Dr Imaad Mohammed Ismail
@ymc.yenepoya.edu.in
Professor, Department of Community Medicine
Yenepoya Medical College
EDUCATION
MD in Community Medicine
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Medicine, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Professions
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Imaad Mohammed Ismail, Akshaya Kibballi Madhukeshwar, Poonam Ramesh Naik, Badarudeen Mohammad Nayarmoole, and Srinath Satyanarayana
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Background: In India, ensuring all Persons with Presumptive TB (PPTB) undergo TB diagnostic tests and initiating all diagnosed TB patients on treatment are two major implementation challenges. Objectives: In a coastal district of Karnataka state, South India, to (1) determine the number and proportion of PPTB who did not undergo any TB diagnostic test, and the number and proportion of TB patients who were not initiated on treatment (2) explore the facilitators and barriers in TB diagnostic testing and treatment initiation from health care providers’ perspective. Methods: For objective-1, we used a cross-sectional design involving review of data of PPTB enrolled for care during January–March 2019 and for objective-2, we used a qualitative design involving key informant interviews of health care providers. Results: Of 8822 PPTB patients enrolled for evaluation of TB, 767 (9%) had not undergone any TB diagnostic test. In those who had undergone any TB diagnostic test, a total of 822 were diagnosed with TB and of them, 26 (3%) were not initiated on treatment. Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification tests was used as a diagnostic test only among 1188 (13.5%) PPTB patients. The gaps in diagnostic testing were due to: non-availability of doctors/lab-technicians, inadequate knowledge about TB diagnostic tests among health care providers, reluctance of patients to undergo the TB diagnostic tests due to stigma/confidentiality issues and sub-optimal engagement of private health facilities for TB control. Conclusion: About 9% of PPTB not undergoing any test for TB and 3% of the TB patients not initiated on treatment are of major concern. Revised National TB Control Programme needs to address the identified barriers to improve the process of TB diagnosis and treatment initiation.
Habeena Shaira, Imaad Mohammed Ismail, Nihal Ahmed, Noorul Zeena, Peer Arooj, Poojary Shreya, Reiham Shafir, and Rahima Nazeer
Medsci Publications
Background: The consumption of single-use-plastics is on the rise globally. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on single-use-plastics among the residents of a rural area in a coastal district of Karnataka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2019 among the residents of Madani Nagar. Data was collected by interviewing any adult member of the house aged more than 18 years using a standardised application called Epicollect 5. Results: A total of 319 residents participated in the study. More than 70% were aware that single-use-plastics cause’s harmful effects on health but more than 95% were unaware that plastic causes global warming and climatic change in the environment. The attitude towards the single-use-plastic was satisfactory since 80% of them were of opinion that single-use-plastic should be banned and more than 60% were willing to replace the plastic bag with an alternative. Practice was found to be poor since 82.4% were using plastic bag on regularly basis. Conclusions: The overall knowledge regarding single-use-plastic was inadequate, attitude was favourable and practices were unsatisfactory. Awareness regarding single-use-plastics and its harm and strict enforcement of plastic ban is the need of the hour.
Azeez Kahkashan and Imaad Ismail
ScopeMed
Background: Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer have replaced communicable diseases as the leading cause of mortality in most parts of the world including India. Hypertension is a major public health problem in India which often results in coronary artery disease and stroke. As tribal populations are relatively isolated from the modern lifestyle, it is often hypothesized that their blood pressure is lower than the general population.
Aims and Objectives: This study aims to describe the normal pattern of blood pressure and to assess the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among a selected tribal population of Kerala.
Materials and Methods: The study was carried out among tribal settlements of Kannavam Area, Kannur District, Kerala. Using convenient sampling method, 300 individuals aged 18 years and above were selected. Pregnant women and those individuals who were not willing to participate were excluded from the study. Data on sociodemographic variables, physical activity, tobacco consumption, and alcohol intake were collected. Blood pressure was recorded and classified according to Joint National Committee - 8 criteria. Data entry and analysis was done on SPSS version 17.
Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found to be 125.2 mmHg and 77.1 mmHg, respectively. Only 45.7% of the study individuals had normal blood pressure, and the rest had either hypertension or pre-hypertension. Increasing age, alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and central obesity were found to be significant factors responsible for high blood pressure.
Conclusion: The tribal populations mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was similar to those of rural population of Kerala. A large proportion of the population had elevated blood pressure especially the elderly, thus necessitating annual screening in them. Alcohol intake and obesity were found to be associated with hypertension; hence, health education on harmful effects of alcohol and benefits of a balanced diet should be given to the tribal population.
ImaadMohammed Ismail, PP Venugopalan, AK Sarada, and Kanniyan Binub
Medknow
Background: India is presently facing a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) due to industrialization, socioeconomic development, urbanization, changing age structure, and changing lifestyles. There is scarcity of data regarding the prevalence of established risk factors of NCDs among college students and hence, this study was undertaken. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of risk factors of NCDs among college students of Anjarakandy Integrated Campus, Kannur, Kerala, India. Settings and Design: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Anjarakandy Integrated Campus, Kannur, Kerala, India from March 2014 to June 2015. Materials and Methods: The integrated campus has a total of 1,933 students from the medical, dental, engineering, Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), nursing, and pharmacy colleges who formed the sampling frame. After taking oral consent, a pretested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic variables, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and family history of NCDs. Statistical Analysis: Data entry and analysis were done on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. Percentages and proportions were used to describe the results. Results: A total of 634 students participated in the study. The prevalence of risk factors of NCDs was as follows: lack of exercise -44.6%, junk food intake of more than 3 times/week -65.9%, extra salt intake -78.5%, daily smoker -2.4%, and alcoholic consumption in the past 30 days -2.5%. On an average, students spend 3 h using their mobile phones and 1 h watching television daily. It was found that 29.8% of the students were undernourished and 9.8% were preobese/obese. A total of 10 students were diagnosed as hypertensive. Conclusion: Lack of exercise, consumption of junk food, and high salt intake were found to be highly prevalent in the study participants. To address the issues, sports should be promoted, especially among women and nutrition education classes should be included in the curriculum.