Preventive and Social Medicine

Introduction

The Department of Preventive and Social Medicine was established in 1973 with the objective of developing skilled and motivated workforce in the public health services including training of trainers and course facilitators for planning, organization and evaluation of national health programmes. Thus, ever since the days of its foundation the department has been addressing a wide range of issues on Public Health by its multi-disciplinary functions in the form of research, education and training interventions.

Teaching Activities

• Regular Courses Conducted:

• MD (CM) Three-year full time course recognized by MCI and affiliated to WBUHS
• MCI inspection was successfully completed on 6th August 2019 and renewal of the course was obtained for next 5 years.
• Classes taken for other courses i.e., DPH, DHPE, DHS, PGDPHM, and Skill based courses.

Course Details:

Name of Course: MD (Community Medicine)

Intake capacity: 20 seats per year

Short introduction: Community Medicine is an academic subject, a branch of Medicine which deals with promotion of health and prevention of diseases, involving people’s participation, utilizing professional management skills.

MD (Community Medicine) course envisions to generate specialists who would provide high quality health care and medical interventions primarily focused on Community Health/Population Health and thereby advance the cause of science through research & training. The Guidelines for teaching Community Medicine, as provided by National Medical Commission, is  designed to create a cadre of professionals who will be competent to meaningfully contribute their expertise in planning, implementation, co-ordination, monitoring, evaluation of Primary Health Care Programs based on scientific evidence. The competencies cover a wide spectrum of skills viz., technical, managerial, administrative, organizational skills, applied skills in Health Information Management, software application and soft skills of communication, motivation, decision-making, team building, training in scientific communication and medical writing.

The course syllabus is available at : https://www.nmc.org.in/information-desk/for-colleges/pg-curricula-2/

 

Affiliation: NMC recognized course affiliated to West Bengal university of Health Sciences

Duration: Three years

Method of Selection: NEET PG Examination

Stipend if any: Yes, As per JR Scheme of MoHFW (7^th CPC)

• Other Regular Activities

• Seminars/ Short Study presentation/ Journal Club/Focus Group Discussion/ Field Activities etc. are undertaken as part of curricular activities by MD (CM) students.
• Family Care Programme was undertaken at the field practice area of UHU&TC, Chetla for Core Course students from August to November 2019.
• Academic Visit to Marine House and Kidderpore Dock (12th June 2019) was organized for second year Junior Residents of MD, DPH and MPH course.

Faculty

Other Members

• Publications

1. Dasgupta A, Roy K ,Bandyopadhyay L , Paul B. Quantification of poor menstrual hygiene among women of reproductive age group in a slum of Kolkata. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health,2019 May ;6(5) p.1-5

2. Dasgupta A , Roy K , Roychoudhury N, Datta S, Bandyopadhyay L. Dyslipidemia and its predictors among adult population: A community based study. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 2019 ; 8(4) p280-285

3. Dasgupta A , Roy K , Barman J , Paul B. Pattern of medication adherence among elderly suffering from chronic diseases : A clinic based study in rural West Bengal. Indian Journal of Applied Research.2019 February; 9(2) p 61-62

4. Das S, Dasgupta A. Community based study of reproductive tract infections among women of the reproductive age group in a rural community of Eastern India.Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019 Jan ; 6(1): 330-336

5. Dasgupta A, Dobe M, Sembiagh S M, Barman J, Roy K, Augustine A. Manpower and food resources in mid day meal programme: an in-depth study in upper primary schools of Kolkata, Indian Journal Of Applied Research. Volume 9 . Issue 3 . March 2019

6. Burman J, Dasgupta A, Banerjee R, Sembiah S, Bandyopadhyay L, Paul B. A Study on Oral Hygiene among Students of A Secondary School in Harinavi, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth 2019; 12:34-8.

7. Dasgupta A, Roy Choudhury N, Pal D, Bandyopadhyay L, Suman S , Mohanta M , Cognition of Emergency Contraception: An Assessment among WRA in a rural community of West Bengal. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2019 May ;6(5):2241-2245.

8. Saha I, Paul B. Private Sector Involvement Envisaged in The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination 2017 – 2025: Can Tuberculosis Health Action Learning Initiative Model Act As A Road Map? January 2019 Medical Journal Armed Forces India 75(1):25 – 27 DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2018.12.009

9. Choudhury S, Saha I, Som TK, Ghose G, Patra M, Paul B. Mobile phone involvement and dependence among undergraduate medical students in a Medical College of West Bengal, India. J Edu Health Promot 2019; 8:1.

