Menstrual Hygiene: How Hygienic is the Adolescent Girl?

Background:

Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result into adverse health outcomes.

Objectives:

(i) To elicit the beliefs, conception and source of information regarding menstruation among the study population and (ii) to find out the status of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.

Materials and Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 adolescent girls of a secondary school situated in the field practice area of Rural Health Unit and Training Center, Singur, West Bengal, with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed statistically by simple proportions.

Results:

Out of 160 respondents, 108 (67.5%) girls were aware about menstruation prior to attainment of menarche. Mother was the first informant regarding menstruation in case of 60 (37.5%) girls. One hundred and thirty-eight (86.25%) girls believed it as a physiological process. Seventy-eight (48.75%) girls knew the use of sanitary pad during menstruation. Regarding practices, only 18 (11.25%) girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. For cleaning purpose, 156 (97.5%) girls used both soap and water. Regarding restrictions practiced, 136 (85%) girls practised different restrictions during menstruation.

Conclusions:

Menstrual hygiene, a very important risk factor for reproductive tract infections, is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls. Educational television programmes, trained school nurses/health personnel, motivated school teachers and knowledgeable parents can play a very important role in transmitting the vital message of correct menstrual hygiene to the adolescent girl of today.

Foot length as a marker of pubertal onset

This observational study was conducted on 973 healthy children between 8 and 16 years to evaluate the relation between changes in foot length and pubertal maturation. The right foot length of study children was recorded and SMR staging was done. The difference in mean foot length was statistically significant between SMR 1 and 2 (P<;0.0001). No significant difference in the mean foot lengths was found thereafter. Smoothed standard deviation curves were constructed for foot length as a function of SMR stage using the LMS method. Foot length was found to rise sharply in SMR 2, which coincides with the onset of puberty.

Bilateral follicular cysts in a water buffalo

The present short communication puts on record a case of bilateral, multiple follicular cysts in a water buffalo along with a detailed description of its ovarian biometry and follicular fluid composition. The ovarian weight and biometrical parameters were much higher than in normal cycling buffaloes. A total of three follicular cysts were observed, two on the right ovary and one on the left ovary, measuring 4.9, 3.0 and 2.6 cm yielding 21, 9 and 5 ml of follicular fluid, respectively. The cystic fluid was deep yellow in colour with a viscous consistency. The follicular fluid concentrations of glucose, total protein, cholesterol, acid phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus and progesterone in all the cysts were within the range reported previously in normal buffalo follicular fluid; however, the alkaline phosphatase concentration in cyst 1 and total bilirubin concentration in cysts 1 and 2 were higher than the values in normal follicular fluid. In contrast, the levels of urea nitrogen in cysts 1 and 3, and oestradiol in cyst 3 were lower than the normal values. All the three follicles had an oestradiol to progesterone ratio less than 1. The results of our study suggest that follicular cysts in buffalo are oestrogenically inactive and have an altered concentration of certain biochemical and hormonal constituents.

Effect of FMD vaccination on semen quality parameters in Karan Fries and Murrah buffalo bulls

Effect of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccination was studied on semen quality parameters of 19 Karan Fries (KF) and eight Murrah (MU) breeding bulls during the period 2002 to 2004 at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal. A total of non-vaccinated 155 KF and 72 MU bulls' ejaculates were taken as control, while 169 KF and 51 MU bulls' ejaculates, collected after vaccination, were used to study the effect of vaccination stress. The results showed that FMD vaccination had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on ejaculate volume and total volume per day of semen in both KF and MU bulls. Volume of semen increased slightly during post-vaccination period in both the breeds. After FMD vaccination, there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in mass activity (2.27 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.67 +/- 0.07 and 2.49 +/- 0.09. vs. 1.75 +/- 0.10, for KF and MU, respectively), initial motility (56.89 +/- 0.03% vs. 44.62 +/- 0.02% and 62.26 +/- 0.04% vs. 47.08 +/- 0.05%, for KF and MU, respectively), sperm concentration (754.19 +/- 23.96 vs. 554.14 +/- 22.95 x 10(6)/ml and 848.61 +/- 33.65 vs. 571.57 +/- 39.99 x 10(6)/ml, for KF and MU, respectively), and total sperm output per ejaculate (3,685.94 +/- 158.40 vs. 2,781.54 +/- 151.70 x 10(6) and 2,218.75 +/- 133.14 vs. 1,582.84 +/- 158.20 x 10(6), for KF and MU, respectively). Application of FMD vaccine had significantly (P < 0.05) adverse effect on most of the seminal attributes during post-vaccination in KF and MU buffalo bulls. So, the spermiograms affected following vaccination suggest that in bovines, the semen collection and preservation should be suspended till normal fertility of sperm is restored to avoid the failure of conception from artificial insemination using such semen.

Comparing the effectiveness of TWEAK and T-ACE in determining problem drinkers in pregnancy

AIM

The TWEAK and T-ACE screening tools are validated methods of identifying problem drinking in a pregnant population. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the TWEAK and T-ACE screening tools in identifying problem drinking using traditional cut-points (CP).

