As very few reports were available and in 1957 a study group of World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has expressed the view that in order to get a comprehensive picture of disease (health problem) more and more studies have to be carried out, Garg Narendra K.(1). This prompted the authors to undertake this study to assess the profile of the patients and suggest suitable means to improve the health of the community.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was conducted in the Mai Bhago Aayurvedic Medical College for Women in Muktsar (Punjab) India .Patients attending Out Patients Department (O.P.D.) between 17^th.February and 16^th October, 2010 were included in the study. Thus a total, 127 patients of both sexes and all age group were taken as sample. A pre drawn and pre tested proforma was introduced to collect the data. Variables used were age, sex, occupation, religion (Hindu and Sikh), Marital status, Type of family (nuclear and joint) Educational status (illiterate, studied up to 5^th.,between 6^th. and 10^th.,and above 10^th class)., dieting pattern ( vegetarian, non vegetarian and mixed), as per re4sidence (rural and urban) ,Addiction (alcohol, tea, tobacco etc. and non addiction)if any. Symptoms or complained made by the patients were put in the order as per the systems involved e.g. All gastric complains were grouped in the G.I.T. and so on. The data thus collected were analyzed and interpretations were drawn.

FINDINGS AND INTRPRETATIONS:

On analysis of the collected data it has been noted that out of 127 patients 65 (51.18 %) were males and the remaining 62 (48.81 %) females. The male – female ratio was 1: 0.95.

More than half of the 62 female patients, 39 (62.90%) belong to 15 to 44 years of age group in comparison to their male counterparts 30 (46.15%) out of 65 .On further analysis it was observed that 17 (26.15%) and 09 (14.37%) male and female patients respectively belong to 65 and above age .Maximum numbers of the patients belong to younger age group i.e.25 to 35 years. 18.46% male patients attended the O.P.D. with the complaint of symptoms related to cardiovascular (C.V.S.) in comparison to only 6.45% females .As regards diseases of respiratory system concerned, 16.92% male patient were suffering from respiratory diseases while only 9.61% females (Table-I). Table further reveals that 24.19% females fall sick because of Gastro Intestinal Tract problems in comparison to their male (13.84%) counterparts. As far as symptoms related to Rheumatism/ Joint pains were concerned, 14.51% females than 10.75% male patients attended the O.P.D. during study period. In miscellaneous group system which includes headache, Body-ache, general debility etc. an overall male percentage were higher than the female percent.

(Table–II) reveals that out of 127 patients, 25.89 % and 20, 47 % females respectively belong to vegetarian and mixed diet group and only 2.36 % female belong to non-vegetarian diet group. Regarding males, highest number 37 (29.13%) belong to mixed diet group while 16 (12.59 %) and 12 (9.44%) respectively belong vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet.

Highest number 30 (23.62 %) followed by 24 (18.89%) presented with the symptoms of G.I.T. and miscellaneous group of diseases. Out of 24, 12.5 % and 37.5 % vegetarian male and female respectively attended the O.P.D. with G.I.T. complaints in comparison to 25.0 % each male and female of mixed diet while none from non vegetarian diet group. As generally believed, that non vegetarian diet is harmful to the C.V.S., 41.66% male and 33.33% female patients of non vegetarian diet attended O.P.D. with Cardiovascular system (C.V.S.) symptoms, while only 18.75% and 6.06% male and female respectively of vegetarian and 16.21% male and 3.84% females were from mixed diet group. Table further shows that 30 (23.62%) out of total 127 patients complains of Headache/Body-ache/general debility / loss of hairs etc. of those 18 (60.00%) were male and 12 (40.00%) females. On further analysis it was observed that 10 male (33.33%) and 08 (26.66%) females were taking mixed diet (Table-II).Regarding patients attended O.P.D. with Rheumatic pain and/or Joint pain complains, out of 16 patients 9 (56.25%) and 07 (43.75%) were females and males respectively.

