Indian Journal of Community Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Premarital Genetic Compatibility Matching: A Public Health Perspective.","authors":"Sneha Sagarkar","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_721_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_721_25","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"758-759"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537791/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cost Analysis of Community and Inpatient Approaches to Managing Severe Acute Malnutrition in Four Indian States.","authors":"Rajesh K Sinha","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_424_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_424_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Due to limited evidence regarding the cost analysis of the community and inpatient approaches of managing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the government settings in India, there is a lack of willingness to scale up these programs. This study assessed the treatment costs of uncomplicated SAM using locally prepared nutrient-dense food in the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) program, delivered through Anganwadi centers, and complicated SAM at nutritional rehabilitation centers (NRCs), in four Indian states.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Costs of treating a child with SAM in the CMAM program and in NRCs were estimated from a provider's perspective in the government settings and compared. Costs were estimated in 2021 US dollars. A one-way sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The costs per child treated in the CMAM program in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh states of India were $167, $122, $165, and $167, respectively. The respective costs per child treated in the inpatient care facilities at NRCs were $249, $331, $170, and $229. The treatment costs for both CMAM and NRCs vary with the number of admissions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The CMAM intervention to treat uncomplicated SAM cases in the government setting is less costly than their treatment at the NRC. CMAM can effectively complement inpatient management in high-burden states in India.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"719-725"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Tele-Counselling in Prevention of Morbidity among Low-Birthweight Babies: A Community-Based Quasi-Experimental Study in Western Uttar Pradesh.","authors":"Shivangi Agrawal, Renu Agrawal, Pankaj Kumar","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_374_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_374_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neonatal deaths remain a significant global health concern, with low birth weight (LBW) being a major contributing factor. Tele-counseling emerges as a scalable strategy to complement existing efforts to reduce neonatal morbidity.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This was a community-based quasi-experimental study conducted with 80 LBW neonates, non-randomly assigned to intervention (tele-counseling) and control groups. The intervention group received structured tele-counseling for eight weeks, covering neonatal care aspects, including breastfeeding, hygiene, vaccination, thermal care, and danger sign recognition. The control group received routine postnatal care without tele-counseling.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis used: </strong>Data were collected through a semistructured questionnaire and analyzed using Chi-square tests and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exclusive breastfeeding rates significantly improved in the intervention group (22.5% to 90%). Hand hygiene practices also showed a significant improvement (37.5%-85%). Morbidity incidence was lower in the intervention group (22.5%) compared to the controls (45.0%), with statistical significance (<i>P</i> = 0.033).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Tele-counseling is an effective tool for improving neonatal care practices and reducing morbidity among LBW infants. Integrating tele-counseling into national health initiatives such as Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) can enhance neonatal survival outcomes, particularly in underserved regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"733-739"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537804/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Policy Silences and the Case for Dedicated Legislation for Street Sweepers in India: Policy Content Analysis using the READ Approach.","authors":"Gajalakshmi Selvaraj, Abraham Prince Durai Elangovan, Sudalai Subramani, Mahalakshmy Thulasingam","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_741_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_741_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Street sweepers play a vital role in sanitation through solid waste management. They are exposed to a number of occupational hazards, including dust, infectious agents, ergonomics-related disorders, and injuries. Street sweepers are identified as sanitary workers and also municipal solid waste management workers, resulting in fragmentation of guidelines, manuals and legislations governing street sweepers. This necessitates a comprehensive review of existing policy, legal and implementation guidelines, which might apply to street sweepers in India. Content analysis of both policy and nonpolicy documents following the READ approach was done. Thrust areas related to health and safety measures were identified through thematic extraction of health and safety recommendations from the systematic reviews. The document search resulted in one key occupational health policy, four legal documents and nine implementation documents. The policy document analysis identified three key thematic areas, including Enforcement and Compliance, Standards and Awareness and Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation. It was found that