Introducing regular behavioural surveillance into the health system in India: Its feasibility and validity.
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Date
2010-01
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Abstract
Background. Illness is affected by human behaviour.
However, in most developing countries the risk behaviour of
the general population is not assessed. We developed a
surveillance system to assess the ‘risk factors’ at the community
level using the routine healthcare system.
Methods. The Comprehensive Rural Health Services
Project at Ballabgarh, Haryana, provides healthcare to a
population of 82 933 through 2 primary health centres and
24 health workers. Information on behavioural risk factors for
communicable and non-communicable diseases was collected
by health workers during the annual health census from
December 2003 to February 2004. The information collected
pertained to maternal and child health, and household and
individual behaviour. We compared the data related to
individual behaviour with that of a survey of non-communicable
diseases risk factors done in the same area.
Results. Data were collected from (i) mothers who had
delivered during the preceding year (n=1625), (ii) a random
sample of individuals (n=2865), (iii) and all households
(n=7488). The response rate was 85% for mothers, 91%
for households and 95% for individuals. Approximately 80%
of the households had access to drinking water, 32% to
sanitary latrines, 28% of women increased their dietary intake
during pregnancy, and 50% of adult men used tobacco.
Comparing these results with those from the survey of risk
factors for non-communicable diseases revealed no significant
differences.
Conclusion. It is feasible for health workers to do behavioural surveillance by using the routine healthcare system.
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Nongkynrih Baridalyne, Anand K, Pandav C S, Kapoor S K. Introducing regular behavioural surveillance into the health system in India: Its feasibility and validity. National Medical Journal of India. 2010 Jan-Feb; 23(1): 13-17.