TABLE – I: SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SYSTEMS AS PER AGE AND SEX

SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	AGE IN YEARS
	0 - 14		15 - 24		25 - 34		35 - 44		45 - 54		55 - 64		65 +		Total		G. Total
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	G. Total
GIT	-	01	-	06	03	02	03	03	01	01	02	-	-	02	09	15	24
Resp.	01	-	01	01	-	-	03	03	-		01	-	05	02	11	06	17
C.V.S.	-	-	01	01	04		01	01	01	01	02	01	03	-	12	04	16
C.N.S.	-	-	-	01	01	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	-	-	02	01	03
Thyroid	-	-	-	-	01	-	-	01	-	-	-	01	01	01	02	03	05
Skin	-	-	01	-	-	-	01	01	01	-	-	-	01	-	04	01	05
Reproductive Tract	-	-	-	01	-	02	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	03	03
Rheumatism / Joint Pain	-	-	-	-	01	01	01	04	-	02	02	-	03	02	07	09	16
Coryza	-	02	-	05	-	-	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	-	-	08	08
Miscellaneous	01	-	02	02	02	02	04	02	-	03	05	01	04	02	18	12	30
Grand Total	02	03	05	17	12	07	13	15	04	08	12	03	17	09	65	62	127

TABLE – II: SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SYSTEMS AS PER DIET

SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	TYPE OF DIET
	VEGE		MIXED		NONVEGE		TOTAL		Grand Total
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	Grand Total
GIT	03	09	06	06	-	-	09	15	24
Resp.	02	06	09	-	-	-	11	06	17
C.V.S.	03	02	04	01	05	01	12	04	16
C.N.S.	01	01	-	-	01	-	02	01	03
Thyroid	-	01	02	01	-	01	02	03	05
Skin	-	-	04	01	-	-	04	01	05
Reproductive Tract		01	-	02	-	-	-	03	03
Rheumatism / Joint Pain	03	04	02	04	02	01	07	09	16
Coryza	-	05	-	03	-	-	-	08	08
Miscellaneous	04	04	10	08	04	-	18	12	30
Grand Total	16	33	37	26	12	03	65	62	127

TABLE – III: SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SYSTEMS AS PER EDUCATIONAL STATUS

SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	EDUCATION STATUS
	ILLITERATE		UP TO 5^TH		UP TO 10^TH		10^TH +		Total		Grand Total
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	Grand Total
GIT	04	03	03	04	02	03	-	05	09	15	24
Resp.	07	04	01	01	03	-	-	01	11	06	17
C.V.S.	03	01	01	-	03	01	05	2	12	04	16
C.N.S.	-	-	-	-	02	-	-	01	02	01	03
Thyroid	01	03	01	-	-	-	-	-	02	03	05
Skin	02	01	01	-	-	-	01	-	04	01	05
Reproductive Tract	-	02	-	01	-	-	-	-	-	03	03
Rheumatism / Joint Pain	02	05	01	03	03	-	01	01	07	09	16
Coryza	-	02	-	01	-	-	-	05	-	08	08
Miscellaneous	05	05	06	04	04	01	03	2	18	12	30
Grand Total	24	26	14	14	17	05	10	17	65	62	127

TABLE – IV: SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SYSTEMS AS PER PROFESSION

SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	Agriculture		Skilled Labour		Unskilled Labour		Students		Domestic Work		Service		Self Business		Total		Grand Total
SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	Grand Total
GIT	-	01	03	01	01	04	-	04	-	04	03	01	02	-	09	15	24
Resp.	01	-	-	-	07	01	-	04	-	01	01		02	-	11	06	17
C.V.S.	01	-	02	01	01	-	-	-	-	02	06	01	02	-	12	04	16
C.N.S.	01	-	-	-	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	-	01	-	02	01	03
Thyroid	-	-	-	-	01	01	-	-	-	01	-	01	01	-	02	03	05
Skin	-	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	02	01	01	-	-	-	04	01	05
Reproductive Tract	-	01	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	01	-	-	-	-	-	03	03
Rheumatism / Joint Pain	02	-	-	-	01	03	-	02	-	04	04	-	-	-	07	09	16
Coryza	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	05	-	01	-	02	-	-	-	08	08
Miscellaneous	02	01	02	-	05	02	-	05	05	02	04	02	-	-	18	12	30
Grand Total	07	03	07	02	17	12	-	21	07	17	19	07	08	-	65	62	127

TABLE – V: SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SYSTEMS AS PER ADDICTION

