indian council of medical research - Pondicherry University DSpace ...

VHN and PHC records
I. The records maintained by the VHN showed that out of a total of 578 patients
treated during a one year period in the village. 87 (15.0%) were of school age. Forty
four (51.1%) had respiratory illnesses and 30 (34.0%) diatrheal illnesses. Most of
the illnesses were seen in the pre-monsoon penod (July- September). There was no
sign~ficant d~fference in the prevalence of these disorders between girls and boys (p
> 0.05).
2. The PHC records showed that out of an average daily attendance of 146 patients,
31 were in the school age group forming 21.2% of the total attendance.
Tertiary care hospital (JIPMER)
Out of a total of 1,443 children between 5-20 years of age who attended the tertiary
care hospltal over a period of one year, 693 (48.0%) were girls and 750 (52.0%) were
boys. Infectious diseases (32.2%), skin disorders (15.5%), worm infestation (12.3%)
and ear disorders (11.0%) were the Important causes of hosp~tal (outpatient)
attendance
Among the infections, respiratory infection was the commonest.
wnstltutlng 87 5% of all infect~ons
It was thus observed that the health problems in school age children as studled in the
cross sectional morbidity survey, records of the VHN and PHC and tertiary care hosp~tal
were different from what the community perceived as health problems. The cohort
study more or less reflected their point of view.
[cl Health seeklne behavior
(I) Ethnographic methods
For most of the aliments, allopathlc treatment was resorted to. However, the medicines
were often obtained from unqualified sources. Indigenous treatment was glven for