Unmet Needs and Barriers to Assistive Technology in the Coastal Districts of Karnataka, India.

Background: Assistive Technologies (AT), such as hearing aids, walking aids, prostheses, spectacles, can improve the quality of life and enable many to lead dignified lives. The rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool developed by World Health Organization (WHO) can measure the needs of AT and the barriers to accessing them.

Objective: This study aimed to measure the unmet needs and the usage of AT via the rATA tool in the coastal state of Karnataka in India.

Assistive technology usage, unmet needs and barriers to access: a sub-population-based study in India.

Background: Assistive technology (AT) is essential to minimize functional limitations. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of needs, met and unmet needs for AT, and barriers to accessing AT among a subnational population in India.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in eight districts, representing four zones of India, using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool.

Dermatological Symptoms among Polyester Dyeing and Printing Workers in Mumbai.

Background: Textile is one of the important sectors in the Indian economy. The use of synthetic chemicals is maximum during the wet processing technique, which consists of dyeing, printing and finishing.

Aims And Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of occupational dermatological symptoms among the workers employed in the dyeing and printing unit of the textile industry.

Operative stabilisation versus non-operative management of mid-shaft clavicle fractures.

Introduction: Fractures of the mid-shaft clavicle are commonly encountered in clinical practice. These can be managed either by conservative method or operative by internal fixation. This study aims to compare the outcomes of conservative and operative management.

Assessment of health status and impact of pollution from thermal power plant on health of population and environment around the plant in Udupi District, Karnataka.

Background: Coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs) have a serious impact on soil, air, and water quality resulting in deterioration of health and environment around the plant.

Objective: The present study was undertaken with the objectives of assessing the respiratory health status of the population around the plant and to measure selected heavy metals in fly ash, air, water, and soil samples.

Materials And Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted among 3533 adult residents living in two strata within 10 km radius around the TPP in Udupi district of Karnataka state.

A comparative study of operative and conservative treatment of intraarticular displaced calcaneal fractures.

The treatment of intra-articular displaced calcaneal fracture is debatable. We conducted a prospective study to compare operative and non-operative treatment for intra-articular displaced calcaneal fractures. Patients were assigned to two groups based on the treatment given (operative and nonoperative) and were regularly followed for a period of 1 year.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding biomedical waste management among operation room personnel in a tertiary care center.

Background And Aims: Biomedical waste management is an important issue of concern to all healthcare personnel as inappropriate management has the potential for serious infections and noninfectious injury to patients and care providers. Operation room is a department in the hospital wherein large amounts of waste are generated on a daily basis. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding biomedical waste among operation room personnel.

Effect of muscle energy technique with and without strain-counterstrain technique in acute low back pain - A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Muscle energy technique (MET) and strain-counterstrain (SCS) technique are found to be effective as a sole treatment of acute low back pain (LBP), but the combined effect of these two techniques has not been evaluated.

Objective: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the added effect of SCS to MET in acute LBP patients.

Methods: In this trial, 50 patients were randomly allocated to MET or MET-SCS group to receive the assigned two treatment sessions for two consecutive days.

Building global partnerships through shared curricula for an MPH programme in India and Sri Lanka.

Objective: To design and implement a locally relevant competency- based MPH programme.

Methods: The demand for trained public health professionals in South Asia is enormous and growing, which created a unique opportunity for a Fogarty International Center-funded University of Alabama at Birmingham-South Asia [Aga Khan University, Pakistan; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India; and University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka] international research training in environmental and occupational health (ITREOH) programme. In 2009, a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree programme was designed using a combination of competencies developed by the Association of School of Public Health, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Occupational Health and Role of Gender: A Study in Informal Sector Fisheries of Udupi, India.

Background: Fisherwomen are informal sector workers involved in post-harvest operations and are mostly engaged in peeling, trading, and processing of fish. High degree of wage disparity and gender inequalities results in different socioeconomic status of fisherwomen and fishermen. This study aimed to identify gender issues and their effect on the health status of fisherwomen.

Psychological impact on caregivers of HIV-infected children in Udupi district, Karnataka.

Caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS (CLWHA) face unique challenges due to disease-related stigma and discrimination, isolation from society, financial constraints, grief and mortality of loved one. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Udupi ART centre to assess the caregiver burden, psychological distress and their associated factors among the caregivers of CLWHA in Udupi District. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data from 171 caregivers and analysed with the help of SPSS version 15.

Postpartum related morbidities among women visiting government health facilities in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India.

Background: Maternal morbidities are considered a leading contributor to the burden of disease among women. Especially, if postpartum morbidities are left untreated, this can cause a negative impact on the quality of life. The study was conducted to determine the proportion and types of postpartum morbidities among women visiting government health facilities in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka and to find out the association between the morbidities and various factors.

