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The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Study on stigma faced by people with sickle cell disease
A study co-authored by Deepa Bhat, professor in Anatomy and certified genetic counsellor, JSS Medical College, Mysuru has been published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, marking a national breakthrough in stigma research related to sickle cell disease, said the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru. 'It (the study) is a milestone in public health and genetic research,' the JSS AHER said in a release here. JSS Medical College is the constituent college of JSS AHER. The release said the study introduces the ICMR-SCD Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI) – 'the first scientifically validated tool from India to assess the multi-dimensional stigma faced by the people living with SCD and their caregivers.' Developed under the leadership of Dr. Bonta V. Babu and funded by the ICMR National Task Force Project under the Socio-Behavioural Research Division, the ISSSI is a culturally attuned and linguistically adaptable scale, tailored to the Indian context. The multi-centric study involved fieldwork across six tribal regions in collaboration with the Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram, Bodoland University, Assam, Parul University, Vadodara, ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneshwar and JSS Medical College of JSS AHER, Mysuru. 'The scale captures stigma across key domains – familial, illness burden, interpersonal relationships, healthcare interactions and social disclosure – and is now positioned as a vital tool for the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission,' the release stated. The ISSSI tool is now available for use in clinical settings, community outreach and health systems research, enabling policymakers, clinicians and researchers to address stigma with precision and empathy, according to the university.
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First Post
22-04-2025
- Health
- First Post
How far is my hospital? In India, it's 15 kms for OPD, 44 kms for admission
Estimates published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia journal showed a significant urban-rural disparity – urban older adults availed out-patient facilities within 10 kilometres of reach, while the distance was nearly 30 kilometres for their rural counterparts. read more Older adults in India are travelling considerable distances to access healthcare, with some commuting up to 15 kilometres for outpatient visits and nearly 44 kilometres for hospitalisation, according to new research. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, highlights sharp urban-rural disparities in healthcare access. While seniors in urban areas typically accessed outpatient services within 10 kilometres, their rural counterparts had to travel nearly three times as far, the researchers found. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The findings are based on data from nearly 32,000 individuals aged 60 and above, surveyed during the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) in 2017-2018. India's elderly population, currently estimated at 138 million, is projected to rise from 7.4% of the total population in 2001 to 13.2% by 2031. The study also noted that proximity plays a critical role in healthcare usage: 73% of older adults accessed outpatient services and 40% used inpatient care when facilities were located within 10 kilometres. However, with an increase in commute distance, a commensurate decline in the use of out-patient services was found – 17 per cent utilisation of facilities for 11-30 kilometres distance, and 10 per cent for 30 kilometres and above, respectively. A longer commute and far placed facility is a barrier for receiving timely, essential healthcare for people in this age group, often seen grappling with multiple long-term, debilitating conditions requiring continuous care, the team said. They wrote, 'Older adults, on an average travelled a distance of nine miles (14.54 kilometres) to seek outpatient services and 27 miles (43.62 kilometres) for inpatient care respectively.' State-wise, Tripura, Manipur and Kerala, had the highest in-patient and outpatient visits within 10 kilometres – over 80 per cent, 75 per cent and 59 per cent of older adults availed in-patient services, respectively, while 88 per cent, 78 per cent and 84 per cent availed out-patient ones, respectively STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD .The authors attributed Kerala's high rates to 'easy access and better availability of infrastructure'. In Manipur and Tripura, it may be because people rely on nearby facilities during emergency in-patient situations, they said. Hilly states such as Nagaland, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh could pose geographical challenges as zero per cent, 17 per cent and about five per cent of older adults in these areas made in-patient visits within 10 kilometres, the study found. Further, in northeastern states, such as Mizoram and Nagaland, a higher percentage of older adults were found to travel more than 60 kilometres to access in-patient and out-patient services, indicating a poor and limited access to nearby facilities. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh showed a moderate proximity of 11-60 kilometres for older adults accessing out-patient care, but a higher share of in-patient visits at distances beyond 30 kilometres. The authors added that less variability in commute distance among southern states indicated a well-distributed healthcare infrastructure. For an equitable and inclusive healthcare system in India, improving access to services and reducing geographical barriers are paramount, the team said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Elderly travel up to 44km to get hospitalised: Lancet
New Delhi: An elderly person in India must commute up to 15 km to avail out-patient services, and almost 44 km for in-patient care requiring hospitalisation, claims a new study published in The Lancet Regional Health- Southeast Asia. Researchers analysed data of nearly 32,000 older adults, aged 60 and above, collected during the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) in 2017-2018 and found there was a significant urban-rural disparity also with the urban older adults availing out-patient facilities within 10 km of reach, while the distance was nearly 30 km for their rural counterparts. According to the Lancet study, rates of availing both out-patient and in-patient services were found to be high - 73% and 40%, respectively - when a facility was within 10 km of reach. However, with an increase in commute distance, a commensurate decline in the use of out-patient services was found - 17% utilisation of facilities for 11-30 km distance, and 10% for 30 km and above, respectively, it adds. A longer commute and far-away facility is a barrier for receiving timely, essential healthcare for people in this age group, often seen grappling with multiple long-term, debilitating conditions requiring continuous care, the research team said. They wrote, "Older adults, on an average, travelled a distance of nine miles (14.5 kilometres) to seek outpatient services and 27 miles (43.6 kilometres) for inpatient care respectively." State-wise, Tripura, Manipur and Kerala, had the highest in-patient and outpatient visits within 10 km - over 80%, 75% and 59% of older adults availed in-patient services, respectively, while 88%, 78% and 84% availed out-patient ones, respectively. The authors attributed Kerala's high rates to "easy access and better availability of infrastructure". In Manipur and Tripura, it may be because people rely on nearby facilities during emergency in-patient situations, they said. Hilly states such as Nagaland, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh could pose geographical challenges as 0%, 17% and about 5%of older adults in these areas made in-patient visits within 10 km, the study found. Further, in northeastern states, such as Mizoram and Nagaland, a higher percentage of older adults were found to travel more than 60 km to access in-patient and out-patient services, indicating a poor and limited access to nearby facilities. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh showed a moderate proximity of 11-60 km for older adults accessing out-patient care, but a higher share of in-patient visits at distances beyond 30 km.
