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

qurles However, the common ailments were thought to be fever, respiratory infection,
headache and abdominal pain. Of the 160 people interviewed w~th a struciuied
questionnaire, fever was thought to be common by about 95.0%, respiratory infection
by 85.0%. headache by 80 0%. abdominal pain by 53.0% A few respondents (11 4%)
also considered scab~es and dental caries to be common in school age children.
Anemia, angular stomatitis and worm infestation were generally not perceived as
illnesses, although people were very much aware of the presence of these cond~tions in
school age children. Thls is evident from the fact that on specific questioning. 79.3%
78 1% and 61.3% of the respondents expressed that worm infestation, angular
stomatitis and anemia respectively were also common problems iii school age ch~ldren,
although they had not listed them as common health problems spontaneously. A
rnajonty (80 6%) thought that children in the primary school fell ill more often than
others Most of them (73.1%) felt that both girls and boys fell 111 with more or less equal
frequency. However, few people felt that girls fell ill more frequently when compared to
boys and a few thought the other way.
llle following are some of the statements made in group discussions:-
1. "Fever, cough and cold are common especially in rainy season" (A 30 year old
woman). Many people had a slmilar view.
2. "Cough and cold are very common. They will sit next to you and go on
coughing and you can't read" (A 12 year old boy).
3. "Between 5-7 years they fall ill. After that they become all right" (A 28 year old
woman).