Occupational stress and health-related quality of life among public sector bank employees: A cross-sectional study in Mysore, Karnataka, India.

Background: Occupational morbidities have been estimated to cause an economic loss up to 10-20% of the gross national product of a country. It is an important cause of occupational morbidity and decreased quality of life (QOL) for the workers.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the level of occupational stress and its association with the QOL among the public sector bank employees.

Dermatological and respiratory problems in migrant construction workers of Udupi, Karnataka.

Background: India being a developing country has tremendous demand of physical infrastructure and construction work as a result there is a raising demand of construction workers. Workers in construction industry are mainly migratory and employed on contract or subcontract basis. These workers face temporary relationship between employer and employee, uncertainty in working hours, contracting and subcontracting system, lack of basic continuous employment, lack basic amenities, and inadequacy in welfare schemes.

Ocular Morbidity among Students in Relation to Classroom Illumination Levels.

Objective: This cross-sectional study was done to find the prevalence of eye strain and other ocular morbidities among students in Udupi, Karnataka.

Methods: The study protocol included interview, visual acuity examination using Snellen chart, and measuring classroom illumination through lux meter.

Results: 26% students had visual morbidity and the most prevalent symptoms of eyestrain were headache (38.

Risk of oral cancer associated with gutka and other tobacco products: a hospital-based case-control study.

Background: Although tobacco deaths rarely make headlines, tobacco kills one person every six seconds. Tobacco kills a third to half of all people who use it, on average 15 years prematurely.

Aim Of The Study: To study the risk of oral cancer associated with gutka consumption and other tobacco products.

Quality of Life among Persons with Physical Disability in Udupi Taluk: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Disability is not just a health problem or attribute of individuals, but it reflects the problems individuals experience in their interaction with society and physical movements. Disabled persons remain neglected part of society and they also experience various barriers due to restriction of participation.

Objectives: The aim was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of physically disabled persons, the impact of physical disability on activities of daily living (ADL) and to study the awareness about laws and facilities available for disabled persons.

Studying risk factors associated with human leptospirosis.

Background: Leptospirosis is one of the most under diagnosed and underreported disease in both developed and developing countries including India. It is established that environmental conditions and occupational habit of the individuals put them at risk of acquiring disease, which varies from community to community. Various seroprevalence studies across the world have documented emerging situation of this neglected tropical disease, but limited have probed to identify the risk factors, especially in India.

Psychosocial Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Therapy at Udupi District, Southern India.

Background: Life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) on antiretroviral therapy has appreciably increased. However, psychosocial challenges pose a great threat to their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to determine psychosocial factors influencing health-related quality of life of PLHA on antiretroviral therapy.

HIV-TB coinfection: Clinico-epidemiological determinants at an antiretroviral therapy center in Southern India.

Background: HIV-TB (tuberculosis) coinfection has emerged as a major public health threat. Given the multifactorial enabling environment in a resource-constrained setting like India, the consequences are of epidemic proportions.

Aims: This study was aimed at identifying the clinical and epidemiological determinants underlying HIV-TB coinfection.

Prevalence of Anemia among Tribal Women of Reproductive Age in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka.

Context: Anaemia is a major public health problem in India. Many studies have emphasized on prevalence of anaemia among general population. This study has focussed to address the prevalence of anaemia among the tribal population in Udupi taluk.

MPH program at Manipal University, India-experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

Background: The UAB-ITREOH program has initiated a skill-based MPH program at Manipal University (MU), India, in 2009, to address the critical need for trained public health professionals and build institutional public health training capacity in the country.

Methods: Funds from Fogarty have supported the curriculum development and specialized training of MU faculty to teach in the MPH program.

Results: The program has been successfully launched and is gaining momentum.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among cashew factory workers.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are impairments of the bodily structures, such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or the localized blood circulation system, which are caused or aggravated primarily by the performance of work and by the effects of the immediate environment in which work is carried out. Types of work in the cashew factory include cutting, peeling, grading, packing, and boiling. All these activities have risk factors for the musculoskeletal disorders, which include repetition, contact stress, forceful contraction, awkward postures, as well as sustained positions.

Secondhand smoke exposures in indoor public places in seven Asian countries.

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a major threat to public health. Asian countries having the highest smoking prevalence are seriously affected by SHS. The objective of the study was to measure SHS levels in hospitality venues in seven Asian countries and to compare the SHS exposure to the levels in Western countries.

Prevalence and determinants of tobacco use in a highly literate rural community in southern India.

Background: The adverse effects of tobacco use on the health of an individual are well known. It is essential to identify factors leading to tobacco use to plan strategies to limit its use. Education is known to influence the prevalence of tobacco use.