jaddu jyothirmai reddy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anti-smoking legislation in public places and public support for smoking ban. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in public places such as market, bus/railway station, workplaces and hospitals in Udaipur city. Informed consent was obtained. The questionnaire comprised of details about their agreement with the current anti-smoking legislation and their views on the support for smoking ban in public places. The study was conducted among 314 individuals of whom 255 (81.2%) supported the general ban on smoking in public places. Non-smokers (54.4%) agreed more than smokers that the introduction of legislation would create healthier environment (P < 0.001), second hand smoke is serious threat to health (P < 0.001), more implementation needed for current antismoking legislation (P < 0.001). Smokers (45.5%) agreed more than non-smokers that everyone has the right to smoke in public places (P < 0.001). Local support for a ban on smoking in public places in Udaipur is high. But there is a lack of enforcing mechanism in support of the legislation and hence complete smoking ban along with strong enforcement may provide better results.

Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva and has 4 main causes-viruses, bacteria, allergens, and irritants. Among these, bacterial conjunctivitis is most common and is contagious, especially when the dentist is working with the infected person, and that person spreads the same to the other patient. A pretested questionnaire survey was conducted among 152 subjects (those who were present at the time of survey) aged 18 to 60 years of Udaipur city, Rajasthan in March 2012. Ethical clearance was obtained from relevant authority. Written informed consent was obtained from study participants. All (80 dentists and 72 dental auxiliaries) the subjects returned the questionnaire. Regarding previous experience of eye flu, 67 (44.08%) participants reported that they had been infected with eye flu previously. Majority 123 (80.92%) of participants agreed that virus or bacteria caused eye flu. Majority of 145 (95.39%) of the participants agreed that the eye turns red during eye flu. One hundred and twenty three (80.92%) subjects replied that the dental treatment for a patient infected with eye flu should be delayed till the symptoms subside. Eye flu being an occupational hazard among dentists, personal ophthalmic prophylactic care is a must which helps in prevention of spread of infection to other patients and family members.

Tobacco is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Tobacco toll in India has one-fifth of all worldwide death attributed to tobacco. There are 700000 deaths per year due to smoking and 800000-900000 per year to all forms of tobacco use of exposure in India. The role of dentist in supporting their patients to quit smoking has been recognized. The present study was conducted to know the attitudes, practices and barriers in tobacco cessation among dentists of Udaipur city (Rajasthan, India). A pretested, close-ended, self-administered, coded questionnaire was distributed among all the 262 dental health practitioners and the teaching staff. Out of 262 questionnaires distributed among the dentist, 151 dentists filled out and returned the questionnaire. The majority of the dentists (98.7%) agreed that it was their responsibility to provide smoking cessation counseling. 54.3% of dentists agreed that such discussions were too time consuming. 37.1% thought they lacked knowledge regarding this subject. 35.8% feared to an extent about patient leaving their clinic if counseled much. In general, the dentists were in favorable attitude in tobacco cessation counseling for the patients; however, the lacks of time and knowledge and to an extent, a fear that the patients would leave their clinic, were the main identified barriers.

Tobacco is the most important preventable cause of disease burden and death all over the world. Apart from being the single most important determinant of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, smoking is also a threat to oral health. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) as a part of Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) was developed to monitor tobacco use, elicit attitudes about tobacco, and obtain information on exposure to tobacco smoke among youth. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, knowledge, attitude, behaviour and interpersonal factors related to the use of tobacco among youth of Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India. This study was conducted among 1031, 15 to 25 year old youths studying in the different colleges of Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) core questionnaire was used. Simple descriptive statistics were used for the data. Out of the total 1031 participants (mean age: 19.55 ± 1.35), 632 (61.2%) were male (mean age: 19.66 ± 1.36) and 399 (38.7%) were female (mean age: 19.35 ± 1.35). 493 (47.8%) were current tobacco users, the majority of which were male 411 (39.8%). 122 (11.8%) had a previous history of tobacco use, while 416 (40.3%) reported that they had never used tobacco in any form. The majority of the male participants, 305 (29.5%), were consuming tobacco daily. Majority of current, 152 (30.8%), and ever tobacco users, 122 (41.8%), smoke and chew gutkha at places of entertainment followed by smoking or chewing at school/college premises. The majority of them bought gutkha themselves, 292 (47.4%). Moreover, the majority of current tobacco users, 298 (72.5%) male and 82 (100%) female, wanted to stop smoking /gutkha chewing. The present study indicates that there is a high prevalence of use of tobacco among youth of Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India.