10. Paul B, Saha I. Addressing high vaccination coverage in primary health care setting: challenges and best practices. South Sudan Medical Journal 2019;12(2):48-51

11. Biswas B, Basu K, Naskar NN, Dasgupta A, Paul B, Basu R. Family planning practices in couples with children affected by Beta-thalassemia major and its relationship with their education: An epidemiological study. J Edu Health Promot 2019; 8:143.

12. Saha I, Som TK, Choudhury S, Ghose G, Paul B. Mobile phone usage pattern among undergraduate medical students in a Medical College of West Bengal, India. Journal of the Indian Medical Association 2019; 117(8): 11 – 15.

13. Burman J, Sembiah S, Dasgupta A, Paul B, Pawar N, Roy A. Assessment of Poor Functional Status and its Predictors among the Elderly in a Rural Area of West Bengal. J Midlife Health. 2019 Jul-Sep;10(3):123-130. doi: 10.4103/jmh.JMH_154_18. PMID: 31579173; PMCID: PMC6767957.

14. Garg S, Dasgupta A, Paul B, Maharana SP. Vitamin D insufficiency risk score for screening for Vitamin D insufficiency. Indian J EndocrMetab2019;23:552-6

15. Garg S, Dasgupta A, Maharana SP, Mallick N, Pal B. A study on impact of oral health on general health among the elderly residing in a slum of Kolkata: A cross-sectional study. Indian J Dent Res [serial online] 2019 [cited 2019 Nov 23]; 30:164-9.

16. Mukherjee M, Dasgupta A. How Prevalent Is Diabetes among Rural Women: A Cross Sectional Study among Rural Women of West-Bengal. IOSR-JDMS. 2019; 18(11),49-53.

17. Banerjee R, Dasgupta A, Naskar NN, Kundu PK, Pan T, Burman J. A study on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among adults aged 18–49 years in an urban area of West Bengal. Indian J Community Med 2019;44:261-4

18. Dasgupta A, Sadhukhan SK, Bhattacharyya M, Paul B, Bandyopadhyay L, 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): 753-8. doi:10.5455/ijmsph.2019.0617027062019

19. Banerjee S, Bandyopadhyay K, Taraphdar P, Dasgupta A. Effect of DOTS on quality of life among tuberculosis patients: A follow-up study in a health district of Kolkata. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019 Mar;8(3):1070-1075. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_347_18. PMID: 31041253; PMCID: PMC6482798.

20. Dasgupta A, Augustine A T, Paul B, Burman J. Intention to quit tobacco smoking and its predictors among adult male smokers at Singur, West Bengal, IJAR,2019; 9(3): 2-4.

21. Das S, Das M, Dasgupta A, Exploring Knowledge of Caregivers of HIV Infected Children: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Health Centre National Journal of Community Medicine April 2019; 10(4): 233-7

22. Dasgupta A, Sinha R N , Paul B, Bandyopadhyay L, Banerjee L, Suman S. A study on unhealthy cervix and its risk factors among currently married women of reproductive age group attending an urban health centre of Kolkata. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019 May;6(5):2133-8

23. Dasgupta A, Bandyopadhyay S, Roy S , Paul B, Mandal S. How frail are our elderly? An assessment with Tilburg frailty indicator (TFI) in a rural elderly population of West Bengal. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 2019; 8(7):2242-8

24. Podder D, Paul B, Dasgupta A, Bandyopadhyay L, Pal A, Roy S. Community perception and risk reduction practices toward malaria and dengue: A mixed-method study in slums of Chetla, Kolkata. Indian J Public Health [serial online] 2019 [cited 2019 Nov 22]; 63:178-85.

