Papers by Pranita Taraphdar
National journal of community medicine, Apr 1, 2023
This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Comm... more This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, adapt, and build upon the work commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given, and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, Jul 1, 2016
Safe drinking water, basic sanitation & hygiene is one of the prime concerns globally. Hand washi... more Safe drinking water, basic sanitation & hygiene is one of the prime concerns globally. Hand washing with soap is a cost effective way of reducing diarrhoeal disease, acute respiratory infections. But a substantial numbers of women in India have lack of access to these basic facilities & poor practice of hand washing. An observational cross sectional study was undertaken among 300 mothers of under 5 children attending NRS Medical College during three months period, to assess the water & sanitation facilities available to them & their knowledge & practices regarding hand washing. 51% of mothers had piped drinking water supply, only 35% purified water, principally by boiling. 20% of participants practice open field defaecation in spite of having access to latrines. Hand washing practice of mothers regarding timing & material used was good. More emphasis must be given to improved access of water, sanitation facilities as well as their utilization & also on hand hygiene behaviour & knowledge of mothers.
Journal of family medicine and primary care, 2022
Background: The health-related problems of the tribal population depend on their ecology and cult... more Background: The health-related problems of the tribal population depend on their ecology and culture. Often the tribal people do not utilize the medical and preventive health services available to them. Health problems in tribal groups need special attention because many tribal communities are backward. The current study was planned to determine the healthcare-seeking behavior of the tribal population in India. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted by interviewing key respondents of each participating family. Result: Two-thirds of the key respondents were literate and half (53.8%) of the total households in the three villages had a per capita monthly income between Rupees 500-1499. More than half (57%) of all respondents preferred government institutions for moderate illness, and the rest equally opted for private practitioners and quacks. However, for emergencies, dog bites, and snake bites, all key respondents in the three study villages unanimously preferred government institutions. A significant population (38.5%) got their children delivered at home. The majority of illiterate respondents (86.1%) preferred government institutions for health care of under-five children, while 60% of literates expressed a similar view. The choice of government institutions as a source of health care was increasingly favored with decreasing per capita monthly household income. Conclusion: Traditional healers are no longer preferred among the tribal population but they are reluctant to avail them because of the loss of valuable time. Home delivery is still prevalent. With improving socioeconomic status, people are going further away from government services as private practitioners, and quacks take less time.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, Mar 29, 2023
Mental health is an integral part of our general health and well-being and a basic human right. A... more Mental health is an integral part of our general health and well-being and a basic human right. According to the world health organization (WHO), mental health is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". 1 Mental health can exist on a complex continuum, with experiences ranging from an optimal state of well-being to debilitating states of great suffering and emotional pain. Although most people are remarkably resilient,
Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal, 2016
Background: Examination of specimens obtained through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is importa... more Background: Examination of specimens obtained through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is important and often the initial diagnostic technique performed in patients with suspected malignant lung lesion. Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of cytological findings of bronchial washings (pre-and post-bronchoscopy) and bronchial brushing in the diagnosis of lung malignancy with histopathology of bronchial biopsy, taking the latter as the confirmatory diagnostic test. Settings and Design: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in a tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods: A total of fifty patients with suspected lung malignancy (clinically and radiologically) were included in this nonrandomized cross-sectional study. Bronchial brushings were obtained from all fifty cases. Prebiopsy bronchial washing (washing collected before the brushing and biopsy procedure) and postbiopsy washing (washing at the end of the procedure) were collected. Results: Prebiopsy (prebrushing) and postbiopsy washing showed high specificity of 92.31%, but a very low sensitivity of 32.43% and 35.14%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of brushing were found to be 74.36% and 81.82%, respectively. Positive predictive value of prebiopsy (prebrushing) washing, postbiopsy washing and brushing are 92.31%, 93.55%, and 92.86%, respectively. There was no significant difference in sensitivity between prebiopsy (prebrushing) and postbiopsy washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA= 0.99). However, there was statistically significant difference between sensitivity of brushing with prebiopsy (prebrushing) washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA = 0.0012793) and postbiopsy washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA = 0.00310282). Conclusions: Bronchial washing cytology in combination with brush cytology aids in the early diagnosis of lung malignancy in addition to histopathology.
