Department of Epidemiology

 

Epidemiology

Introduction

The Department of Epidemiology was established along with the formation of the Institute in 1932.The Department is the First Institute/Collegehaving a separate Epidemiology Department in India.

The department has played significant role in the development of the discipline of epidemiology and of community health in broader sense. The department has been pioneer in carrying out General Health Survey in the population of its rural field practice area in Singur, Hooghly District West Bengal.The department had been involved in identifying in the problem of Arsenicosis as a major public health problem in the country. The department has been involved in carrying out many surveys. Lal RB, Roy SC had conducted investigation of epidemic dropsy in 1930.Work was done on chronic arsenic toxicity from drinking waterfrom tubewells in rural West Bengal in 1980s. The Sonagachi Project launched in 1992 by the Dept. in Sonagachi red light area of Kolkata, has evolved into a multi-faceted community effort to empower sex workers (particularly women) in ways that go beyond HIV prevention. The Sonagachi Project has been identified as a World Health Organization (WHO) model.

The department has been the nodal department in monitoring and supervision of HIV sentinel surveillance in West Bengal and North Eastern States of India. It is also the nodal dept. for IDSP (TOT) and Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in North Eastern States and West Bengal.

The Department practices epidemiology as a broad scientific discipline, addressing the occurrence of disease and the distribution of health status in populations. By integrating causal concepts at the molecular, cellular, clinical, and social-environmental levels, our faculty work to maintain an intellectual environment that facilitates the integration of biological, social, and analytic approaches. Within such an environment, faculty and students are able to develop the breadth of knowledge necessary to appreciate fully the complexities of the biosocial systems that we seek to understand and modify. The department strives to better understand the burden and causes of health problems in human populations, and to make changes that decrease risk and improve health.

The Mission of the Department of Epidemiology at AIIH&PH is to contribute to the reduction of the disease burden in human populations through research, education, and service. The research mission is met by study into the risk of disease associated with inherent, acquired, social, or environmental factors, and the development and application of methods to alleviate that risk. These methods range from primary prevention through service provision to modification of social systems. Faculty and students pursue this research mission through research projects conducted both by individuals and by multi-disciplinary teams.

The educational mission includes the training of students to generate and interpret epidemiologic information, to synthesize it with other information, and to apply it to reduction of the disease burden. Graduates from the Department’s research and training programs are prepared to develop their careers as independent researchers and health managers, and all Departmental graduates are prepared to take up leadership positions in public and private agencies involved with health care or research.

Teaching Activities

  • Regular Courses Conducted:

Course Details:

Name of Course: MD (MPH Epidemiology)

Short introduction:

In developing countries like India, with a number of public health problems, it is extremely essential to have qualified and trained manpower with core competencies in the field of Epidemiology.  MD(MPH Epidemiology) with its focused approach towards developing skills in application of Epidemiology, in field settings will help to fill this gap.

As per the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2000, the period of training for obtaining these Doctor of Medicine degrees shall be three completed years including the period of examination.  Present nomenclature of this course as per National Medical Commission, Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) letter No. NMC/MCI-23(1)/ 2021/ Med/028828 dated 25-10-2021.

 Affiliation: WBUHS

Duration: Three (3) years

Method of Selection: NEET (PG)

Stipend if any: Yes, as per JR Scheme

    • Regular Activities:

    • Departmental faculty take regular theory and practical classes as well as organize community based learning experiences to the Post Graduate students e.g. MPH (Epidemiology), MD (Community Medicine), MVPH, PGDPHM, DPH, DHPE, MSc (Applied Nutrition),DHS etc.
    • The Departmental faculty guided and supervised the core course students in conducting Community Diagnosis survey, Risk Factors of Non Communicable Diseases, and Immunization Coverage Evaluation survey by 30 Cluster Technique at Singur, Hooghly. The departmental faculty also provided guidance and supervision in Family Care program of core course students in UHU&TC, Chetla Kolkata.

    New Initiatives

    Medical Council of India after its inspection has recognized the three years MPH (Epidemiology) course conducted by the department.

