https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/422 2026-02-10T06:25:12Z 2026-02-10T06:25:12Z SUDHAKAR, S https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9771 2025-12-10T07:38:04Z 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS AND SCREENING OF ORAL CANCER BY VISUAL EXAMINATION OF ORAL CAVITY IN KOLAR- A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY Authors: SUDHAKAR, S Abstract: Background: In India, oral cancer had become an increasing public health concern, mainly due to habits like chewing tobacco and areca nut. Detecting it early made a big difference in treatment and outcomes. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to identify the early signs was through a simple Visual Oral Examination (OVE). Objectives: This study aimed to identify risk factors linked to oral cancer and to screen adults over 30 years of age in the Kolar district. It also aimed to guide people with suspicious findings to the proper medical care. Methods: A total of 423 individuals aged above 30 years from both urban and rural areas of Kolar were selected through a random sampling method between July 2023 and December 2024. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, followed by a basic oral Visual Examination. The data was analysed with SPSS, considering p-values below 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Nearly 26% of the participants showed early signs of oral changes that required further evaluation. The prevalence was higher among individuals with habits like smoking, using smokeless tobacco, or placing quid in the mouth. These signs were also more common among people from rural or economically weaker sections. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of early screening and awareness campaigns to combat oral cancer. Strengthening public health interventions, especially in rural and low-income communities, can help reduce the burden of this preventable disease.

2025-05-01T00:00:00Z PRUTHVI., P https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9770 2025-12-10T07:34:55Z 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: SELF-PERCEIVED RISK OF BREAST CANCER AND ACCEPTABILITY OF SCREENING AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING PERIPHERAL HEALTH CENTRES IN KOLAR – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY Authors: PRUTHVI., P Abstract: Introduction: Among all cancers affecting women, breast cancer continues to be a leading cause of mortality on a global scale. Despite advancements in early detection and treatment, breast cancer continues to pose a significant public health challenge. Beyond the physical and emotional toll on patients, breast cancer contributes to substantial economic loss at both the household and national levels. Families often face financial strain, reduced productivity, and long-term psychological distress. The lack of awareness of disease per se, its risk factors and warning signs, stigma and embarrassment around it contribute to incorrect estimation of the risk of getting the disease and cause a delay in timely presentation to healthcare centres. Self-breast examination (SBE) is the most cost-effective screening tool for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, especially in low-resource settings. Awareness of breast health is essential for recognising significant changes in one’s breasts and seeking timely medical attention for the same. Objectives: Among women attending peripheral health centres in Kolar, i. To assess the self-perceived risk of breast cancer and its association with sociodemographic factors. ii. To assess the knowledge and perception of risk factors and warning signs of breast cancer and its association with sociodemographic factors. iii. To assess the knowledge and practice of self-breast examination (SBE) as a screening test for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer and its association with sociodemographic factors. 2 Materials and methods: A Cross-Sectional Survey was conducted from July 2023 to December 2024 in the Outpatient departments of the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Devarayasamudra, Mulbagal, and the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC), Gandhinagar, Kolar, of the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar. All women aged 18 years and above who availed themselves of the OPD services at RHTC/UHTC in the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, SDUMC, Kolar, were invited to participate in the study. The study excluded women presenting to the outpatient department (OPD) under emergency conditions (road traffic accidents or altered consciousness), as well as those with a pre-existing diagnosis of breast cancer and women who were pregnant or lactating. A minimum sample size of 350 participants was determined based on calculations derived from a prior study conducted by Pooja et al.1 Expecting 400 women in each health centre per month, a sample of 175 women above 18 years satisfying inclusive and exclusive criteria in each centre was selected using systematic random sampling with a sampling interval of 3 (800/350=2.28). Results: 64% of the total participants have heard about breast cancer, and 50 % of the participants said social media was the source of information. Self-perceived risk of breast cancer is 54%, and is significantly associated with age, residence, education, occupation, and socio-economic status of the participants. Overall perception of risk factors and warning signs of breast cancer is 45% and 23% respectively, and is significantly associated with residence, education and socio-economic status of the participants. Out of the total participants, only 42% were aware of the national program for breast cancer (NP-NCD). Among 350 participants, 22.5% 3 performed SBE, out of which 16% accepted it as a screening method for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, practised it regularly, and it was significantly associated with the participants' residence, education, occupation, and socio-economic status. Conclusion: The study highlights the alarming prevalence of limited awareness regarding breast cancer, including its predisposing factors and warning signs, and the significantly low practice of breast self-examination (SBE) among women. Contributing factors include low literacy levels, poor economic conditions, lack of motivation, and the stigma surrounding the disease. Implementing routine breast health programs monitored by healthcare professionals in schools, colleges, workplaces, and health centres could greatly benefit women and improve timely detection efforts