25. Podder D, Paul B, Dasgupta A, Bandyopadhyay L, Pal A, Roy S. Community perception toward intensified pulse polio immunization in post-certification era: A mixed-method study in a high-risk area of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Med J DY PatilVidyapeeth2019;12:440-5

26. Roychoudhury N, Pan T, Roy K, Bandyopadhyay L, Dasgupta A, Paul B. Assessment of Nutritional Anaemia and its Predisposing Factors among Women of Reproductive Age Group in a Slum of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2019 Oct 1;13(10): LC14

27. Sarkar T, Karmakar N, Dasgupta A, Saha B. Quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS attending antiretroviral clinic in the center of excellence in HIV care in India. J Edu Health Promot 2019;8:226

     

28. Burman J, Sembiah S, Dasgupta A, Paul B, Pawar N, Roy A. Assessment of Poor Functional Status and its Predictors among the Elderly in a Rural Area of West Bengal. J Midlife Health. 2019 Jul-Sep;10(3):123-30.

29. Dasgupta A, Dobe M, Burman J, Sembiah S. Evaluation of infrastructure and financial resources in the Midday Meal Program: An in-depth study in upper primary schools of Kolkata. CHRISMED J Health Res 2019;6:210-5

Research Work

• Thesis work completed and submitted by MD (CM) students:

1. A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Utilisation of Maternal and Child Health Care Services under RMNCH+A Programme in Slums of Kolkata, West Bengal.

2. A Study on Health Related Quality of Life Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Attending Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kolkata.

3. A Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Male Barbers Regarding Blood-Borne Viral Infections and Its Factor in a Block of West Bengal.

4. A Study on Morbidity Pattern and Health Care Seeking Behaviour of Elderly in a Rural Community of West Bengal.

5. An Epidemiological Study on Health Status of Truck Drivers in Dankuni Area, Hooghly.

6. A Study on Health Status and Healthcare Seeking Behaviour of a Scheduled Tribe Community Residing in a Municipal Area of North 24 Paragana District in West Bengal.

7. A Study on Occupational Hazards and Morbidity Profile among Garment Factory Workers in Midnapore District in West Bengal.

8. A Study on Infertility and Quality of Life Among Patients Attending Gynaecology Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• On-going Thesis Work:

1. A Community Based Study on Morbidity, Health Seeking Behaviour and Health Expenditure in a Rural Community of West Bengal

2. A Cross-sectional Study on Respiratory Morbidities and Other Health Related Disorders among Traffic Police of Kolkata, West Bengal

3. An Interventional Study Based on Health Belief Model among Women of Age 30-65 years Regarding Perception Towards Cervical Cancer Screening in a Slum in Kolkata

4. A Cross Sectional Study on Frailty and Quality of Life among Elderly People aged 65 Years and above in a Rural Community of Hooghly District, West Bengal

5. A School Based Interventional Study on Physical Activity and Healthy Diet Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour among Adolescents in Schools in Uttarpara, Hooghly

6. A Study on Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of under-2 children in a slum of Kolkata

7. A Study on Antenatal Care Practices and Pregnancy Outcome among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in a Rural Area of Hooghly District, WB.

8. A Study on Menstrual Hygiene Management Practices among Women of Reproductive Age Group and its Perceived Barriers an a Rural Area of Singur Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal

• Short Studies:

1. Assessment of Hand Hygiene and its Determinants among the Food Handlers: A Cross-sectional Study in a Slum of Kolkata

2. Comparative Study of Alzheimer Questionnaire and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Tool for Cognitive Impairment Screening among the Elderly

3. Predictors of Attempt to Quit and Intention to Quit among Current Smokers: A Cross Sectional Study in a Rural Community of West Bengal

4. Association of Anaemia and its correlates among Women of Reproductive Age Group: A Cross Sectional Study in a Rural Community of West Bengal

5. Cognitive Impairment and its Predictors: A Cross-sectional Study among the Elderly in a Rural Community of West Bengal

6. Perception and Readiness Regarding Disaster Management among School Going Children: A Mixed Method Study in an Urban School of Hooghly District, West Bengal

7. A Study on Depression among Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients Attending an Urban Health Centre in South Kolkata

8. A Study of Barriers for Physical Activity among School Going Adolescent Students, Kolkata

9. An Outpatient Based Cross Sectional Study to Compare Digital Sphygmomanometer and Aneroid Sphygmomanometer among Adults in an Urban Area of South Kolkata.

