Morbidity profile of the patients attending Mobile Medical Unit camps in Telangana – a record-based study

Introduction: Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) were one of the major initiatives under the National Rural Health Mission. These MMUs help in reaching the unreached. It helps people in remote, underserved areas to access healthcare at affordable prices at their doorstep. Objectives: In this study, we aim to assess the morbidity profile of the patients attending Mobile Medical Unit camps in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district between April ۲۰۲۲ to December ۲۰۲۲. Methodology: This is a record-based study. MMU is run by department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Bibinagar in six selected villages of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district. (Fig.۱). A register is maintained for recording the details of patients visitingthe MMU camp. Patient’s name, age, gender, place, mobile number, height, weight, blood pressure (BP), glucometer based Random Blood Sugar (GRBS), diagnosis, and details of medication dispensed were entered in the register. Diabetes was diagnosed using the WHO criteria , hypertension using the Eighth Joint National Committee guidelines , obesity using the WHO Asia Pacific guidelines. Mobile Medical Unit camp data is entered into excel database at the end of every month. As it is a record-based analysis, we used data between April ۷th ۲۰۲۲ to December ۳۱st, ۲۰۲۲ for analysis. Results: A total of ۱۴۹۴ patients were treated in the MMU camps during this period. Among them ۸۹.۴% were adults & ۱۰.۶ % were children (less than ۱۸ years). Among ۱۳۳۶ adult patients, majority of the study participants suffered from osteoarthritis followed by non-communicable diseases. The mean systolic BP of the adult population was ۱۳۱ (±۲۱) mmHg and diastolic BP of the population was ۷۷ (±۱۳) mm Hg. The mean random blood glucose levelof the adult Population was ۱۵۰ (±۷۴) mg/dl. A total of ۱۵۸ children were less than ۱۸ years, out of which ۷۸ participants were males and ۸۰ participants were females. Majority suffered from upper respiratory tract infections among males (۲۳.۱%) and females (۲۵%) respectively. Conclusion: The study further suggests that NCD epidemic is spreading to rural areas where necessary health infrastructure is insufficient. MMUs can bring a significant change in the public health system, which needs to re-orient its priorities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mobile Medical Units ، Morbidity Profile ، rural area ، India