofuels were more liable to have reduced pulmonary functions than women using kerosene or LPG. CONCLUSION: Women exposed to biofuel smoke suffer more from respiratory illnesses and have decreased pulmonary functions compared with women exposed to kerosene or LPG smoke. To reduce pollutant exposures we recommend the use of smokeless chullas or cleaner fuels such as charcoal, biogas and kerosene.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of VDRL sero-positivity in women in reproductive age group in an urban slum community in Bombay.

A cross sectional survey was carried in an Urban Slum Community in Bombay having a population of 60,000. A total of 393 women in reproductive age group were screened for VDRL reactivity. The highest prevalence was in 15 to 29 years of age group. The sero-positivity rate at 1:8 dilution and above was 0.50%. The seropositivity rate can be further brought down by properly planned and implemented STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Control activities at a community level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Maternal nutritional knowledge and the nutritional status of preschool children in a Nairobi slum.

Most nutrition education programmes in Kenya operate on the premise that nutritional knowledge can have an impact on children's nutritional status. It has, however, been argued that nutritional knowledge among low income groups is unlikely to have an impact, hence, the need to establish whether there is a relationship between nutritional status and maternal nutritional knowledge. In a cross-sectional survey carried out in a Nairobi slum (Kibera), nutritional status of 363 children aged six to 24 months was measured and nutritional knowledge of their mothers assessed. Makina village was randomly selected as the study site and all consenting households were involved in the study. The study established that most mothers (97.5%) have access to nutrition education. Prevalence of stunting (86.2%) and underweight (58.4%) was high but that of wasting (1.9%) was low. There was no significant relationship between the nutritional status of children and overall nutritional knowledge. Unexpectedly, a negative relationship was found between nutritional status and mothers' ability to recognise clinical signs of malnutrition, knowledge in the weaning process and dietary management during sickness. Knowledge on frequency of feeding was, however, positively related to nutritional states. In conclusion, nutritional knowledge alone is inadequate in ensuring young children's nutrition security and, hence, for nutrition education programmes to have a positive impact, facilitational strategies must be incorporated.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Intestinal helminthiasis, nutritional status, and their relationship; a cross-sectional study in urban slum school children in Indonesia.

In a study of urban slum school children (276 boys and 231 girls), in Ujung Pandang, Indonesia, parasitological and anthropometric exams were cross-sectionally performed to assess prevalence and intensity of helminth infections and nutritional status. Prevalence of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm was 92%, 98%, and 1.4%, respectively. 91% children had both Ascaris and Trichuris infections. About half of the Ascaris- and Trichuris-infected children (46% and 58%, respectively) had moderate infections. Stunting was seen in 55% of the children, while wasting was observed in 10%. Boys had lower nutritional status than girls (p < 0.001), based on weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) Z-scores. Age had an inverse relationship with WA and HA Z-scores (p < 0.0004). A relationship between helminth infections and nutritional status was observed between log Trichuris egg count and WA and HA Z-scores after controlling for age, sex, and log Ascaris egg count (p = 0.048 for HA Z-score, and p = 0.058 for WA Z-score). The relationship was also found when Trichuris infection was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe infections (p = 0.017 and p = 0.001 for HA and WA Z-scores, respectively). Scheffe's test for multiple mean comparisons showed that Trichuris-infected children with above 1,000 eggs per gram feces had significantly lower nutritional status than lower epg or non-infected children (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for HA and WA Z-scores respectively).

Child↗
PubMed1998

Urinary incontinence in Thai elderly living in Klong Toey slum.

Seven hundred and three non-institutionalized Thai elderly living in Klong Toey slum were interviewed at home about their urinary symptoms and 114 cases of established urinary incontinence were identified. The prevalence of established urinary incontinence was 16.2 per cent. The commonest type is pure urge incontinence (58.8%). 24.4 per cent of male subjects with established incontinence had symptoms of outlet obstruction. 54.4 per cent of subjects were classified as severely incontinent. More than 50 per cent had at least one psychological impact and 7.9 per cent reported that their social lives were severely affected. Only 8.8 per cent had sought medical help before and only 30 per cent were willing to attend a specialist at a university hospital. The attitude of the elderly, the carers and medical doctors toward urinary incontinence has to be corrected. Urinary incontinence should be a public health issue in Thailand and there may be considerable scope for the provision of incontinence service at the primary health care level.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence & etiology of nutritional anaemias in early childhood in an urban slum.

