Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ

The following is an excerpt from the Research plan we started in December, 2006. The following is a working paper and is open to comments and recommendations.

Demographic (Health) study of Rohtas, Bihar. Special look at Tuberculosis epidemic and strategies for DOTS implementation. Co-relation between income ratio and health disorder and access to Public Health.
Dr. Muneshwar Pathak  Memorial Foundation &
University of California, Santa Cruz Working Paper
Saurabh Mishra   - Abstract-

This paper looks at a case such of Rohtas, Bihar as an example of a community caught in a poverty trap, highly illiterate and lacks basic necessities of sanitation. The illiterate patients are unaware of Tuberculosis (TB) and ignorant when it comes to taking their medication or getting diagnosed. The Rohtas region is the Grand Trunk Road Highway belt, where prostitution has emerged as a big business. HIV/AIDS in combination has provided a recent threat accompanying TB. These health orders such as TB/HIV/VL go hand in hand especially with the lack of proper sanitation, public awareness and low income households. There is data available from district WHO offices for district, state and national level diagnosed and treated cases of TB, data as recent as 2005-06. Although, this data is at small scale of patients diagnosed.  We will be collecting data for Rohtas, Bihar to assess the health needs of the society. Our questionnaire is specifically aimed at identifying certain sociological and economic factors which when are suitable for proper DOTS implementation. Investigating and analysis comparative statistics from other regions where DOTS has been successful, we hope to decipher externalities which should be considered while implementing TB eradication projects. Whilst providing recommendations for strategic plans, this paper shall also provide as a useful resource for Government, NGO and researchers looking to conduct development work in Rohtas.