10. A Cross-sectional Study on Family Planning Practices among the Eligible Couples in a Rural Area of West Bengal

11. Evaluation of VHND Program in a Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal: A Mixed Method Approach

12. Attitude and Perception of Gender-Equity among Students and Teachers of a Rural School in West Bengal: A Mixed-Method Approach

13. Anthropometric Failure and its Associated Factors among Children of 1-5 years: A cross-sectional study in a Slum of Kolkata, West Bengal

14. A Study on Oral Hygiene and practices among Students of Secondary School in Hooghly District, West Bengal

15. A Study on Morbidity Profile and Associated Factors among Food Handlers in a Slum of Kolkata.

16. A Study on Variation of Blood Pressure and Associated Factors among Adolescent School Students in North 24 Parganas.

17. Tobacco Exposure and its Predictors among Rural Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Singur, West Bengal

18. Need Assessment of Mental Health Literacy in a Rural Area of West Bengal – A Mixed Method Study

19. Perceived Stress and Coping Behaviour among Nursing Students: A Cross Sectional Study in West Bengal

20. Understanding the Barrier and Enablers of Tuberculosis Prevention and Management from Patients, Household Contacts and Health Care Provider’s perspective. A Qualitative Study in Rural Area of West Bengal.

21. A Cross-Sectional Study on Acute Morbidity and the Risk Factors among Under-Five Children in Slum of Kolkata, West Bengal.

22. Association Between Diabetes Self-Care and Neuropathy: Clinic Based Cross Sectional Study in Kolkata, West Bengal.

23. A Study on Assessment of the Relationship between Body Fat Percentage and Body Mass Index among Adult Female in Slum of Chetla, Kolkata

24. A Study on Health Status and Morbidity Pattern of Automobile Workers in Slum of Chetla WB.

25. A Study on Nutritional Status of Under Five Children in Brick Kiln in Rural Area Singur, West Bengal.

26. A Study on Oral Hygiene and Oral Health among Patients Attending an Outdoor Clinic of Singur Block, West Bengal.

27. A Study to Assess the Intention to Breast Fed among Antenatal Woman in a Rural Area of West Bengal.

28. An Institution Based Interventional Study Among School Adolescent for Change in Knowledge Regarding Anemia in Rural Area of West Bengal.

29. A Study on Self-Reported Symptomatic Sexually Transmitted Infection/Reproductive Infection Among Migratory Woman of Reproductive Age Working in Brick Kilns of Rural Area of Singur, WB

30. An Institute Based Interventional Study Among School Adolescents Girl for Change in Knowledge Regarding Menstrual Hygiene in a Rural Area of WB

31. Aggression in Sports: A Comparative Study Among Sportsman Playing in a Combat Sports and Non-Contact Team Sport.

32. Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan: Impact and Perceived Barriers-a Qualitative Inquest.

33. A Cross-Sectional Study on Morbidity Pattern and Its Associates among Jewellary Makers in a Block of West Bengal.

34. Health Profile in Early Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Male Students in a School of Rural West Bengal

• Guidance of Research Work by Faculty

• Dr. Aparajita Dasgupta: Guide of 2 submitted and 3 ongoing MD (CM) thesis work; 1 submitted MPH thesis work.

• Dr. Lina Bandyopadhyay: Co-guide of 2 submitted and 3 ongoing MD (CM) thesis work.

• Dr. Bobby Paul: Co-guide of 3 ongoing MD(CM) thesis work.

Conference/Seminars/WorkshopAttended

• Dr B Paul and Dr L Bandyopadhyay attended World Bioethics Congress from 5th to 7th December 2018 at St John’s Medical College, Bangalore

• Dr A Dasgupta and Dr B Paul participated in the “Orientation workshop on Disaster Management for District Health Officers” at NIHFW on 6th to 8th February 2019

• Dr S Mandal attended National Conference of Indian Public Health Association IPHACON (1- 3 February 19) at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

• Dr L Bandyopadhyay, and Dr B Paul attended Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine IAPSMCON (7-10 March 2019) at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

• Dr A Dasgupta and Dr L Bandyopadhyay attended Annual State Conference of IAPSM on 29 – 30th March 2019 at North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri

• Dr B Paul and Dr L Bandyopadhyay attended International Conference on Bioethics AT SRM Medical College, Chennai on 8th to 10th November 2019.

• Dr. Bobby Paul, is a member Institutional Ethics Committee of IPGMER and SSKM Hospital.

Examiner

• Dr. A. Dasgupta was

• Convener, Examiner and Paper setter for MD (Community Medicine) Examination 2019 (Regular and Supplementary) conducted by WBHUS Kolkata.

