PREVALENCE OF TOBACCO USE IN GROUP C AND D EMPLOYEES IN A MEDICAL COLLEGE OF DELHI

One in three adults worldwide smokes tobacco and smoking is characterized by chemical dependence which falls into a model of chronic disease. Consumption of tobacco is a public health problem, which involves all age groups and all strata of people. This study aims to find out the prevalence of tobacco use and smoking and nicotine dependence among Group C and D employees of a medical college. We carried out a cross sectional study among 115 Group C and D employees of a Medical College, New Delhi, using predesigned and pretested questionnaire to describe the tobacco consumption and the Fagerstrom test to screen the patients with nicotine dependence. The data were collected and analyzed using EPI- INFO 3.5.1 version. Results showed that the prevalence of tobacco use in Groups C & D was 38% with significant male preponderance and out of these daily user group accounts for 28.7%. Prevalence of tobacco use was significantly higher in Group D being 51% as compared to 24% in Group C. Very high nicotine dependency was seen in age group 31–40 years, which was 57.1%. Around 58% of employees with middle school education were tobacco users and as education level increased, the proportion of tobacco users declined. With rising income level, the tobacco use decreased. To conclude, tobacco use among Group C and D workers in a medical college is high and the major concern is nicotine dependence. This also highlights the need of an educational package to decrease the use of tobacco and motivation for accepting treatment for nicotine dependence.

Authors: Aayushi Jain, Jugal Kishore, Jyotiranjan Sahoo. Research & Review: A Journal of Health Professionals 2011; 2-3 (1): 24-30

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice for tobacco control among dental professionals in the city of Delhi

To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental practitioners in Delhi concerning use of tobacco in their patients, a self-administered questionnaire was administered to conveniently selected 100 subjects consisted of students, interns, institutional, and private dental practitioners. Although knowledge about harmful effects of tobacco was high but only some advocate tobacco cessation practices actively, maintain records on tobacco use and follow-up on advice to patients to quit. However, all felt that there is a need to include tobacco cessation in their daily practice. Lack of formal training in tobacco prevention and cessation, lack of time, lack of resources and skills, not optimistic about the effectiveness of their counseling, and thought that it was not their role are most often cited to explain the reluctance of dentists and hygienists to provide tobacco cessation interventions. This is considered a lost opportunity for them which can be better utilized if they are trained for this important task.

Authors: Neha Gupta, P Jain, Jugal Kishore. Research & Review: A Journal of Health Professionals 2011; 2-3(1): 16-23.

http://www.stmjournals.com/index.php?journal=RRJoHP&page=article&op=viewFile&path%5B%5D=1440&path%5B%5D=277

Myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders and health-seeking behavior in Delhi, India

Objectives: To assess the perceptions, myths and beliefs about mental disorders and health seeking behavior in the India. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out with a sample of 436 subjects (360 subjects from urban and rural communities of Delhi; 76 medical professionals working in different organizations in Delhi). Pre-tested interview schedule consisting items on perceptions, myths and beliefs about causes, treatment and health seeking behavior for mental disorders was used. The collected data was statistically analyzed using computer software package Epi-info. Appropriate tests of significance were applied to detect any significant association. Results: The mental disorders could be because of loss of semen or vaginal secretion (Rural=33.9%; Urban=8.6%, professional 1.3%), less sexual desire (Rural =23.7%; Urban = 18%), excessive masturbation (Rural=15.3%; Urban=9.8%), gods punishment for their past sins (Rural=39.6%; Urban=20.7%; professional 5.2%), and polluted air (Rural=51.5%; Urban=11.5%; professional 5.2%). More people (37.7%) living in joint families than nuclear families (26.5%) believed that sadness and unhappiness cause mental disorders. 34.8% of rural and 18% of the urban subjects believed that children do not get mental disorders that means they have conception of adult oriented mental disorders. 40.2% in rural, 33.3% in urban areas and 7.9% professional believed that mental illnesses are untreatable. Many believed that psychiatrists whom they think are eccentric (Rural=46.1%; urban 18.4%; professional 37.9%), tend to know nothing and do nothing (Rural=21.5%; Urban 13.7%; professional 3.9) while 74.4% of rural, 37.1% of urban and 17.6% professional subjects do not know that the psychiatry is a branch of medicine. More people in rural areas than urban area think that keeping fasting or a faith healer can cure them from mental illnesses where as 11.8% of medical professional believed it. Most of the people like to go to someone close who can listens to their problems when they are said and anxious. Only 25.3 in rural and 34.7% in rural population would like to go to psychiatrist when they or their family members are suffering from mental illness. Conclusion: This study concluded that the myths and misconceptions are prevalent significantly more in rural areas than urban and medical professionals and need to be communicated to change their behavior for positive attitude to mental disorders so that health seeking behavior can improve.

