KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH FUNCTIONARIES REGARDING NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES: FINDINGS OF A STUDY FROM NORTH INDIA

National Programme for prevention and control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and stroke (NPCDCS) envisaged prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through behavioural change. It aimed at capacity building at various level of health care for primordial prevention, early diagnosis, IEC, BCC etc. Necessary induction training was imparted to health functionaries. Regular monitoring and review of the knowledge of different health functionaries is an integral part of programme. With this background, this study was carried to assess the knowledge of health functionaries about NCDs (general and individual), their behavioral as well as intermediate risk factors and programmatic issues of NPCDCS. Knowledge of 8 Medical ofcers (Allopathic/AYUSH), 18 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and 15 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were assessed in these areas through predesigned and pretested proforma. There existed gap in the knowledge of medical ofcers, ANMs and ASHAs. In some areas their knowledge was satisfactory however, in majority of areas this was not up to the mark e.g., cut off for normal random blood sugar was known to All MOs, ANMs and 33.3% ASHAs [Z=5.55, p< 0.01]. There is need and scope for improving knowledge of health functionaries through focused capacity building initiative and overcoming barriers to promote health functionaries to take up NCD prevention in community

Awareness of Ultrasonography, Preconception during Pregnancy and use of Sonography by Tribal Women -Rural Community based Study

Background: Ultrasonography (USG) has become part of everyday care of pregnant women in most of the countries of the globe. However like any other technology, it has potential to raise social, ethical, economic dilemmas about benefits, challenges for health providers, beneficiaries of the services. Awareness, utilization of USG by rural tribal women who live in extreme poverty with access problems is not well known. Objective: Community based study was carried out to know awareness of USG amongst rural, tribal, preconception, pregnant women and use of USG during pregnancy. Material methods: Study was conducted in tribal communities of 100 villages where community based mother child care services were initiated after having developed a health facility in one of 100 villages. Total 2400 preconception, 1040 pregnant women of 15-45 years, were interviewed in villages for knowing their awareness about USG, whether pregnant women had USG during pregnancy. Results: Of 2400 preconception women, 626 (26.08%) were not aware of sonography. Of those who knew, 694 (39.1%) said sonography helped in confirmation of pregnancy, 1080 (60.88%) said it helped in knowing fetal age and position. Of 1040 pregnant women also 271 (26.1%) were not aware of USG. Those who knew, sources of information, were Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in 208 (27%), nurse midwives in 170 (22.1%), family members in 311 (40.4%), doctors in 80 (10.4%). Only 258 (33.5%) of 769 women who knew about USG had got USG done. Of them 82 (31.8%) were told that something was wrong without any details. Conclusion: Study revealed that many rural tribal women did not even know about USG. Community health workers, ASHAs did create awareness of USG in some. Only 25% pregnant women had USG done but without knowing any details of findings.

Ethical concerns in maternal and child healthcare in Malawi

Background Caring is a core function of nurses and it confers upon them ethical obligations as ethical agents. Failure to carry out such ethical obligations raises ethical concerns. This study was not intended to explore ethical concerns, but the reported findings reveal problems which have ethical implications. This paper aims to elucidate the ethical issues inherent in the findings and propose strategies to mitigate them. Research design and methods An exploratory-descriptive qualitative design was used within a larger Action Research Study. Data were collected through focus group discussions with nurse/midwives, and through exit interviews which were conducted with the women who participated in the study on their day of discharge. Six focus group discussions and thirty exit interviews were conducted, and data were analysed through thematic analysis. Participants and research context The study took place at selected maternal and child healthcare settings in Lilongwe, Malawi. The participants were nurse/midwives and women who were admitted in maternal and child healthcare settings and were purposively sampled. Ethical considerations Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant ethics committee and all ethical guidelines were followed in the conduct of the study. Findings The findings are presented under three themes which emerged from the data. The findings reveal effects of staff shortages on patient outcomes, problems experienced in low resource clinical settings and disrespectful nurse/patient communication. Conclusion The findings reveal that institutional factors constrain moral agency and patient safety is severely compromised in some of the clinical settings in Malawi which raises serious ethical concerns.

Implementing an education program for nurse-midwives focused on early essential care for breast milk expression among mothers of preterm infants

Background Although breastfeeding guidelines for infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have been introduced in Japan, these guidelines have not been reflected in practice. To improve this situation, it is important for nurses and nurse-midwives to acquire knowledge of appropriate care. This study examined changes in nurse-midwives’ knowledge, attitude, and implementation of appropriate care after implementing an education program focused on early essential care for breast milk expression among mothers of preterm infants. Methods This pre- and post-intervention study using a single group was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019 and enrolled 36 nurse-midwives in one perinatal medical center. The education program content included nurses’ roles in early essential care for milk expression and the necessary care to promoting breast milk production among mothers of preterm infants. The nurse-midwives’ knowledge and attitude on care were investigated 3 months before (pre-1), just before (pre-2), just after (post-1), and 3 months after (post-2) the program. The nurse-midwives’ care implementation was investigated at pre-1, pre-2, and post-2. During this time, 11 mothers (before: 7, after: 4) reported the status of milk expression for 10 days after birth. Results The mean knowledge scores of the nurse-midwives at post-1 and post-2 were significantly higher than that at pre-2 (post-1: p < 0.001, post-2: p < 0.001). The attitude on care scores at post-1 and post-2 were significantly higher than that at pre-2 (post-1: p < 0.001, post-2: p = 0.010). The care implementation score at post-2 was significantly higher than that at pre-2 in eight items (e.g., Q7 Explain about the effect of initiating milk expression early and assist mothers in it). However, the education program did not cause any changes in the mothers’ initiation and frequency of milk expression, and breast milk volume after birth. Conclusions The significant increases in the knowledge, attitude on care, and care implementation scores of the nurse-midwives suggest the beneficial effects of the education program. The small number of mothers in the survey on the practice of breast milk expression limited the full determination of the benefits of the education program for nurse-midwives.