SYMPTOMS AS PER SYSTEMS	TYPE OF ADDICTION
	ALCOHOL		TEA		TOBACCO etc.		NO ADDICTION		Total		Grand Total
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	Grand Total
GIT	03	-	04	08	-	-	02	07	09	15	24
Resp.	03	-	03	02	03	01	02	03	11	06	17
C.V.S.	07	-	02	01	01	-	02	03	12	04	16
C.N.S.	01	-	01	-	-	-	-	01	02	01	03
Thyroid	01	-	01	01	-	-	-	02	02	03	05
Skin	02	-	01	01	-	-	01	-	04	01	05
Reproductive Tract	-	-	-	02	-	-		01		03	03
Rheumatism / Joint Pain	02	-	04	04	-	-	01	05	07	09	16
Coryza	-	-	-	03	-	-	-	05	-	08	08
Miscellaneous	03	-	05	04	-	-	10	08	18	12	30
Grand Total	22	00	21	26	04	01	18	35	65	62	127

Symptoms of systems as per profession: - Table - IV reveals that out of 127 total sampled patients, highest 22.83% belong to unskilled labour and lowest 6.29% in businessmen category. It was interesting to note that none of the male patients were student in comparison to 16.53% females students, this may be because the hospital is situated in the vicinity of the college which is for the women. Regarding distribution of patients as per disease, out of 24 G.I.T. patients, equal proportion belong to Skilled, unskilled labour, students, domestic work and service class, while those involved in agriculture and business only 4.16% and 8.33% respectively found suffering from G.I.T. diseases. Regarding Respiratory diseases, out of 17 total patient suffering from respiratory problems, a major chunk of patients, 47.05% belong to unskilled labour which may be because of that most of them were exposed to dust, smoke etc. In C.V.S. group, 43.75% sufferers out of all C.V.S. victims belong to service category. This may be because of the dissatisfaction of service condition, social responsibility etc. while none of the students presented with C.V.S. symptoms which again confirm that, the student category have less social burden, except their study, 57.14% male who suffered from Rheumatism/Joint pain belong to service class category in comparison to their female 44.44 %counterparts who belongs to domestic work (house wives) category. (Table - IV) 62.5% patients out of all student category, were found suffering from coryza and on further analysis it was noted that all were females . Again 41.66% of total female patient suffering from miscellaneous group of symptoms were students, while among males, 27.77% each belong to unskilled labour and engaged in domestic work.

Relationship between diseases and alcohol, tea, tobacco etc. and no addicted patients, the author noticed that 35 (56.45%) out of 62 female patients were non addictive in comparison to their 18 (27.69%) out of 65 male counterparts. 22 (33.84%) out of 65 male patients were in the habit of taking alcohol in the present study, there were none of the female patients who ever tasted alcohol while only 1 (1.61%) of 62 female patients addicted to tobacco in comparison to 4 (6.15%) male. 26 (41.93%) out of 62 females and 21 (32.30%) male out of 65 were in the habit of taking tea. 07 (31.81%) of 22 alcoholic patients have reported with one or other symptom of C.V.S. and followed by 13.6% each of G.I.T., Respiratory and miscellaneous group of system, while 09.09% each of the patient reported symptoms of Rheumatism/Joint pain and Skin diseases. Only 4.54% each had symptom related to C.N.S. and endocrinal (Thyroid) systems (Table - V).

Table further reveals that as the female patients outnumbered the males in taking tea, gastritis (complains related to G.I.T.) complained by 30.76% of the female patients in comparison to 19.04% males, on further analysis ,19.04% male and 15.38% female patients were found with the complaining of Rheumatism/ Joint pain.

Table – V further reveals that relation of taking Tea with symptoms of G.I.T. is a matter of concern, it was noticed that higher percentage (30.76%) of females with tea’s addiction complains of G.I.T. symptoms in comparison to their female counterparts (20.50%) who are not taking tea though on application of Chi-square test, the difference found statistically insignificant (X²= 0.933).

According to the world’s first Atlas of Headache Disorders 2011(5) brought out by the W.H.O. three in every four adults, aged 18 to 65 years suffered from some form of headache disorder, last year. Three types of headache disorders have been underlined as most frequent migraine, tension type and those caused by medication overuse. Globally migraine is the cause of 1.3% of all yeas of life lost to disability. The tension type headache is the more prevalent disorder. The report further says, over 10% of those suffering frequent headaches have migraine and 1.7% to 4.0% of the adult population is affected by headache for 15 or more days every month.