METHODS

Study participants consisted of women calling the Motherisk Alcohol Helpline for information regarding their alcohol use in pregnancy. In this cohort, concerns surrounding underreporting are not likely as women self-report their alcohol consumption. Participant's self-identification, confirmed by her amount of alcohol use, determined whether she was a problem drinker or not. The TWEAK and T-ACE tools were administered on both groups and subsequent analysis was done to determine if one tool was more effective in predicting problem drinking.

RESULTS

The study consisted of 75 problem and 100 non-problem drinkers. Using traditional CP, the TWEAK and T-ACE tools both performed similarly at identifying potential at-risk women (positive predictive value = 0.54), with very high sensitivity rates (100-99% and 100-93%, respectively) but poor specificity rates (36-43% and 19-34%, respectively). Upon comparison, there was no statistical difference in the effectiveness for one test performing better than next using either CP of 2 (P = 0.66) or CP of 3 (P = 0.38).

CONCLUSION

Despite the lack of difference in performance, improved specificity associated with TWEAK suggests that it may be better suited to screen at-risk populations seeking advice from a helpline.

A serological survey of antibodies against bovine herpesvirus-1 in yak (Poephagus grunniens) in Arunachal Pradesh in India

Serum samples were collected from 254 yak (Poephagus grunniens, presently Bos grunniens) in different yak tracts of India. These samples were then screened by virus neutralisation test (VNT) and avidin-biotin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AB-ELISA) to study the seroprevalence of antibodies against bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1). The overall seroprevalence in yak was found to be 41% (105) by VNT and AB-ELISA. The sex of the animal, whether it was on a farm or free-ranging and the location of the different yak tracts did not seem to have any effect on seroprevalence. However, seroprevalence was found to increase with the age of the animals, being highest in yak older than three years of age (49%). Yak generally share feeding, watering and grazing areas with other domestic and wild animals and this common ecological niche is thought to be a possible avenue of infection. This is the first time that the seroprevalence of antibodies against BHV-1 has been studied in yak in India.

Insecticide resistance and detoxifying enzyme activity in the principal bancroftian filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, in northeastern India

The insecticide resistance status of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) to DDT and deltamethrin across army cantonments and neighbouring villages in northeastern India was investigated. In India, DDT is still the insecticide of choice for public health programmes. In military stations, pyrethroids, especially deltamethrins, are used for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Recent information on the levels of resistance to DDT and deltamethrin in mosquito populations of northeastern India is scare. Continued monitoring of insecticide resistance status, identification of the underlying mechanisms of resistance in local mosquito populations and the establishment of a baseline data bank of this information are of prime importance. Insecticide susceptibility assays were performed on wild-caught adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to the discriminating doses recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to DDT (4%) and deltamethrin (0.05%). Across all study sites, mortality as a result of DDT varied from 11.9 to 50.0%, as compared with 91.2% in the susceptible laboratory strain (S-Lab), indicating that Cx. quinquefasciatus is resistant to DDT. The species was found to be 100% susceptible to deltamethrin in all study sites except Benganajuli and Rikamari. Knock-down times (KDT) in response to deltamethrin varied significantly between study sites (P < 0.01) from 8.3 to 17.8 min for KDT(50) and 37.4 to 69.5 min for KDT(90). All populations exceeded the threshold level of alpha-esterase, beta-esterase and glutathion S-transferase (GST) established for the S-Lab susceptible strain, and all populations had 100% elevated esterase and GST activity, except Missamari and Solmara. Beta-esterase activity in Field Unit II (96.9%) was less than in any of the other populations. Benganajuli had the highest activity level for all the enzymes tested. There was a significant correlation between all enzyme activity levels and insecticide resistance phenotype by populations (P < 0.05). The results presented here provide the first report and baseline information of the insecticide resistance status of Cx. quinquefasciatus in northeastern India, and associated information about biochemical mechanisms that are essential for monitoring the development of insecticide resistance in the area.

Application of sensitive enzymeimmunoassay for determination of testosterone in blood plasma of yaks (Poephagus grunniens L.)

As an alternative to radioimmunoassays, a simple, highly sensitive and quick enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for determination of testosterone in blood plasma of yaks on microtitreplates using second antibody coating technique and testosterone-horseradish peroxidase as a label has been developed for the first time. The wells of the microtitreplate were coated with affinity-purified goat immunoglobulin (antirabbit IgG) that binds the hormone specific antibody. The EIA was carried out directly in 20 mICROl of plasma after 1:10 dilution with assay buffer. The testosterone standard curve ranged from 0.2 to 200 pg/well. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.20 pg/well. Testosterone standard curve in buffer showed parallelism with serially diluted yak plasma containing high endogenous testosterone. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) determined using pooled plasma was found 5.24 and 8.54%, respectively. Recovery of known concentrations of added testosterone in charcoal stripped plasma was linear (r=0.98). For biological validation of testosterone enzymeimmunoassay, the blood samples were collected from yak cows at -2h before and thereafter at 2h interval until 24h. after gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) administration. There was a rapid increase (p<0.01) of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone 2 and 6h after GnRH administration. Plasma testosterone concentration in normal adult yak bulls was found to be 0.52+/-0.09 ng/ml. In conclusion, the EIA developed in this study is simple, highly sensitive, valid and sufficiently reliable method for estimation of testosterone directly in yak plasma.