Available from: http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/text.asp?2011/53/4/324/91906

J Kishore: Native Indians continue to suffer

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=CAP&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&AW=1312704124468

Native Indians continue to suffer

Repeated news of rapes and naked parade of Native Indian continue in India even after 64 years of independence. This is most unfortunate development for democracy. This can be view from various aspects: a) Retaliation of Brahmanic society against the rise of native Indians so called Schedule Castes and tribes; b) poor status of women in general; c) consequence of Indianized democracy; and other social and religious development. In a report published in the Times of India on 3rd August 2011, page 13 "Dalit Girl set ablaze for resisting rape". A class XII student on Johri Village of Sitapur about 90 Km from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh was attempted to be raped by two youths which she resist led to put her on fire. I can recall Manusmriti

"Uttaman Sevamanustu Jaghanyo Vadharhemati, Shulkan Dadyatsevaman: Samamichhetpita Yadi"

means if lower caste girl had sexual intercourse with upper caste male then she should not be punished. If upper caste girl had sexual intercourse with lower caste male then male should be killed (Manusmiriti 366).

"Sudra tu karyehansya Kritamkritamav Va, Dasyayaiv hi srashtosou Brahmasya swayambhuva (Manusmiriti 413) and "Na swamina Nisrashtopi Sudro Dasyadwimuchyate, Nisharganj hi Tatsya Kastasmatadpahati" (Manusmriti 414)

means Sudra (lower caste) servant should always serve Brahmin because Brahma (Creator) has created him for this work. Even Brahmin wish that Sudra should be released from his service he can not do so because it is his inherited god given work. According to Manusmriti 417 and 418, all property of sudra (lower caste) can be taken away by brahmin because sudra is not entitled for property and no property belongs to him/her.

This is what youths are learning from these rotten sacred scripts that how a Native girl can deny anything to them because she is their property and they can used it and no punishment can be given to them.

Many people will say, " now a days no body believes in Manusmriti or Ramayana or Mahabharata", but in reality they know themselves follow these principles. Everyday each native is suffering humiliation and psychological torture. There is no forum where statistics of torture on them and discrimination against them can be published. To prove that such discrimination exists in most advanced society in India I would like to reproduce another news report from the Times of India on 7th August 2011 on page 19 Delhi edition. Shobhan Saxena very nicely presented the agony and suffering of Medical Students and faculty belongs to Schedule Caste community in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, a premier medical institute situated in the heart of capital of India and few kilometer away from Parliament where everyday dozen of members of parliament and legislative visit for diagnosis and treatment their illness.

India needs to be reformed mentally, socially and spiritually. Physical and economical development would not help. Money never helps to change people rather it destroy empathy, love and relationship. Again people will not agree to me. But I can produce many examples where in spite of successful in business, politics and having gain huge material property they suffered and society continue to discriminate them. The AIIMS is best example for this. Present Government in Uttar Pradesh is another example. Mr. MK Gandhi (Mahatama Gandhi) was propagator of Verna vavastha (Caste System). Gandhi was promoted in each corner of India and abroad which helps in sustaining Caste system and Manuwad in the world. Out women and native Indian will continue to suffer till will reject sacred books, customs and people who support them.

