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Fulltext Effectiveness of audio-visual and print media intervention on knowledge of cervical health among rural women in Southern India

Nagamma T, Ashok L, Konuri A, Chandrasekaran V

Niger Postgrad Med J, 2020 11 7;27(4):343-347.
PMID: 33154288 DOI: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_148_20

Background: Cervical cancer health education programmes are not accessible to rural women in developing countries.
Objective: Our study aimed at assessing the health literacy about cervical cancer amongst the rural women in Udupi district, southern India, before and following intervention using audio-visual aid/face-to-face interactive sessions versus pamphlets alone.
Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. A total of 166 women participated in the study. Participant groups were allocated into two interventional (Experimental/Control) groups. Participants in the experimental group received education through the video followed by face-to-face interaction with a health educator while those in the control group received a pamphlet. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about numerous risk factors, Pap smear test and treatment of cervical cancer (pre- and post-intervention test). The findings are presented as frequencies and percentages. Paired responses were compared for individual questions using McNemar test and P < 0.05 was fixed as statistically significant.
Results: Former to the intervention, 13.5% and 19.1% in the experimental and control groups, respectively, felt that personal hygiene was important to prevent cervical cancer. Both the groups had very limited knowledge regarding risk factors (93.6%; 94%), symptoms (96.3%; 97.6%) and knowledge that Pap smears can reduce the risk of cervical cancer (91.7%; 93.9%). The change in knowledge pre-and post-intervention in both groups increased significantly.
Conclusion: Intervention with face-to-face interactive sessions showed a positive impact on knowledge regarding cervical cancer. These findings indicate both methods can be effective in providing health education in the community.
Fulltext 'This is the place where I can be alone, no tension:' Photovoice evidence for adolescent perceptions of their microsystem and psychological adjustment

Chandra Sekaran V, Bailey A, Kamath VG, Ashok L, Kamath A

Asian J Psychiatr, 2020 Jun;51:102021.
PMID: 32315964 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102021

Adolescents experience myriad emotions which occur in relation to their immediate social space which may shape their perceptions of members within the microsystem. The photovoice method uniquely provides participants with the means to capture their life through the lens of a camera while also enabling them to express emotions and meanings they attach to their particular life situations. We explore the various emotions adolescents attach to the spaces they occupy and how they link them to socialization in the context of the microsystem. This study was conducted in rural and urban areas of Udupi taluk, southern India. A total of 21 participants, ranging from early to late adolescence participated and provided multiple forms of data with 112 photographs, 21 journals on their daily interactions and one-on-one interviews facilitated using the SHOWeD model. The analytical method involved compiling visual data from photographs, journal content and interview data pertaining to each participant as a single data file, developing codes using ATLAS.ti, version 8, and further developing sub-themes and themes as they emerged into narratives. Our study was able to elicit emotions and meanings that adolescents attached to social interactions with gendered nuances specific to the Indian cultural setting. Future applications of the photovoice methodology on research among adolescents have also been discussed.
Fulltext Evaluation of serum sialic acid, fucose levels and their ratio in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Chinnannavar SN, Ashok L, Vidya KC, Setty SM, Narasimha GE, Garg R

J Int Soc Prev Community Dent, 2015 Nov-Dec;5(6):446-50.
PMID: 26759796 DOI: 10.4103/2231-0762.169211

Detection of cancer at the early stage is of utmost importance to decrease the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Apart from the conventional biopsy, minimally invasive methods like serum evaluation are used for screening large populations. Thus, this study aimed to estimate serum levels of sialic acid and fucose and their ratio in oral cancer patients and in healthy control group to evaluate their role in diagnosis.
Parental Involvement - Perceptions of Parents and their Adolescent Children

Sekaran VC, Ashok L, Kamath VG, Kamath A, Hegde AP, Devaramane V

Indian J Pediatr, 2020 03;87(3):200-206.
PMID: 31925719 DOI: 10.1007/s12098-019-03114-z

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of parents and their adolescent children, specifically the dimension of parental involvement in the lives of their adolescent children and how adolescents perceived it.
METHODS: Following informed consent, a total of nine families with 22 participants took part in the study including nine adolescents, aged between 14 and 16 y, and 13 parents. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted at their homes following informed consent. Following transcription, the data was coded and themes were identified using Atlas.ti software. A grounded theory approach was undertaken in analysing the data.
RESULTS: Two main themes were identified including perceptions of parental involvement in the lives of their adolescent children and family strategies to improve bonding. Adolescents' concerns centered on reduced interaction time with their family members. Concerns were also raised over the adolescents' increasing academic burden and parents particularly emphasized the increasing use of media and mobile technology by adolescents as deterrents to interaction. Though mothers functioned as primary caregivers, fathers also took on more active roles in the rearing of their children, stepping away from the traditionally viewed role of being a distant patriarchal provider. To improve interaction, parents devised creative strategies to increase time spent interacting with family members such as having dinner, performing household chores, playing games, or visiting places together.
CONCLUSIONS: The increasing academic burden and access to digital media were perceived as factors leading to reduced interaction between the parent-adolescent dyad. Creative parenting strategies to increase interaction were sought as a solution.
Parenting attitudes and dimensions as predictors of adolescent behavioural problems in the Indian context: A community-based study

