https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/751 2026-04-03T23:21:40Z 2026-04-03T23:21:40Z Naresh Kumar, S J. Prasanna Kamath, B T. Ananta, Bhattacharyya. Waseem, Anjum https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9721 2025-11-20T09:00:48Z 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Enforcement of Section 5 of COTPA in a District in South India: Hits and Misses Authors: Naresh Kumar, S J.; Prasanna Kamath, B T.; Ananta, Bhattacharyya.; Waseem, Anjum Abstract: The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) has been enacted in the year 2003 and came into force in the following year. Section 5 of COTPA prohibits advertisement of cigarette and other tobacco products. Despite being in force for more than 15 years COTPA has not been enforced to its fullest extent. Objectives: The study’s goal was to assess the current level of compliance to Section 5 of COTPA in Kolar. Methodology: A sample size of 423 Points of Sale (PoS) shops was calculated based on 95% confidence level, by using Open Epi software 3.01, a 50% anticipated compliance rate and a 5% error margin with a design effect of 1.1. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version22. Results: Among the 423 PoS surveyed very few were found displaying advertisements in the form of boards (6 Nos,1.4%), Posters (6 Nos,1.4%), banners (2 Nos,0.5%), or stickers (2 Nos,0.5%). In fact, no shop was found to have displayed any dangle, LCD, product show case, illuminated boards, black lit or offering promotional gifts and inserts. Conclusion: The study revealed a fair amount of compliance to Section 5 of COTPA in Kolar. In fact the very absence of any shop displaying dangles, LCDs, illuminated or black lit advertisement boards or offering promotional gifts and inserts were encouraging findings.

2023-10-01T00:00:00Z Satyanarayana., P T Suryanarayana., R S Ty., Reddy., S N Ag https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9701 2025-11-19T08:49:41Z 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Does Vitamin D3 supplementation improve Depression scores among rural adolescent? A Cluster Randomized control trial Authors: Satyanarayana., P T; Suryanarayana., R S Ty.,; Reddy., S N Ag Abstract: Abstract: Background: Contemporary evidence has been established demonstrating that stunted vitamin D levels are associated with depression, poor mood, and other mental disorders. Individuals with normal vitamin D levels have a much lower probability of developing depression. Improving vitamin D levels by supplementation has shown betterment in depressive patients among different age groups. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression scores among rural adolescents. Material and methods: This study was a cluster randomized controlled trial carried out for a period of 3 years among adolescents from rural Kolar. The sample size was calculated based on previous research and was determined to be 150 for each group. The intervention arm received 2250 IU of vitamin D, and the control arm received a lower dose of 250 IU of vitamin D for 9 weeks. To assess sociodemographic status, a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used, and, to assess depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was used. A baseline assessment was carried out for vitamin D status and depression status, followed by a post-intervention assessment. From the start of the trial, the participants were contacted every week by the pediatric team to investigate any side effects. Results: Out of 235 school students in the vitamin D supplementation arm, 129 (54.9%) belonged to the 15 years age group, 124 (52.8%) were boys, and 187 (79.6%) belonged to a nuclear family. Out of 216 school students in the calcium supplementation arm, 143 (66.2%) belonged to the 15 years age group, 116 (53.7%) were girls, and 136 (63%) belonged to a nuclear family. By comparing Beck depression scores before and after the intervention, it was found that the vitamin D intervention arm showed a statistically significant reduction in Beck depression scores. Conclusions: The present study showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced depression scores, showing some evidence that nutritional interventions for mental health issues such as depression are an excellent option. Vitamin D supplementation in schools can have numerous beneficiary effects on health while mutually benefiting mental health.

2023-06-01T00:00:00Z Kosambiya, J K. Dr Samudyatha, U C. Suwarna, Madhukumar https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9630 2025-11-13T08:49:46Z 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Community Medicine in Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: The Hidden Cornerstone Authors: Kosambiya, J K.; Dr Samudyatha, U C.; Suwarna, Madhukumar Abstract: Background: India has launched Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), to provide an integrated digital health infrastructure. The success of digital health systems lies in their ability to achieve universal healthcare and incorporate all levels of disease prevention. The objective of this study was to develop an expert consensus on how Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine) can be integrated into ABDM. Methods: A total of 17 and 15 participants, who were Community Medicine professionals with more than 10 years experience in the Public Health Sector and/or Medical Education in various parts of India, participated in round 1 and 2 of this Delphi study respectively. The study explored three domains: 1. Advantages and challenges of ABDM, and possible solutions; 2. Intersectoral convergence in Unified Health Interface (UHI) and 3. Way ahead in medical education and research. Results: Participants envisaged improved accessibility, affordability, and quality of care due to ABDM. However, awareness generation, reaching out to marginalized populations, human resource constraints, f inancial sustainability, and data security issues were anticipated challenges. The study identified plausible solutions addressing six broad challenges of ABDM and classified them based on the priority of implementation. Participants listed out nine key roles of Community Medicine professionals in digital health. The Study identified about 95 stakeholders who play direct and indirect roles in public health and can be connected to the general public through the Unified Health Interface of ABDM. Further, the study explored the future of medical education and research in the digital era. Conclusion: The Study contributes to broadening the scope of India’s digital health mission, with elements of Community Medicine in its cornerstone.

2023-04-01T00:00:00Z Vivek, Jayan. Vishwas, S https://dspace.sduaher.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/9618 2025-11-12T09:39:23Z 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Awareness and Practices of a Rural Community Regarding Mental Health Problems Authors: Vivek, Jayan.; Vishwas, S Abstract: Abstract Introduction: Mental health is defined as "a state of well-being in which the person realizes his or her own skills, can deal with the normal stresses of life, can work effectively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community." Although mental health is essential to human survival, it is often given less attention than physical health in many parts of the world. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the rural community's awareness regarding mental health issues and the factors that contribute to them. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the rural community; 350 study subjects were selected from the village of Devarayasamudra by using convenient sampling, 350 households were selected, and household-level interviews were done using the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule questionnaire. Participants aged more than 18 were included in the study, and locked households, even after two visits, were excluded from the study. Results: The median aggregate knowledge score was 31 (SD = 7.1), with the minimum and maximum values being 11 and 44 out of 45 knowledge items, respectively. The total knowledge score found that 178 (50.8%) respondents had insufficient mental health knowledge based on the percentage of the study population with a cut-off score below and above the median score. A multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that participants who were illiterate had 1.76 (1.15-2.26) times the chances of having insufficient knowledge compared to professionals, and this remained true even after adjusting for other variables as well. Conclusion: The present study concluded that more than 50% (50.8%) of the participants had inadequate awareness of mental health and mental illness. This highlights the need to spread awareness about mental health education among the general community.

2023-10-01T00:00:00Z