there is no separate legislation governing the occupational health of street sweepers. The standards for equipment used, manuals, and job rotation are still in formative stages. There are no fixed medical criteria for joining and continuing as street sweepers. The thematic area research, monitoring, and evaluation was poorly represented. Street sweepers require separate legislation to govern their occupational health and safety. Appropriate standards for equipment, medical criteria for sweepers and regular monitoring should be set up. Researches should be carried out to explore the health risk of sweepers, especially ergonomic and respiratory-related illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"603-610"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral Patterns Behind Tobacco Smoking among Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital of a Developing Nation.","authors":"Aayushi Goyal, Juhi Kalra, Aswani Kumar Seth","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_387_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_387_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Globally, more than one-fifth of smokers end up being hospitalized due to consequences. Hence, the study was designed to explore the behavioral pattern of smoking among patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted among 50 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North India. The participants were categorized into groups using the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI). In-depth interviews using an interview guide were conducted with participants from these groups. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to identify themes and subthemes. The natural history of tobacco addiction was presented using concept maps.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All participants were male with a mean (SD) age of 51.0 (16.5) years, and the median (IQR) duration of smoking was 20.5 (5.9, 21.2) years. The majority (60%) of participants had moderate to severe addiction. Five major domains emerged drivers of smoking initiation (peer pressure, community norms, and individual curiosity), continuation of smoking (perceived benefits, normalization, concealment, and lack of familial regulation), consequences of smoking (progression to serious illnesses such as COPD, TB, and cancer, and social/familial conflict), thoughts of quitting (triggered by illness, medical advice, social disapproval, and family pressure), and failure to quit (nicotine dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and persistent peer influence).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Smoking behavior among hospitalized male patients is shaped by complex interplay of their own willingness, peer and community influences, perceived benefits, and limited early awareness of harm. Medical illness and healthcare advice often initiate quitting intentions, but dependence and social pressures hinder cessation.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"657-665"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Usage of Electronic Gadgets on Sleep Quality and Physical Activity Levels Among Undergraduate Nursing Students in Karnataka, India.","authors":"Asvita Pinto, Riona Dsouza, Viola Fernandes, Shabaan Ahmed, Merin Antony, Sathwik Patkar, Ashna P Koshy, Ansuya","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_709_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_709_25","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The rapid increase in the use of electronic gadgets has markedly transformed the lifestyle patterns of young adults. These devices have become indispensable tools for communication, academic learning, and leisure activities. However, excessive use of electronic gadgets-particularly during evening hours and before bedtime-has been associated with disturbances in sleep patterns. Additionally, increased reliance on electronic devices (EDs) for leisure activities has contributed to reduced levels of physical activity among young adults, raising concerns about their overall health and well-being.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to assess the extent of ED usage and explore its relationship with sleep quality and physical activity levels among undergraduate nursing students in Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed between January 2025 and June 2025 among undergraduate nursing students in Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka. A total of 380 students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, including a demographic proforma, an electronic gadget usage questionnaire, the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), and a physical activity level questionnaire.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Statistical analysis revealed that the mean age of the participants was 19.86 ± 1.4 years, and 62.9% of the students resided in hostels. Smartphones were the most commonly used devices (59.7%), followed by the use of multiple EDs (38.9%). A substantial proportion of participants (70%) reported using electronic gadgets for multiple purposes, including academics, social communication, and entertainment, and 40.3% reported spending 3-4 h per day on non-academic screen time. The majority of respondents (91.6%) demonstrated moderate levels of electronic gadget usage, while 66.6% reported poor sleep quality. With regard to physical activity, 55% of participants exhibited low activity levels. A statistically significant weak negative correlation was observed between electronic gadget usage and sleep quality (ρ = -0.213, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), and the correlation between electronic gadget usage and physical activity was weakly negative but not statistically significant (ρ = -0.090, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; = 0.080). In contrast, a significant positive correlation was found between physical activity and sleep quality (ρ = 0.195, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Ordinal logistic regression showed that extreme gadget usage is associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio [OR]-5.16; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), and the linear regression model examining the association between electronic gadget usage and physical activity was statistically significant (R² = 0.0483, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). The results indicated that the usage of electronic gadgets was associated with poorer sleep quality and lower levels of physical activity among students.