Natl Med J India
-
Background The competency-based undergraduate medical curriculum has a number of new elements. Few authors have attempted to understand the students' viewpoints on the curriculum. We assessed undergraduate students perspectives and ratings about various elements after 2 years of implementation of the curriculum. ⋯ Integrated Teaching, Small Group Teaching and Assessments were viewed less positively (62.9%-75%) and Self-directed Learning received the lowest positive responses (57%-58%). For training as a doctor, the elements considered most valuable were Early Clinical Exposure (70.4%) and Community Health Visits (70.4%) while the least were Logbooks (35.5%) and Reflections (34.2%). Conclusions Students found Early Clinical Exposure and Community Health Visits the most valuable elements whereas Self-directed Learning, Logbooks and Reflections were rated as the least useful.
-
Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathies (AIONs) are a common cause of permanent visual loss in the elderly population. The non-arteritic subtype has been intensively studied. While systemic associations such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus are commonly recognized and treated, others such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are largely overlooked in daily practice. ⋯ OSA is a definitive risk factor for the development of NAION, though it remains underdiagnosed and untreated. Cataract surgery has been shown to worsen underlying NAION. Systemic stabilization averts potentially blinding sequel in the unaffected eye of these patients.
-
Background Malaria in pregnancy (MIP) is a major public health problem due to the vulnerability of pregnant women to infections, resulting in adverse maternal/foetal outcomes in endemic areas. Methods We did a field-based study to assess the burden of MIP (prevalence at the time of enrolment and follow-up) and to identify risk factors for MIP in the Birsa and Baihar blocks of district Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, which have perennial malaria transmission. Malaria screening (during 2015-2017) was done by microscopy and bivalent rapid diagnostic test (SD Bioline RDT, malaria antigen Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax Pf/Pv). ⋯ Pregnant women of the Baiga ethnic group were more likely to have malaria compared to those belonging to the Gond group (OR [95% CI]; 2.4 [1.7-3.4]; p<0.00001) and non-indigenous group (OR [95% CI]; 8.3 [3.9-19.7]; p<0.00001). Primigravid status of women, first and second trimester of pregnancy, women belonging to indigenous ethnic tribal group and cash crop insufficiency for whole year (a socioeconomic indicator) in the family were the independent risk factors for malaria. Conclusion MIP is a major public health problem in forested tribal settlements of Birsa and Baihar blocks of Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh and requires immediate intervention.