    Collaborations

    • Department is conducting IDSP Trainings in collaboration with CSU IDSP.
    • Department has conducted PGDPHM Course in collaboration with other partner Institutes like PFHI, JIPMER etc.(from 2019, shifted to dept. of Public Health Administration)

    Faculty

     

    Dr.Sanjoy Kumar Sadhukhan
    Director-Professor & Head
    MD (SPM)    		 E-mail:
    sdknsanjoy@gmail.com
    Mobile No.:9836287874
    Area of expertise: Epidemiology, Research methods, Programme Evaluation, Biostatistics.
     Manas Kundu Dr. Manas Kumar Kundu

    Public Health Specialist (SAG) & Additional Director

    2 days/week

    DPH, MPH, PhD

    		 E-mail: kundum2000@gmail.com

    Mobile No. 9474994630

     

    Other Members

     

    Designation Number Activities performed
    Stenographer 1 Secretarial Assistant
    Lab. Technician 1 Collection of Lab samples in the field & Supportive Service
    MTS 1 Supportive Service

     

    Publications

    1. Sadhukhan SK. A Rural Community based study on Morbidity, Health care Utilization and Health Expenditure in Tarakeswar Block, Hoogly District, West Bengal. J Comprehensive Health.2018; 6(2) : 90-96.

    2. Kundu MK, Hazra S, Pal D, Bhattacharya M. A Review on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) burden, its socio-economic impact and the strategies for prevention and control of NCDs in India. Indian Journal of Public Health 2018. V 62(4), p 302-304

    3. Sadhukhan SK, Saren G. Assessment of Mass Drug Administration for Elimination of Filariasis in ‘Tribal’ Blocks of Bankura District, West Bengal. J Comprehensive Health.2019; 7(1) : 29-33.

    4. Dasgupta A, Roychoudhury N, Pal D, Bandyopadhyay L, Suman S, Mohanta M. Cognition of emergency contraception: an assessment among WRA in a rural community of West Bengal. Int J Community Med Public Health, 2019;6:2241-5

    5. Dan A, Samuel P, Pasi A, Waghmare M:Post Flood Health Hazards in Ernakulam District of Kerala: A Focus on Safe Water Supply and Control of Acute Diarrheal Disease .International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, New Delhi, Volume 9, Issue 6, June 2019.260-64

    6. Pasi A , Dan A , Gaikwad P, Poornima P , Singh SK: Out of pocket expenditure for yellow fever vaccination -An experience from a newly established yellow fever vaccination centre at tothukudi, Tamilnadu. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, New Delhi, Volume 9, Issue 7, July 2019 Page No 19-23.

    7. Dasgupta A, Sadhukhan SK, Bhattacharya M, Paul B, Bandyopadhyay L and Mohanta M. An Epidemiological Study on Sociodemographic and Antenatal Factors associated with Low Birth Weight in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Kolkata, West Bengal. Int J Med Sci Public Health 2019; 8(9): 753-58

    8. Samuel P, Dan A , Waghmare M, Pasi A: Post flood dengue vector surveillance-An experience from Ernakulam district of Kerala, India in 2018.Journal of communicable diseases, Delhi, Volume 51, Issue: 3, 2019,Page No 40-45.

    Presentations in Conferences:

    1. Banerjee A, Dutt D, Pal D, Mitra S, Dan A, Hazra S. Hypertension among adolescent school students in a selected area of Kolkata. In: Proceedings of the 63rd Annual National Conference of IPHA; 2019 Feb 01-03; Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

    2. Chakraborty P, Dutt D, Pal D, Mitra S, Dan A, Hazra S. Assessment of mental health and its determinants among School-Going Adolescents in an urban area of Kolkata. In: Proceedings of the 63rd Annual National Conference of IPHA; 2019 Feb 01-03; Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

    3. Chakraborty P, Dutt D, Pal D, Mitra S, Dan A, Hazra S. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among brick-kiln workers of a rural area of West-Bengal. In: Proceedings of the 63rd Annual National Conference of IPHA; 2019 Feb 01-03; Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

    4. Singh P, Dutt D, Pal D, Mitra S, Dan A, Hazra S. Hypertension and its Risk Factors among Adults of Slum Area of Ward-55, Kolkata, West-Bengal.In: Proceedings of the 63rd Annual National Conference of IPHA; 2019 Feb 01-03; Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

    5. Banerjee A, Dutt D, Pal D, Mitra S, Dan A, Hazra S. Malnutrition among under-5 children of brick-kiln workers in a Rural Area of Hooghly, West-Bengal.In: Proceedings of the35thAnnual State conference of IAPSM, West Bengal; March 2019; North Bengal Medical College, Sushrutanagar, Dist. Darjeeling.