• Examiner and Convenor for Supplementary Examination of MD (CM) on 6th to 7th January 2019

• Moderator for 2 papers of MSW Course of St Xaviers University.

• Question setter of MD(CM) Examination of Sikkim University.

• External Examiner of MD(CM) Examination conducted by Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh June 2019

• Dr. B. Paul was

• Examiner of MD (Community Medicine) Examination 2019 (Regular and Supplementary) conducted by WBHUS Kolkata.

• External examiner of Final Professional Part 1 MBBS Examination (Supplementary) at Jorhat Medical College on 5th July 2019

Training Received

• Dr S Mandal received training on TOT on Mothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA) Training at AIIHPH, Kolkata conducted by MCH Department on 13th to 15th May 2019.

• Dr S Mandal received training on Office Ergonomics conducted by Dept. of Occupational Health at AIIHPH, Kolkata on 24th April 2019.

Field Activities/Programme

• Dr B Paul, Dr S Mandal and 2nd and 3rd year Junior Residents of MD(CM) course attended Training on National Leprosy Eradication Programme conducted by Regional Leprosy Training and Research Institute, Gauripur from 19.12.18 to 20.12.18.

• Junior Residents were involved as external monitors in monitoring IPPI Programme in 3 phases at high risk migratory (e.g. Slums with migration) and settled areas as well as monitoring mobile populations (e.g. Ferry ghats, markets) organized by National Polio Surveillance Project (Kolkata unit), WHO [14,17,18,20 June 2019], [11,12,14 March 2019], [16,17,19 September 2019]

• Observation of Swacchta Pakhwada at UHU&TC Chetla in Ishwar Sankalp NGO on 04.04.2019

• Observation of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan in among school going children of Durbar Mahila Samiti, a NGO for commercial sex workers on 12.04.2019

• Observation of Swacchta Pakhwada and awareness programme on personal and environmental hygiene at ‘Bodhipith- Home for mentally retarded people’ on 24.07.2019

Achievements

• Awards

Other Special Activities Performed:

• Dr A Dasgupta

• Secretary, Board of Studies (Community Medicine) at WBUHS.

• Guest Speaker on “An Overview of MCH Care in India” at a CME Programme conducted by Indian Public Health Association at Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata.

• Dr Lina Bandyopadhyay

• Team leader of Central Team of Emergency Medical Response for H5N1 Avian Influenza outbreak in Puri District, Odisha from 12th December to 24th December 2019.

• Chairperson of e-Poster Session on “Reproductive and Child Health’’ at 46th National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine IAPSMCON at IGMC, Shimla on 9th March 2019.

• Dr Bobby Paul

• Oral presentation at World Bioethics Congress on 6th December 2019 at St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru on “Ethical Guidelines for Public Health Research and Practice in Indian Context: Call for Action”

• Guest lecture on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 30th January 2019 at Satyajit Ray Film Institute, Kolkata

• Oral Presentation on “Verbal Autopsy and Social Autopsy: Utility and Future Scope in Indian Context” at Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, IAPSMCON (7-10 March 2019) at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

• Presentation of Operations Research Framework in Workshop on Operations Research on 20th July at Institute of Public Health, Kalyani organized by IAPSM, West Bengal Chapter.

• Acted as Judge on 30th Sept-1st October 2019 at the Regional Level 27th National Children Science Congress at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ballygunge

• Oral presentation on “Internet based health data usage: Ethical Concerns” at International Conference on Bioethics (BIOETHICON 2019) in SRM Medical College at Chennai on 9th November 2019.

• Guest speaker on “Planning of Emergency Department for Mass Casualty and Mass Fatality at Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Kolkata on 19th November 2019.

• Dr Shamita Mandal

• Oral Presentation on “Stigma Associated with Visually Impaired Children: A Qualitative Approach” at National Conference of Indian Public Health Association IPHACON (1- 3 February 19) in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

• Participated in celebration of National Communal Harmony Day on as member of the Organizing Committee on 25th November 2019 at Auditorium, AIIHPH, Kolkata

Some Photographs of OurActivities

 

Family Care Programme 2019 in UHUTC, Chetla

Swachh Bharat Initiatives among Slum children (left) and Mentally challenged (right)