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"666-673"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-Service Training of Stakeholders Working for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in an Eastern State of India: A Pre and Post- Training Assessment.","authors":"Vikas Bhatia, Prajna Paramita Giri, Manish Taywade, Swayam Pragyan Parida, Binod Kumar Behera, Sandeep Das","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_693_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_693_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) are among the most marginalized tribal communities in India. The uptake of government-led health and nutrition programmes by them is low owing to the geographical remoteness of their habitats, communication gaps between service providers and PVTG communities, and distinct cultural beliefs. Under the \"Jiban Sampark\" (\"Connection with Life\") project-a collaboration between the Government of Odisha, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and AIIMS Bhubaneswar-a structured training of trainers (ToT) programme was implemented to build the capacity of stakeholders serving these communities. The objective of this study was to implement and assess the effectiveness of the training programme on the knowledge of stakeholders working for PVTGs in tribal districts of Odisha, an eastern state of India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A single-group pre-post (before-after) interventional study was conducted in 12 tribal districts from April 2019 to January 2020. Six modules were developed and vetted by subject experts for the training of different stakeholders including health officials, officials from Women and Child Development (WCD) departments, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) personnel, and functionaries of the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) and the Odisha PVTG Empowerment and Livelihood Programme (OPELIP). Three-day residential trainings covered six modules; knowledge was assessed across five domains-childhood malnutrition, adolescent health, antenatal and postnatal care, newborn care and immunization, and communication in service delivery-using a pretested, content-validated 20-item questionnaire administered immediately before and after training to 231 of the 242 participants trained.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean total knowledge score improved significantly after training compared with before training (13.80 ± 3.78 vs 11.55 ± 5.19; paired <i>t</i>-test, <i>P</i> < 0.001). All five domains improved significantly by McNemar's test (all <i>P</i> < 0.0001). The pre-test overall knowledge was lowest among OPELIP staff and health functionaries (8.41 ± 3.03 and 9.16 ± 2.49, respectively). The post-test scores of health functionaries were highest across all domains, and their overall improvement was statistically significant (9.16 ± 2.49 vs 15.48 ± 4.19; <i>P</i> < 0.001). WCD functionaries, who had the highest baseline score, showed a significant decline in total score (14.85 ± 6.37 vs 12.82 ± 3.96; <i>P</i> = 0.023).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The assessment of pre- and post-test results revealed a significant improvement in the knowledge of stakeholders across most domains and cadres. Hence, an administrative mechanism within the government system is needed to impart training to all stakeholders at regular intervals and to monitor the cascade training of frontline workers (FLWs).</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"686-693"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537773/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating Sexual and Gender Minority Health in Medical Education: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Rachita Balakrishna, Shruti Temkar, Surama Manjari Behera, Priyamadhaba Behera, Shada Mohamed Saheed","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_666_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_666_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience significant health disparities worldwide, many of which are exacerbated by barriers encountered within healthcare systems. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on integrating SGM health into medical education, identify barriers to implementation, and examine the impact of educational interventions on learner outcomes. Scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2010 and December 2024 using terms related to SGM populations, LGBTQ+, medical education, curriculum, and cultural competency. Studies involving SGM-related educational content for medical students, residents, faculty, or healthcare professionals were included. Data were charted and synthesized thematically. Twenty-two studies were included. Three major themes emerged: stigma affecting the quality of SGM healthcare, widespread deficiencies in provider competency, and the positive impact of educational interventions on learner outcomes. Key barriers to curriculum integration included limited time, a lack of faculty expertise, institutional resistance, and the absence of standardized frameworks. However, interventions like workshops, online modules, and community engagement improved cultural competency and preparedness to provide affirming care. The findings highlight that persistent gaps in SGM-related content remain across medical education globally. Integrating evidence-based, culturally appropriate SGM health education into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula may improve provider competence and help reduce healthcare disparities. Further research should evaluate standardized curricula, faculty development strategies, and long-term educational outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"611-618"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537783/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Coping Mechanisms and Associated Factors Among Adults with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Using Glucocoper and Stress Coping Behavior Scale: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western Rajasthan.","authors":"Shweta Pal, Gomathi Arumugam, Suresh K Sharma, Mamta Nebhinani","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_172_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_172_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Coping mechanisms-cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage stress-are often compromised in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), increasing the risk of unrecognized mental health disorders (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984; Carver <i>et al.</i>, 1989).</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of the study was to assess the coping mechanism in adults with T2DM.</p><p><strong>Settings and design: </strong>This was a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Clinic, Pratap Nagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study that used consecutive sampling through face-to-face interviews with 418 adults with T2DM. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test indicated that the data deviated significantly from a normal distribution. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Acceptance emerged as the predominant coping strategy. Participants had a mean Glucocoper score of 8.09 (possible range: -16 to + 38; higher scores indicate more positive coping) and a mean Stress Coping Behavior Scale (SCBS) score of 98.89 (higher scores indicate greater use of coping behaviors). Coping scores did not differ significantly according to gender, religion, educational status, occupation, treatment type or duration, number of medications, body mass index, blood pressure, recent random blood sugar level, duration of T2DM, comorbidities, diabetes-related complications, or family history of diabetes (all <i>P</i> > 0.05; r or η² ≤0.04). Age was the only factor significantly associated with coping scores, with higher mean ranks observed among participants aged 50-60 years (222.21) compared with those aged 40-50 years (194.13) and 30-40 years (185.27) (H = 6.434, <i>P</i> = 0.040, η² =0.011). Disease management status demonstrated a nonsignificant trend toward higher coping scores (U = 16,169.0, <i>P</i> = 0.086, r = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Acceptance was identified as a positive coping mechanism among adults with T2DM, with healthcare workers being the primary information source. While age was statistically associated with coping scores, the very small effect size suggests minimal practical relevance, and therefore, this finding should not be overinterpreted. This study describes coping mechanisms and their associations with psychosocial factors. As a cross-sectional study, no causal or intervention effects can be inferred. Further longitudinal and interventional research is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"710-718"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prehospital Practices and Clinical Profile of the Patients with Snake Envenomation Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Series.","authors":"Dishani Dey, Lakshmi Ramamoorthy, S Manu Ayyan, H T Lalthanthuami, Swetha Ramesh","doi":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_160_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_160_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Snake envenomation is a common life-threatening medical emergency, especially in rural areas where limited access to healthcare and a lack of awareness about proper first-aid procedures often lead victims to rely on traditional healers before seeking modern treatment. These practices, such as the use of tourniquets, pressure immobilization, and native concoctions, might result in adverse outcomes and cause delays in seeking medical assistance.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This Case series design was conducted to identify the prehospital practices among patients with snake envenomation who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. The study included 100 adult participants with definite characteristics of snake envenomation. Consecutive sampling was used to select participants, and data collection focused on clinico-epidemiological profiles and prehospital practices, including traditional remedies and first aid measures. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation or median, and associations were assessed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants had a mean age of 45.5 ± 15.6 years, with male predominance (71%) and the highest incidence in the 31-45 age group (33%). Most were from rural areas (94%). The median time from the bite to hospital admission was 90 minutes (IQR 4-180 minutes). 56% of participants used various methods before reaching the hospital. Washing the bite site with water and soap was the most common (19%), followed by topical native concoctions (17%) and pressure immobilization (17%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study showed that various prehospital practices among patients were associated with threefold higher odds of delay in arriving at the hospital. The public should be educated to prevent unnecessary delays in transporting patients to the hospital because of these practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":45040,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Community Medicine","volume":"51 4","pages":"750-755"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13537768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}