National Journal of Community Medicine
Background: Chronic cardiovascular morbidities are major public health concern. The objective was... more Background: Chronic cardiovascular morbidities are major public health concern. The objective was to assess awareness and practice of selfcare activities among patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity in Burdwan Medical College (BMC) and to explore constraints in selfcare practice. Materials & Methods: A facility-based, explanatory sequential, mixed-method study was conducted in Cardiology super-specialty outpatient department of BMC, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 185 patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity were selected randomly; interviewed with predesigned, pretested schedule (adapted from H-SCALE) for quantitative component. For qualitative component, eight study participants, selected purposively, were interviewed with In-depth-interview guide. Multivariable logistic regression was done to find out predictors of selfcare practice. Thematic inductive analysis was done to explore constraints. Results: 73% study participants were aware about overall selfcare pra...
National Journal of Community Medicine
Introduction: During menopause, women experience various psychological or physical changes which ... more Introduction: During menopause, women experience various psychological or physical changes which need adequate attention. Moreover, women don’t seek help for these problems due to their hesitancy, lack of awareness, socio-cultural, financial constraints or as they feel this is a natural-phenomenon. The study aims to explore the postmenopausal experiences faced by women during menopause and to elicit the constraints faced by them in seeking health-care services. Methodology: This was a qualitative study with phenomenological approach conducted among post-menopausal women (≥45 years) from Oct 2022-Jan 2023 with the help of In-Depth-Interview guide in four villages of Bhatar Block, Purba-Bardhaman District. Considering the availability of the study participants, they were selected purposively from the list prepared by ASHA of each village and recruitment done till the point of data-saturation. Inductive thematic-analysis was used to identify codes and themes. Results: During menopause,...
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Background: People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability... more Background: People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability and mortality. Bidirectional link between mental illness and HIV/AIDS accelerates the disease progression, reduces willingness to access health care, promotes high risk behavior, leads to low medication adherence, and ultimately results in poor disease outcome. The present study was conducted with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Burdwan medical college and hospital and to find out the association if any, between sociodemographic characteristics and CMD among the study population. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 410 adult PLWHA, selected through systematic random sampling, registered at ART clinic of Burdwan medical college and hospital, West Bengal during October 2022 to February 2023. Interview of each study subject, wit...
Indian Journal of Public Health, Oct 1, 2009
Early coital debut is a significant predictor of HIV infection. A cross-sectional, observational ... more Early coital debut is a significant predictor of HIV infection. A cross-sectional, observational study of HIV/AIDS patients attending the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (CSTM), Kollata, carried out for a period of six months from May to October 2006; found that 32.2% of patients had sexual initiation before 19 years. The mean age of coital debut was 22.47 years for males and 18.62 years for females. 62.3% women had experienced sexual intercourse before 19 years. The first sexual partner was the spouse in ''91.8% females and 42.9% males. Coital debut at younger ages was significantly higher among female patients less than 35 years of age, those educated less than middle school, staying in rural areas, not belonging to Hindu religion and not having commercial sex at time of sexual initiation.
International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health
Background: Elderly depression is major public health concern. It causes significant morbidity an... more Background: Elderly depression is major public health concern. It causes significant morbidity and mortality burden worldwide. The study aimed to estimate prevalence of elderly depression in a rural area of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal and to ascertain their level of perceived social support. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Bhatar community development block of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal, during period of August 2022 to January 2023. A calculated sample of 238 elderly people were selected by simple random sampling and interviewed with a predesigned, pretested schedule containing geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for assessing depression, Katz index for independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and multidimensional scale for perceived social support (MSPSS) to assess level of perceived social support. Multivariable logistic regression was done to find out predictors of elderly depression. Results: Out of 238 study partic...
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Background: The health-related problems of the tribal population depend on their ecology and cult... more Background: The health-related problems of the tribal population depend on their ecology and culture. Often the tribal people do not utilize the medical and preventive health services available to them. Health problems in tribal groups need special attention because many tribal communities are backward. The current study was planned to determine the healthcare-seeking behavior of the tribal population in India. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted by interviewing key respondents of each participating family. Result: Two-thirds of the key respondents were literate and half (53.8%) of the total households in the three villages had a per capita monthly income between Rupees 500-1499. More than half (57%) of all respondents preferred government institutions for moderate illness, and the rest equally opted for private practitioners and quacks. However, for emergencies, dog bites, and snake bites, all key respondents in the three study villages unanimously preferred government institutions. A significant population (38.5%) got their children delivered at home. The majority of illiterate respondents (86.1%) preferred government institutions for health care of under-five children, while 60% of literates expressed a similar view. The choice of government institutions as a source of health care was increasingly favored with decreasing per capita monthly household income. Conclusion: Traditional healers are no longer preferred among the tribal population but they are reluctant to avail them because of the loss of valuable time. Home delivery is still prevalent. With improving socioeconomic status, people are going further away from government services as private practitioners, and quacks take less time.