Baba Ramdev: Unfortunate event for India

For so many years Baba Ram Dev ji had been barking on beneficial effect of yoga on every type of disease. Surprising to the scientific community and also to the Nobel claim of curing AIDS and cancer with his Ayurvedic medicine along with Yoga. Billions of dollar are poured in research to find out vaccine or drug which can completely cure HIV, cancer, H1N1 infection could be saved if world accept his claims. But Baba Ramdev think that India is world and whole human kind is similar to people of India. Lakhs of people doing to his Vaidya Shalas (Pharmacies) and getting ayurvedic medicine for their illnesses and majority get side-effects of these medicines instead of getting benefits. I have witness many of such cases where they have gone to Haredwar to the Ramdev’s Vaidya Shala and spent couple of thousand rupees and time but ultimately saved through modern medical intervention. According to Drug and Magic Remedies Act, such person who makes claims publically about the drug beneficial affect particularly in diseases like HIV and Cancer should be punished. This Act is clearly violated by most of alternative medicine practitioners.

On 3^rd he demonstrated another angle of his personality, which is more of social and political activist. It is important to raise some of critical issues of civil society but through yoga removing corruption, black money, and demanding change the language of medical science curriculum into Hindi, etc. appeared to be insane statements. I have heard many a time in various news channels where he claimed that he is not afraid of anybody and would be happy to scarify life if situation arise. According to government he made a deal by signing on paper to end up his dharna (Anshan) if his demands are met on next day which he refused to divulge to the public throughout the day. However, on 4^th Night when police intervene in his dharna (Anshan) then he ran away to escape arrest and crying in front of media regarding apathy of police. These all characteristics of Baba Ramdev is confusing to rationality and humanity. Many issues can be raised here regarding recent development in India. People want some change in socio-political situation for better life. In absence of scientific movement other forces such as Tantra, magic, religio-political and muscle powers are emerging and in the vacuum of rational and human values they can be dangerous.

On one side half of the children and women are suffering from malnutrition, and on other side few people are building empire of more than many million dollar. On one side a particular caste people carrying the other’s night soil on their heads and on other side some Indian people celebrate their birthdays in Switzerland. The most unfortunate to this country is well educated mass who are cornering very resource for their self benefit. They are happy to be labeled as blind for their faith and belief and proudly claiming to be Indian till their selfish motive fulfilled. I feel how person like Baba Ramdev ji, Satya Sai Baba, and Mata Amritanadamay , devi mata, and couple of babas regularly appearing on TV channels for the sermons. Many a time I am also listening to them on TV and frankly speaking I found nothing special or concrete solution to the human problem. No doubt many of them are good orators. But none of them worth to spent time and money to listen. If people want to spent time then it would be beneficial to hear the discourse on smoking, diet, healthy habits, human relationship, discovery and national geography channels. It is also beneficial to sit with family members, enjoy their company, eating food together, laughing, chatting, and sitting in silence. It is thrilling experience to listen music in silence. One can enjoy cooking, cleaning house, and just walking. The most beneficial to the society to decrease craving for material thinks and increase satisfaction in less possessions. Desiring for longer years of life with lot of material possession is not going to give peace and happiness whether claimed by Baba Ramdev or Osho Rajneesh or any other guru. Longer life is achieved by scientific development and more and more scientific fulfillment would lead to rational, logical, safer and human world.

Dr. Jugal Kishore

Director, Institute of Science and Human Value (India Chapter)

Fraud in Medical Entrance in India: Rich vs Poor

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted an admission racket at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) a premier medical institute of the country where answersheets for the postgraduate entrance test were being manipulated to favor some of the candidates. CBI raid on ten places in New Delhi and nearby areas. Person involved were including person running a coaching institution and AIIMS officials.

This news indicates that there must be many students got admissions in previous years in this premier medical institution who do not deserved but getting admission only because they can pay money to manipulate. This indicates high level corruption. This also indicates that merit does not have any value in India. Money can buy everything. Now we have more medical colleges run by private bodies than government in India. All of them provide admissions to students who can pay their capitation fee which is very huge and deserving poor students can not think of getting admission in such colleges.
This has been further certified by one of the senior professor who is regularly going to take part in counseling for PG conducted by Central Government.