Users Online: 6277 Home Print this page Email this page Small font sizeDefault font sizeIncrease font size
 

 
Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 
     
DR P C SEN BEST PAPER AWARD
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 60  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 181-187

Taking stocks of antimalarial activities: A study on knowledge and skill of health personnel at primary care setting in the state of West Bengal, India

AB Biswas1, Sarmila Mallik2, Dipta Kanti Mukhopadhyay3, Aditya Prasad Sarkar4, Susmita Nayak5, Asit Kumar Biswas6
1 Professor, Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
3 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
4 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India
5 Consultant, Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
6 Chief Medical Officer of Health, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sarmila Mallik
C/5, Ideal Association, VIP Road, Kolkata - 700 054, West Bengal
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0019-557X.189003

Rights and Permissions

Background: Early diagnosis and effective treatment are the key areas in malaria control in India. Objective: The present study was carried out to assess the knowledge and skill of health personnel at primary care level and the logistic support related to the program at subcenter (SC) level. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among medical and paramedical personnel working at primary health-care institutions in two districts of West Bengal. Knowledge was assessed using a structured questionnaire while diagnostic skill and logistic support were assessed with structured checklists. Clinical skill was assessed with case vignettes. Results: Requisite knowledge on diagnostic procedure was found in two-third to three-fourth of health personnel while only 26.7% and 12.4%, respectively, knew the correct treatment of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Median standardized score for knowledge was 50.0 while the scores for skill of preparing blood slide and for rapid diagnostic test were 70.0 and 57.1, respectively. Education and work experience were related to diagnostic skill but had little effect on knowledge. In clinical skill, medical personnel scored 50% or more in investigation and treatment aspects only. In another case vignette, health workers excelled over medical officers and other staff in all axes other than history taking and clinical examination although their performance was also suboptimal. Formal training on malaria did not show any bearing on median knowledge and skill score. Supply of diagnostics and drugs was insufficient in majority of SCs. Conclusion: Renewed efforts are needed to create competent workforce and ensure adequate logistic supply.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2808    
    Printed83    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded353    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal

 

Advertise | Sitemap | What's New | Feedback | Disclaimer | Privacy Notice
© Indian Journal of Public Health | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
Online since 25th September, 2010