Major Research Projects
Current Research Projects
Go Red North Dakota:
Go Red movement was initiated by American Heart Association (AHA) to bring down the mortality from the cardiovascular diseases in women of United States. The aim of the movement was to increase the awareness level of the women of United States towards the cardiovascular disease by campaigning for the behavioural changes leading towards a better cardiovascular health. The recent most nationwide studies by AHA indicates a noticeable increase in awareness level regarding cardiovascular health among the women population, ever since the movement was started on 2003.
A Go Red program is currently going on in North Dakota and will continue for next two years. The entire program is funded by Dakota Medical Foundation. As a part of the program, Dakota Medical Foundation administers an evaluation study of the program through North Dakota State University.
The evaluation study of the Go Red North Dakota involves two different surveys – (1) A state-wide awareness survey on the cardiovascular health of women of North Dakota, and (2) A randomized control study of a cardiovascular intervention program on 1% women population in three target communities (Fargo, Jamestown and Bismarck).
NDSU College Student Health Survey:
Worked in a health survey of college students of North Dakota State University (NDSU), as they go through their first semester on campus. Variables under investigation include dietary habits, physical activity, sleep habits, screen time, physical fitness, body mass index, body composition, physical performance etc. The project is funded by NDSU.
Past Research Projects
Health of Urban Disabled: A Bio-Social Study in Calcutta and Suburbs
The low physical activity level in the individuals with lower extremity amputation (LEA) makes them vulnerable to many chronic physical conditions and exposed them to many psychological and social stresses. Overall, these conditions likely to deteriorate their quality of life. However, data on health parameters on these people is scanty especially in Third World context. A comprehensive study on the different aspect health of the individuals is important to understand their health problem in a specific cultural context.
Aims of the work: (1) the nature and dimension of health problems of the individuals with LEA, (2) the possible changes in health status (physical, mental and social aspects) due to disability and (3) The effect of the confounding factor of health on the health of the individuals with LEA.
Data on physical, mental and social aspects of health were collected from the 102 adult male individuals with lower extremity amputation (LEA) from Calcutta, West Bengal. A control group of 105 individuals devoid of any physical disability (controlling for age and socio-economic conditions) was also measured for the same health traits. All individuals with LEA got their prosthesis ‘free of cost’ from two disability rehabilitation centers located in Calcutta. The financial support was given to this work by the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, India.
The assessment of physical health did not indicate a significant deterioration of the individuals with LEA; however, some consistent trends in the results indicated a poor health condition of the individuals with LEA compared to the control group. In spite of the fact that all the individuals with LEA of the study had been rehabilitated in some or other way, a good number of the individuals with LEA suffered from mental depression raging from borderline clinical to extreme form. The primary causes of mental problems were economic and job insecurity. A good number of the individuals with LEA did not feel discomfort while interacting with others in the society. The most perceived reasons for the social discomfort were - the avoidance by the common people, discomfort due to uncomfortable reaction of the others (people without disability) upon meeting an individuals with a disability, discomfort in due to humiliating behaviors from the common people towards them, etc. Cultural factors like body image and socio-economic condition of the individuals with LEA had a great role in determining the health condition. The use of rehabilitative aids had a positive effect on the mental and social health of the individuals with LEA.
Health and Disease: Comparison between two Ecological Settings
Worked in a bio-social research project entitled “Health and disease: comparison between two ecological settings” with financial support from Indian Statistical Institute. The project aimed at studying the health status of Bengalee and Meitei speaking populations from both rural and urban area of Cachar district of Assam, North-East India and to compare the following:- (1) morbidity and mortality patterns of the communities, (2) determination of the degree, to which ill health is -\associated with nutritional status, work patterns, micro-environmental risk factors, socioeconomic status and other cultural exposure conditions, (3) assess the disruptive consequences of illness patterns and the health management system and (4) evaluate the relative effectiveness and limitations of social responses to different patterns of illness and the health management system.