2025-05-01T00:00:00Z MOHAN BABU, G https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9769 2025-12-10T07:32:11Z 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: SYNDEMICS OF DEPRESSION, HIGH RISK BEHAVIOURS, VICTIMISATION AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN AND TRANSGENDERS IN KOLAR - A MIXED METHOD STUDY Authors: MOHAN BABU, G Abstract: BACKGROUND Public health research has increasingly recognized the complex health challenges faced by marginalized populations, particularly Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender communities. This dissertation challenges traditional epidemiological approaches by employing a syndemic framework that explores how interconnected health issues develop within specific social and structural contexts. By examining the intricate relationships between social inequalities, psychological experiences, and biological vulnerabilities, the research provides a novel investigation into the health experiences of MSM and Transgender populations in Kolar district, Karnataka, India. OBJECTIVES:  To determine the presence and co-occurence of depression, high risk behaviours, and victimisation and their association with occurrence of STIs among MSM and Transgenders in Kolar district.  To Explore the impact of psychosocial health conditions on health seeking behaviour among ‘MSM and Transgenders’ in Kolar district. METHODOLOGY The study implemented a mixed-method research design over 18 months, involving 410 participants from MSM and Transgender communities in Kolar district. The research employed a comprehensive data collection strategy, combining standardized quantitative tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) with qualitative methods including focus group discussions and narrative interviews. An innovative analytical approach integrated syndemic theoretical frameworks, intersectionality perspectives, and advanced statistical analyses to

2025-05-01T00:00:00Z AISWARYA LILY RAY https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9768 2025-12-10T07:21:14Z 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: PREVELANCE AND PATTERNS OF TOBACCO AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO USAGE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN IN RURAL KOLAR -A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Authors: AISWARYA LILY RAY Abstract: Introduction The tobacco pandemic has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the biggest hazards to public health and a top priority for decision-makers in the medical field. This is not just because of the 7 million annual deaths that are linked to it, but also because of the load on the health system, higher out-of-pocket medical costs, and lower quality of life. The fact that four out of five smokers worldwide come from low- and middle-income countries is concerning. Women not only have a shorter latent period between the start of substance use and the onset of drug progression, but they are also more vulnerable to the negative medical, psychological, and social effects, according to epidemiological analysis of several studies. Globally, smoking causes 71% lung cancer,42% chronic respiratory diseases and about 10% cardiovascular disease. In India, tobacco is smoked as beedi, cheroot or in a pipe. The smokeless forms are chewed as raw tobacco leaves /pan masala or inhaled as snuff. Chewing of tobacco products is a risk factor for oral cancers. Further, tobacco consumption was found to be higher among the lower socioeconomic groups. As reported in many studies, Smokeless tobacco products have a high level of toxicity, mutagenicity and cancer-causing elements and roughly 4200 low grade chemicals which would disproportionately affect health. Smokeless tobacco products also cause life threatening complications in reproductive stages of women with adverse pregnancy outcomes (stillbirth, low birth weight). Due to the lack of precise estimates regarding the prevalence of tobacco consumption among women in rural settings in India, the policy makers lack 14 adequate evidence and find it difficult to mobilize the existing resources. There is limited data on the social and behavioural factors that influence the use of various forms of tobacco and attitudes of tobacco users towards quitting the habit.Hence there is a need to study the Prevalence and associated factors of tobacco use in the form of smoking only, smokeless tobacco only and dual use among rural women in Kolar. Objectives: 1. To determine the prevalence and patterns of tobacco usage among women in rural Kolar. 2. To assess the factors associated with initiation and quitting of tobacco usage among women in rural Kolar. Materials and Methods: • A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of the Primary Health Center (PHC) Devarayasamudra, Mulbagal Taluk, Kolar District. The study population included rural women aged 18 years and above. Cluster sampling technique was used for sample selection. All the 20 villages in the field practice area of PHC, Devarayasamudra were considered as clusters, and 6 such clusters were selected by Simple Random sampling. Villages were randomly selected using a random number generator. In each of the selected villages, I have allocated samples by probability proportional size accordingly to meet my estimated sample size of 511. Tobacco consumption was assessed by using the (GATS)Global Adult Tobacco Survey questionnaire. Results: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use was reported by 70% of rural women in Kolar. The most frequently used items were khaini (47.9%), gutkha (68%), 15 pan/betel quid (63.8%), and betel quid with tobacco (23.19%). The use of SLT was found to be substantially connected with socioeconomic status, age, occupation, education, and family influence. Women with less education and those from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to use SLT. Peer pressure and family history also had a substantial impact on tobacco use initiation and continuance. Conclusion: This study highlights the high incidence of smokeless tobacco use among rural women, which is influenced by a number of behavioural and socioeconomic factors. Significant relationships were identified between lower socioeconomic status, employment type, illiteracy, and cultural norms. Women who worked in physically demanding jobs including farming and daily wage labor were more likely to smoke due to habitual behaviour, peer pressure, and stress relief. Other important characteristics included age, education, and marital status; women who were older and less educated were more likely to use smokeless tobacco. The study also highlights the ways in which ignorance, social acceptance, and accessibility support tobacco use.

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