Cardiac Care Access in Vadodara
Status: Ongoing
Topic Tags: ECG, cardiac Care, access, availability, need
SDG Tags: Good health and well-being
Scope: India
Sponsors: None
ASAR Volunteers involved: Aryan Patil, Siddhesh Zadey, Aamir Miyajiwala, Anurag Gorkar, Harsh Sura, Sahil Kale
Partners: World Youth Heart Federation, India
Background
Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly a quarter of the deaths in India. This is compounded by the poor accessibility of care in rural areas. The frontline of rural healthcare in India is Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC), a key aspect of which is to provide preventive and promotive care. Screening is crucial to the prevention of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease and its easy accessibility would heavily dictate patient outcomes.
Methodology
This pilot study was undertaken among the PHCs in the Vadodara district of Gujarat, India. Data about the availability of resources like essential drugs and ECG machines, the number of suitably trained personnel in interpreting ECGs, and the disease burden in the area were collected. Data for accessibility to cardiac care across PHC/CHCs and cardiac care centres was also collected. Accessibility and availability of cardiac care services were found to be poor in PHCs of Vadodara district as is the availability of personnel trained in administering treatment and screening modalities. There is an urgent need for services and efficient training of medical officers for performing, interpreting ECGs and managing acute cardiac events.
Research Aims
To assess the accessibility, availability, and need for cardiac care with a special focus on ECG at PHCs in the Vadodara district of Gujarat
Advocacy Aims
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To substantiate with data, the need for resources and personnel to lower the morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in India.
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To determine the need for deployment of ECG and other equipment at the district level in India to improve cardiac care.