    6. Sadhukhan SK. A study on Early Marriage and its Associates in a Rural Community of West Bengal. In: Proceedings of the 46th Annual National Conference of IAPSM; 2019 March 7-10; Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

    Research Work

    • Dr. Sanjoy Kr. Sadhukhan acted as a guide in thesis work on:

    • Study on Low Birth Weight and its Determinants in a Tertiary Care Centre, Kolkata by Dr. M Mohanta, MD(PSM) student 2016-19 batch

    • Occupational hazards and morbidity of Garment Factory Workers of East Midnapur district, WB by Dr. A. Pal, MD(PSM) student 2017-20 batch

    • Morbidity, Health Seeking Behaviour and Health Expenditure in Rural Community of Hooghly District, West Bengal by D. P. Ghosh, MD(PSM) student 2018-21 batch

    • Validation of Indian Diabetic Score in a Rural community of West Bengal by Dr. D. Patwari, DPH student, 2017-19 batch

    • A Cross-sectional Study of Depression among Students of a Post Graduate Public Health Institute in West Bengal by Dr. S. H. Das, DPH student, 2018-20 batch

    • A study on early marriage and its associates in Singur block, Hooghly district, West Bengal by Dr. S. Das, MPH student, 2018-21 batch.

    • A study on Knowledge and Practices of Cooking and Hygiene among Anganwadi Workers and Helpers of Bardhaman Municipality ICDS, Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal by S. Sen, M Sc (AN) student, 2017-19 batch

    • Study on Nutritional Status of Post menopausal women in an Urban community of Kolkata by S. Parveen, M Sc (AN) student, 2018-20 batch

    • Dr. Sampa Mitra acted as a guide in thesis work on:

    • “A study on assessment of nutritional status of housewives below poverty line of Kidderpore Kolkata” by Diksha Kumari Sharma, M.Sc. (Applied Nutrition), Session: 2017-19.

    • Dr. Dipak Pal acted as a guide in thesis work on:

    • An epidemiological study on unintended pregnancy and abortion among currently married women on reproductive age in a rural area of West Bengal – Dr Nivedita Roy Choudhury, MD (Community Medicine) PGT, Session – 2016-19.

    • A cross-sectional study to assess utilisation of maternal and child health care services under RMNCH+A programme in Slums of Kolkata, West Bengal – Dr. Sayanti Bandyopadhyay, MD (Community Medicine) PGT, Session – 2017-20.

    • Prevalence of depression among elderly population & associated factors in a slum, Kolkata, W.B – Dr. Mainak Ranjan Baksi, MPH (Epidemiology)PGT, Session – 2016-19.

    • Stress and its determinants and coping strategy among coal miners of Eastern Coalfields by Dr. Arindam Banerjee, MPH (Epidemiology) PGT, Session – 2017-20.

    • A cross sectional study to assess frailty and quality of life among elderly population residing in rural area of Singur ,West Bengal -Dr. Sauryadripta Ghose, MD (Community Medicine) PGT, Session – 2018-21.

    • A study to assess the IQ level among adolescent girls in an urban school of North Calcutta and its association with nutritional status –Minu Mitra, M.Sc. (Applied Nutrition) Student, Session 2017-19.

    • Prevalence of overweight among 12-17 year old urban adolescents and its association with exposure to screen media in a selected school in Kolkata – Disha Chakraborty, M.Sc. (Applied Nutrition) Student, Session 2017-19.

    Short Studies completed till date:

    • Proportion of Asymptomatic Bacteruria among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-natal Clinic at Anandanagar Health Centre under Singur Block

    • Contraceptive Awareness and Practices among Female Brick-Kiln Workers in Singur Block, Hooghly.

    • A Cross-Sectional Study on Sleep and Menstrual Problem among Students of Dietetics and Nutrition in a Post-Graduate Institute in Kolkata

    • A Cross Sectional Study on Oral Hygiene among Santhal Tribal Adults in a Village of Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal

    • A cross-sectional study on prevalence of Post-Natal Depression and its associates among women in a rural community in Hooghly district, West Bengal.