The W.H.O. says headache is the most common health disorders across the world, but they are often neglected and under treated. If a patient gets too much drug, he may develop side effects and give up treatment, if he get reduced amount of drug, he could be under dosed, hence untreated , in both ways .There are also every chance of the patient becoming resistant. 50% suffering from headaches opt for self medication, oblivious to bouts of pain. On analysis of the above findings and interpretation, authors reached to the conclusion that most of the health disorders are ubiquitous, prevalent and largely treatable, but under- recognized, under diagnosed and under treated. Illness that could be relieved is not and burdens, both individual and society, persist. Health has been improved and yet a lot is to be done .Health services are being underutilized. This may be knowingly or unknowingly but in both ways, it is hazardous to individual and society. Hence there is an urgent need to improve the utilization and this is possible only by making aware the people through education at multiple levels. In modern days, a number of ways has developed to reach the people, how difficult to reach or far away the people are, we have to make them aware. A flowchart (6) has been developed, may be used as road map which shows that by incorporating the gift of modern technology judiciously i.e. audiovisual aids etc., community may be motivated and utilization services can be improved and thus saved billions of rupees of the nation because of man day’s lost and expenses incurred on treatment. Otherwise millions of people are being forced to lead a miserable life each and every year.

FLOW – CHART

From above observations and discussions, the authors reached to the conclusion that though the present efforts are able to bring awareness among the masses about various aspects of health and diseases but still there is a wide gap between the knowledge and practices of the people which is the matter of real concern. So every effort must be made to bridge this gap i.e. to impart the correct and scientific knowledge in the people and the same should be reflected in their behaviour. This is possible among other things by (i). Unearthing the hindrance i.e. by conducting more Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (K.A.P.) studies. The findings of these studies will act as pegs on which to hang new knowledge. The various studies conducted by different authors including the present one in different parts of the country from time to time found that most common source of information for the masses about health matter is “Television” (T.V.) an audio visual media, a potent force of change ,good or bad. T.V. engaged a child, when parents are not around .Hence T.V can be called as “third parent”. T.V. can easily be exploited to reach certain target groups for education and will be more effective if our health education messages will be telecast with a bit entertainment touch. So proper and wise use of media mix (2 and 3) i.e. modern and traditional media may be helpful in strengthening the Information, Education and Communication (I.E.C.) campaign for not only enriching the knowledge of the people but also motivate them to bring the scientific knowledge in to their practices. (ii) By strengthening the democratic alliance between the key players i.e. the patients, people around them and the service providers about health matters. So all these three freely and frankly exchange their views about fears, concerns, prejudices and problems and not only seek help but also extend their help in whatever from, where ever and when ever desired. Diagnosis, Treatment and Education camp is one of the best means for operational this strategy. These camps are organized by local people using medico technical experiences of the health service providers. The community contributes to facilitate these camps by providing venue and volunteers as well by publicizing the events in the nearby community. In these camps hidden cases come forward. This approach also helps to reduce the stigma attached to the disease and in early detection of cases. These camps provide best opportunities for counseling and can be organized at low cost and do not need additional funding.

REFERENCES:

1. Garg Narendra K. Evaluation of the impact of emesis and emesis plus purgation therapy; Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics: 2 (2) March – April 2010; 201-202.

2. Bansal A.K. and Garg Narendra K.: Information, education, communication in context of reproductive and child health including HIV/AIDS; J. of Ravi Shankar Uni.; Vol.-14; No. B (Science); 2001; pp-28-34.

3. Garg Narendra K. and Bansal A.K.: Management information system in context of health care delivery; J. of Ravi Shankar Uni.; Vol.-14; No. B (Science); 2001; pp-35-40.

4. Bansal A.K. and Chandorkar R.K. Impact of I.C.D.S. on morbidity due to nutritional deficiency Diseases amongst Tribe and Non Tribe Children; Research J. Science and Tech.; 2009: 1(2); 82 – 84.

5. Headaches most common global health disorder: WHO; The Times of India, New Delhi; 6^th May, 2011; pp-11.

6. Alfia Fatima, Bansal A.K., Shamsuddoha ,Ratre, H.L.et. al.: Leprosy Elimination in District Sarguja; J. of Ravi Shankar Uni.; Vol-19; No B (Science); 2006; pp-61-68.

Received on 03.08.2011

Accepted on 31.08.2011

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 3(6): Nov.-Dec., 2011, 311-317