The present study was carried out to find out the prevalence and etiology of nutritional anaemia among preschool children from an urban slum. Randomly selected 300 children aged 3 months-3 yr were analysed over a period of one year for estimating prevalence of nutritional anaemia. Prevalence was also assessed by the rise in haemoglobin after 8 wk of haematinic supplementation in 159 of the 300 subjects. Ninety anaemic children were evaluated for the etiology of anaemia. Prevalence of anaemia, as judged by WHO recommended 'cut-off' value of haemoglobin < 11 g/dl, was 76 per cent while comparable value of 74.8 per cent was derived by response to haematinic supplementation. Pure iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was detected in 41.4 per cent (37/90) of anaemic children. Vitamin B12 deficiency alone or in combination with iron was diagnosed in 14.4 and 22.2 per cent anaemic children respectively. Similarly folate deficiency, IDA with infection and anaemia of chronic diseases (ACD) was diagnosed in 2.2, 3.3 and 12.2 per cent cases respectively. Childhood anaemia continues to be a significant public health problem in preschoolers and iron deficiency is by far the commonest nutritional cause of anaemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency per se or in combination with iron is an important yet not commonly recognised cause of anaemias in preschool children in the community.

Anemia↗
PubMed1998

Disaster management knowledge attitude & practice of urban slum dwellers.

A KAP study was done in the area of Disaster Management in urban slums of Pune City. The Youth Organisations' members and the members of Mahila Mandals were the study subjects. It was found that there was marked improvement in the knowledge and attitudes of these subjects towards disasters. It is recommended that members of Mahila Mandals and members of Youth Organisations can act as 'frontline workers' in the situations of disasters after imparting some training in disaster management.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Trichuris vulpis infection in slum children.

Trichuris vulpis was identified in two children from urban slums. Both of them had nonspecific abdominal pain and one had episodes of diarrhea. Clinical recovery was good after treatment with mebendazole.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological correlates of dental caries in an urban slum of West Bengal.

The overall prevalence of dental caries was found to be 57.47 percent in an urban slum irrespective of sex, with a maximum of 75.88 percent in the age group of 5-9 years. Habit of taking hard and sticky food, bad oral hygiene were some of the important epidemiological correlates. Fluoride content of drinking water did not show any significant role.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Care of low birth weight babies in slums.

We studied 289 newborn infants from birth till one year of age. Low birth weight babies (less than 2.5 kg) were 52.9%. Boys suffered 9.7 episodes of sickness, and girls 8.6 episodes of sickness. The mean episodes of various sicknesses, and their impact on weight gain, feeding pattern and growth pattern are discussed. Six deaths were observed, of which 4 were among the low birth weight babies. Mortality in babies born less than 2 kg was 44.4% and above 2 kg was less than 1%.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Housing and environmental factors and their effects on the health of children in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan.

To examine the association of environmental factors (including housing) with respiratory infections and diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age, a cross-sectional study of 403 families was conducted in a squatter settlement of Karachi. In the 2-week period before the survey prevalence of diarrhoea and respiratory infections was 14.4% and 15.0% respectively. The factors significantly associated (p < 0.05) with diarrhoea in households in the multivariate analysis were: number of children under 5, regular cleaning of sewers, storage of water in small utensils and cooking inside a one room house. Five households risk factors were identified for respiratory infections: the number of children under 5, poor housing structure, increased household density, humidity inside the house less than the humidity outside house, and frequent cooking inside the house. These results suggest that children under 5 years of age in lower income areas are at additional risk to health because of poor environmental conditions.

Child Welfare↗