    • Cross sectional study on prevalence of post-natal depression and its associates among women in a rural community in Hooghly district, West Bengal.

    • Cross sectional study on prevalence of sleep hygiene, sleep quality and excessive day time sleepiness and factors affecting quality sleep among students of AIIH&PH, Kolkata.

    • Cross sectional study on Oral hygiene among tribal adults of Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal.

    • Cross sectional study on e-waste management and practices among college students.

    • Internet addiction among undergraduate students of a college in a district of West Bengal.

    Conference/Seminars/Workshop Attended

    • Dr. S. K. Sadhukhan Professor & Head

    • Participated in 46th National Conference of IAPSM, held in IGMC, Shimla from 7-10th March, 2019 (including pre-con CME)

    –Attended Pre-conference CME on “LogisticRegression”

    – Presented oral paper entitled “A Study on Early Marriage and itsAssociates in a Rural Community of West Bengal” in “Oral PaperSession”

    – Chaired one scientific session (oral), No-17 on RCH.

    • 61st Annual State Conference of Indian Public Health Association (IPHA), West Bengal chapter held at Medical College, Kolkata on 31st August 2019 as participant and acted as Judge for the Poster presentations

    • Dr. Dipak Pal, Director Professor

    • Attended the 46th Annual National Conference of IAPSM held at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on and from 8th – 10th March, 2019.

    • Dr. Amitabha Dan, Field Epidemiologist

    • Attended 9th Annual Conference cum CME of the Society of Tropical medicine & Infectious Diseases in India held in Kolkata on 20th August 2019.

    Guest Lectures Delivered:

    • Dr S. K. Sadhukhan, Prof. & Head.

    • Acted as resource person for the workshop on “Operations Research in Public Health” held in Institute of PublicHealth, Kalyani on 20-07-2019 in collaboration with IAPSM, West Bengal chapter.

      • Given Public Health Talk in All India Radio for “Apnar Swasthya” program reg. Helminthiasis (Worms), Vitamin C and Importance of Anganwadi Centre, aired on 10th , 17th and 25th February, 2019 at 6.40 am in the morning.

      • Dr. Dipak Pal, Director-Professor

      • Delivered lecture on “Universal Health coverage – current status of India” on the occasion of observation of World Health Day, 2019 at AIIH&PH, Main Campus on 7th April, 2019

      • Delivered four lectures on topics related to Public Health for M.Sc. Nursing final year students of West Bengal Govt. College of Nursing, SSKM Hospital, in the month of July, 2019.

      • Dr. Amitabha Dan, Field Epidemiologist:

      • Speaker in WASH & RNTCP training in UHU&TC, Chetla

      • Speaker on ‘Water Quality’ in water conservation program in BN Campus.

      Examiners:

      • Dr. S. K. Sadhukhan, Professor & Head acted as

      • Internal Examiner for DPH Final Examination at AIIH&PH, Kolkata in May, 2019.

      • Paper Setter for MSc Applied Nutrition & Dip-diet Examination conducted by AIIH&PH, Kolkata in 2019.

      • External Expert for Pre-PhD seminar for two PhD theses at WBUHS on 07-02-19.

      • Acted as Evaluator of two PhD thesis under WBUHS.

      • Dr. Dipak Pal, Director-Professor acted as:

      • Paper Setter and Examiner for MPH (Epidemiology) Examinations, March and July-August, 2019 of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

      • Paper Setter for M.Sc. in Applied Nutrition Part-I August-September 2019 Examination of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

      • Adjudicator of thesis of PhD Examination of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences in the month of November, 2019.

      • Adjudicator of dissertation of MD (Community Medicine) of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences in the month of November, 2019.

      Field Activities/Programmes Undertaken:

      • MPH (Epidemiology) students of the session 2017-20 conducted Health Situational Analysis, Secondary Data Analysis, National Health Programme Evaluation and Surveillance System Evaluation in districts of 24 Parganas (North), 24 Parganas (South), Howrah and Hooghly.

      • MPH (Epidemiology) students of session 2016-19 and 2017-20 conducted Epidemic investigation in the service area of RHU&TC, Singur.

      • Dept. coordinated Community Diagnosis Survey, Risk Factors of Non Communicable Diseases, and Immunization Coverage Evaluation Survey by 30 Cluster Technique at Singur, Hooghly.