Sekaran VC, Kamath VG, Ashok L, Kamath A, Hegde AP, Devaramane V

Asian J Psychiatr, 2020 Apr;50:101941.
PMID: 32070886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101941

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent behavioural problems are a growing public health concern. The authors in this study investigated paternal and maternal reports of parenting attitudes and dimensions as predictors of adolescent behavioural problems in the Indian context.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using stratified sampling at the community level, 640 parents including 419 mothers and 221 fathers participated in the study. Tools included a socio-demographic pro-forma; Parental attitude inventory (PAI) to assess parenting attitudes, Parent Global Report of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) to assess current parenting dimensions, and the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess behavioural problems among adolescents. We examined the prevalence and predictors of total difficulties, externalizing and internalizing behavioural problems among adolescents from paternal and maternal reports.
RESULTS: Paternal and maternal reports of total difficulties (11.3 %, 13.6 %), externalizing (2.3 %, 1.9 %) and internalizing behaviours (8.6 %, 7.4 %) among adolescents are reported. Predictors of abnormal behaviours per paternal reports included lower social class and poor paternal control. Being a male adolescent increased the odds of total difficulties and externalizing problems. Favourable maternal attitude, good maternal warmth and control predicted the reduced likelihood of total difficulties and externalizing behaviours per maternal reports. Paternal control and maternal warmth and control were found to reduce the likelihood of internalizing behaviours among adolescents.
CONCLUSION: Maternal attitude, paternal control and maternal warmth and control dimensions emerged as significant predictors of total difficulties, externalizing and internalizing behavioural problems among adolescents.
Fulltext 'No, you should not beat our child because he will become aggressive:' Applying a multi-method approach to explore intergenerational transmission of parenting practices

Chandra Sekaran V, Bailey A, Kamath VG, Ashok L, Ravindran SK, Kamath A, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(10):e0258306.
PMID: 34618867 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258306

BACKGROUND: Exploring the cultural context of intergenerational continuity of warm and harsh parenting informs parents motivations to adopt specific parenting behaviours.
OBJECTIVE: Parents' perceptions of being parented in the past and their current parenting as well as adolescents' perceptions of current parenting were explored applying a multi-method approach.
METHODS: Following written informed consent, a total of 24 interviews with 10 families (dyads of 14 parents and ten adolescents) from Udupi taluk in southern India was conducted. In the first stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with parent participants (Generation 1 (G1)) and in the second stage, adolescents (Generation 2 (G2)) participated in the photovoice component. Multiple forms of data including photographs, journals and interviews facilitated using the SHOWeD model were collected and were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti(v.8).
RESULTS: Subtle changes in reinforcing culture-specific gender norms between generations were elicited. Differences in communication, granting autonomy to female adolescents, and in disciplining methods between G1 and G2 were observed. Warm parenting was transmitted between generations while harsh parenting in G1 in the presence of external social support was discarded in favor of warm parenting in G2.
CONCLUSION: We provide evidence for perceptions of parenting and adolescent behaviors across two generations. Transmission of warm parenting and interruption in the cycle of harsh parenting in the presence of external social support were significant findings. Related theoretical and methodological applications are discussed.
Behavioral and Psychosocial Risk Factors that Lead Individuals to Initiate and/or Maintain Betel Quid Chewing in Developed and Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

Muthukrishnan A, Nagi R, Ashok L, Sujatha GP, Rao RS, Lakshminarayana S, et al.

J Contemp Dent Pract, 2022 Dec 01;23(12):1267-1279.
PMID: 37125526 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3450

BACKGROUND: Betel quid (BQ) is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance and its use is highly prevalent among southeast Asian countries due to the influence of psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental factors. As a result, even young children and women are becoming addicted and find it difficult to achieve long-term abstinence. Systematic research addressing the influence of behavioral and psychosocial factors on BQ chewing is scarce, hence pointing to the need for understanding the interplay of these factors to develop tailored intervention strategies for BQ cessation.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to assess various behavioral and psychosocial risk factors from pre-existing literature that lead individuals to initiate and/or maintain BQ chewing in developed and developing countries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic retrieval systems and databases PUBMED [MEDLINE], EMBASE, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, and SCIENCE DIRECT were searched independently by two authors for relevant articles from January 2011 to July 2021 using combinations of keywords. Primary studies published in English focusing on the behavioral and psychosocial risk factors for BQ chewing were included.
RESULTS: Out of the initial 264 articles searched, 12 articles met the selection criteria. Included studies addressed the influence of behavioral and psychosocial factors toward the initiation and/or maintenance of BQ chewing. Included studies reported that dependent BQ was not able to quit BQ chewing due to habituation, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms. Few social BQ chewers in Southeast Asian countries were not willing to initiate quitting as they considered AN as an important social and cultural identifier and claimed that they could not resist chewing in a peer group, and it has become part of their social life.
CONCLUSION: In the future, studies should take into consideration behavioral and psychosocial risk factors, which are major barriers toward successful quitting. These factors should be integrated into areca nut cessation guidelines, and there is a need to develop more comprehensive culture-specific intervention approaches to achieve long-term abstinence.