of nutritional status by composite index for anthropometric failure: A study among slum children ... more of nutritional status by composite index for anthropometric failure: A study among slum children in Bankura, West Bengal
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, 2016
Safe drinking water, basic sanitation & hygiene is one of the prime concerns globally. Hand washi... more Safe drinking water, basic sanitation & hygiene is one of the prime concerns globally. Hand washing with soap is a cost effective way of reducing diarrhoeal disease, acute respiratory infections. But a substantial numbers of women in India have lack of access to these basic facilities & poor practice of hand washing. An observational cross sectional study was undertaken among 300 mothers of under 5 children attending NRS Medical College during three months period, to assess the water & sanitation facilities available to them & their knowledge & practices regarding hand washing. 51% of mothers had piped drinking water supply, only 35% purified water, principally by boiling. 20% of participants practice open field defaecation in spite of having access to latrines. Hand washing practice of mothers regarding timing & material used was good. More emphasis must be given to improved access of water, sanitation facilities as well as their utilization & also on hand hygiene behaviour & knowledge of mothers.
Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal, 2016
Background: Examination of specimens obtained through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is importa... more Background: Examination of specimens obtained through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is important and often the initial diagnostic technique performed in patients with suspected malignant lung lesion. Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of cytological findings of bronchial washings (pre-and post-bronchoscopy) and bronchial brushing in the diagnosis of lung malignancy with histopathology of bronchial biopsy, taking the latter as the confirmatory diagnostic test. Settings and Design: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in a tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods: A total of fifty patients with suspected lung malignancy (clinically and radiologically) were included in this nonrandomized cross-sectional study. Bronchial brushings were obtained from all fifty cases. Prebiopsy bronchial washing (washing collected before the brushing and biopsy procedure) and postbiopsy washing (washing at the end of the procedure) were collected. Results: Prebiopsy (prebrushing) and postbiopsy washing showed high specificity of 92.31%, but a very low sensitivity of 32.43% and 35.14%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of brushing were found to be 74.36% and 81.82%, respectively. Positive predictive value of prebiopsy (prebrushing) washing, postbiopsy washing and brushing are 92.31%, 93.55%, and 92.86%, respectively. There was no significant difference in sensitivity between prebiopsy (prebrushing) and postbiopsy washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA= 0.99). However, there was statistically significant difference between sensitivity of brushing with prebiopsy (prebrushing) washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA = 0.0012793) and postbiopsy washing (Fisher exact probability test; PA = 0.00310282). Conclusions: Bronchial washing cytology in combination with brush cytology aids in the early diagnosis of lung malignancy in addition to histopathology.
Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 2020
Context and Aims: Tuberculosis (TB) in India is a leading public health problem plagued by social... more Context and Aims: Tuberculosis (TB) in India is a leading public health problem plagued by social determinants such as stigma and discrimination, which may affect treatment seeking, adherence, and possibly treatment outcome. This study was conducted to elicit the perceived discrimination, its determinants, as well as to determine whether perceived discrimination is predicting treatment outcome among TB patients registered in an Urban Health District, Kolkata City, India. Settings and Design: An institutionbased follow-up study was conducted where all the TB patients registered within the 1st 4 months of data collection were followed up for their current course of treatment. Subjects and Methods: Perceived discrimination was assessed at treatment initiation, after intensive period and after continuation phase using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the determinants of perceived discrimination as well as the treatment outcome. Results: Perceived discrimination by family members, neighbors, and colleagues was reported by 9.4%, 36.5%, and 34.2% participants, respectively, overall discrimination being 37.9%. Multivariable analysis revealed that discrimination was significantly more among patients with older age group, females, and from joint families. Perceived discriminated was found to be significantly predicting unfavorable treatment outcome even after adjustment with background and treatment-related variables. Conclusions: Sensitization programs should incorporate measures to address stigma and discrimination and more emphasis needs to be placed on women and elderly patients.