      Meetings attended

      Dr.Dipak Pal, Director-Professor

      • Attended meeting of Institutional Ethics Committee of Institute of Development Studies Kolkata, at Salt Lake on 8th April, 2019.

      SwachhBharat Mission Activities

      Apart fromcontinuing Swachhata drive in the Department, MPH EpidemiologyResidents organized several group discussions on Swachh BharatMission in the Field Practice areas of RHUTC Singur and UHUTC Chetla.

      Some Photographs of Our Activities:

      Research Work

      • M. Sc. (Applied Nutrition) Dissertation research completed:

      1. A study on Hypertension and its Association with obesity Related Anthropometric Indices among students of classes 10-12 of a selected institution in Bhattanagar, Howrah district.
      1. A study on Hypertension and its Association with obesity Related Anthropometric Indices among students of classes 10-12 of a selected institution in Bhattanagar, Howrah district.

      2. Association of stress with breakfast consumption pattern among school going adolescents (13-17 years), in an urban school, Kolkata, West Bengal.

      3. A study on knowledge and practices on complementary feeding among mothers of 6 to 24 months old children attending ICDS centres in an urban community of Kolkata, West Bengal.

      4. Prevalence of overweight among 12-17 years old adolescents and its association with exposure to screen media in a selected school in Kolkata.

      5. A study to assess the nutritional status of housewives of families below poverty line of Kolkata, West Bengal.

      6. Study of infant and child feeding practices – its relation to nutritional status of children between 6-23 months in an urban community in Kolkata.

      7. A study on assessment of nutritional and immunization status and feeding practices of under 5 children attending ICDS centers in a rural community of village Purba Bardwan, West Bengal.

      8. A study on knowledge and practices of breast feeding among mothers having children aged 6 months to 24 months in a rural community of village Nabasta of Birbhum district, West Bengal.

      9. A study on assessment of nutritional status of 6 to 59 months children and knowledge and practice of their mothers attending ICDS centers in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district.

      10. A study on prevalence of obesity and KAP about healthy diet among housewives residing at Jadavpur, Kolkata.

      11. A study on physiological changes and nutritional status among post-menopausal Muslim women in an urban community of Kolkata, West Bengal.

      12. A study on nutritional status on nutritional status of 3-5 years children and nutrition related knowledge of their mothers attending Anganwadi centers and kindergarten schools of Sehara Bazar, Purba Bardwan, West Bengal.

      13. A study on assessment of nutritional and immunization status and feeding practices of under 5 children attending ICDS centers in a rural community of Purba Burdwan, West Bengal.

      14. Association of the assessment of nutritional status and dietary intake and depression level of adolescent girls in a school and college of North 24 Parganas.

      15. A study to assess the IQ level among adolescents girls in an urban school of North Kolkata and its association with nutritional status.

      Examiners

      • Dr. Rama Ranjan Pati, Director-Prof. & HOD acted as

      • Paper setter and Examiner of M. Sc. (A.N) Part I Examination conducted by WBUHS;

      • Paper setter and Examiner of Diploma Dietetics Examination conducted by WBUHS;

      • Paper setter and Examiner of M. Sc. (A.N) Part II conducted by WBUHS.

      • Smt. A. Bandyopadhyay, Demonstrator acted as

      • Paper setter and Examiner of M. Sc. (A.N) Part I Examination conducted by WBUHS;

      • Paper setter and Examiner of Diploma Dietetics Examination conducted by WBUHS;

      • Paper setter and Examiner of M. Sc. (A.N) Part II conducted by WBUHS.

      Field Activities/Programme

      1. Students of Diploma in Dietetics participated in Field Training Programme with objective to get training regarding assessment of Nutritional Status of Population by Diet Survey, Anthropometry and Clinical Assessment during 04.03.2019 to 15.03.2019 at Singur Field Practice Area.

      2. Students of M.Sc. (A.N), 2nd year participated in Field Training Programme with objective to get training regarding assessment of Nutritional Status of Population by Diet Survey, Anthropometry and Clinical Assessment from 11.02.2019 to 22.02.2019 at Singur Field Practice Area.

      Dr. Sadhukhan recording Public Health Talk
      in All India Radio for “ApnarSwasthya” program

      Community Diagnosis Programme at Singur