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2020
Context: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known chronic debilitating disease accounting for a large... more Context: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known chronic debilitating disease accounting for a large percentage of disability globally. Pain and stiffness, decreased work function, depression and emotional state alteration, fatigue, disability, and social handicaps are some patient reported outcomes, which if considered with priority the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with RA could improve. Aims: This study was conducted with the aim to assess the HRQOL of the patients with RA and the determinants related to it. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Rheumatology Department of a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata. Subjects and Methods: A total of 252 patients with RA were selected in this study through systematic random sampling. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical measures with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) version 16.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corporation) software program, version 16.0. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were carried out. Results: In the study, the mean age of the patients was 43.1 years (mean age ±SD: 43.05±10.63 years). The proportion of female subjects was 84.5%. Unsatisfactory QOL was found in 59.9% study participants. In multivariable logistic regression unsatisfactory quality of life was significantly associated to moderate to high functional disability [AOR: 6.04, CI: 2.86, 12.78], disease activity moderate to high [AOR: 5.41, CI: 1.87, 15.69], presence of comorbidity [AOR: 2.90, CI: 1.39, 6.04], extra-articular manifestations [AOR: 3.14, CI: 1.41, 6.96] and delay in starting Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatoid Drugs (DMARDs) [AOR: 1.24, CI: 1.08, 1.42]. Conclusion: Findings of this study clearly indicate the presence of high proportion of unsatisfactory QOL among the patients with RA. Early identification and prompt referral are the key strategies to prevent any permanent damage. Regular follow-up of the patients should be carried out to prevent or delay the disability progression and provide high-quality physical and mental health.
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2019
Context and Aims: This study was carried out to assess quality of life (QoL) of tuberculosis pati... more Context and Aims: This study was carried out to assess quality of life (QoL) of tuberculosis patients receiving treatment from DOTS centres, to find out its change with treatment, and to ascertain its determinants. Materials and Methods: An institution based follow-up study was conducted in Bagbazar Urban Health District (UHD), Kolkata where all the tuberculosis patients registered within 1st 4 months of data collection were followed up for their current course of treatment. Quality of Life (QoL) was assessed using SF36v2 questionnaire at the start of treatment and after continuation phase (CP) (within 14 days). Statistical Analysis Used: General Linear Model was used to assess the predictors of change of QoL with treatment. Results: 61.4% and 16.4% patients were at the risk of depression at the start and end of their TB treatment respectively. Patient's per-capita monthly Income (PCI) and current smoking status interacted with time to predict trends in the Physical component scores. Similarly, PCI and educational status interacted with time to predict trends in the mental component scores. PCI and unemployment were found to be predictor of differences of Physical and mental component scores (between subject effects) respectively. Conclusions: QoL assessment in different stages of treatment should be incorporated in the ongoing RNTCP to make the programme more client-oriented and comprehensive, and to provide social support to those who need it most. Directly observed treatment should be supplemented with economic support, de-addiction campaign and Inter-personal counselling by the DOTS providers.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2017
Background: Vector borne diseases (VBDs) form a major part of the communicable diseases in India.... more Background: Vector borne diseases (VBDs) form a major part of the communicable diseases in India. Ignorance and impoverished conditions of people contribute in creating source and spread of vector borne diseases and hinder disease control strategy. Slums are more vulnerable to vector borne diseases because of poor environmental condition, standard of living, poverty and ignorance of the people. This study is a small endeavour to highlight the awareness of residents of slum area of Chetla, Kolkata, West Bengal, India regarding vector borne diseases. Objectives were to assess the awareness of the study population regarding different vector borne diseases and to find out the association of awareness with relevant demographic variables.Methods: A community based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population in a slum area of Chetla, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Multivariate logistic analysis was done to find out association of awareness with relevant variable...
Indian journal of public health
Early coital debut is a significant predictor of HIV infection. A cross-sectional, observational ... more Early coital debut is a significant predictor of HIV infection. A cross-sectional, observational study of HIV/AIDS patients attending the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (CSTM), Kollata, carried out for a period of six months from May to October 2006; found that 32.2% of patients had sexual initiation before 19 years. The mean age of coital debut was 22.47 years for males and 18.62 years for females. 62.3% women had experienced sexual intercourse before 19 years. The first sexual partner was the spouse in ''91.8% females and 42.9% males. Coital debut at younger ages was significantly higher among female patients less than 35 years of age, those educated less than middle school, staying in rural areas, not belonging to Hindu religion and not having commercial sex at time of sexual initiation.
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Papers by Pranita Taraphdar