FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAM REPORT

Family Adoption Program

Department of Community Medicine

SAL Institute of Medical Sciences, Ahmedabad

A report on improvement of the Family Adoption Program

Objectives of FAP:  As per NMC criteria fulfilled for the first MBBS students.

• To create health related awareness within the community.
• To orient learner towards primary health care.
• Act as a first point of contact for any health issues within the community.
• Act as a conduit between the population and relevant health care facility.
• To generate and analyze the data for improving health outcomes.

Targets:

• Learning communication skills and understand the dynamics of rural set up of that community.
• Screening programs and health education to the community.
• Learn how to get information from family, collect data and analyze it.
• Identify diseases/ ill health/ malnutrition of allotted families and try to improve the standards.

Activities in Family Adoption Program (FAP):

• To orient learner towards primary health care:
  • After careful assessment of area surrounding SAL Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhadaj village is adopted for the FAP.
  • Line listing of houses was done by our department and students were taken to the FAP village with staff of Community Medicine department and Medico Social Workers.
  • Around 800 households were surveyed by our department, out of which we could identify 480 households. Out of them, 450 families who accepted to be part of FAP and got registered. 3 Families were allotted to each student.

 

• To create health related awareness within the community:
  • Health awareness sessions on hand hygiene, regular vaccination, environmental pollution including air & water pollution, and Government schemes, etc. were conducted in the village.
  • Sanitation survey was done in which students identified the mosquito breeding places, they have inquired about waste disposal.
  • Environmental activity was done like – Community was made aware about prevention from heat wave and mosquito borne diseases.

 

Photos showing various activities done for successful implementation of FAP:

                                                                                                                                                                              

 Overview of Village and Planning cum Training for FAP data collection:                                 Meeting with local leaders & UPHC staff:

                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                         

 

 

Survey for Line-listing & Family allotment to students:

 

Visits as per plan including camp, search for mosquito breeding places, health awareness rally:

Table showing activities done in various FAP visits with assessment:

 

S.N.	Date	Activities
1	26/02/2024	Family visit-1 Transect walk and Allotment of families
2	01/03/2024	Family visit-2 (Demographic details, types of family, Socio-Economic classification, Environment component of all allotted families)
3	15/03/2024	Family visit-3 (Family Planning practice, Immunization and Nutritional Assessment of all allotted families)
4	22/03/2024	Family visit-4 (Nutritional Assessment of Children and health Check-up of all allotted families)
5	29/03/2024	Family visit -5 Substance abuse activities with heart day Celebration
6	05/04/2024	Follow up visit-6 Health Check-up and Diagnostic Camp
7	12/04/2024	Family visit -7 Environment Protection Activities (Awareness for vector borne diseases & search for mosquito breeding sites and Assessment of waste disposal practices)
8	26/04/2024	Follow up visit-8 Screening of oral cancer and breast cancer.
9	27/04/2024	Family visit -9 Completion of data and Feedback

• On 24/05/24 FAP assessment was done

• Act as a first point of contact for any health issues within the community:
  • The students made rapport with their families and they started history taking of families according to logbook proforma. Following that, health status assessment was done of all family members. They were counselled for various risk factors for different diseases. All 9 visits of first professional year are completed and all four FAP competencies are covered.

 

• Counselling was done of antenatal women to go for regular ANC visits. Individuals with comorbidity were advised to go for regular health checkup and medication. In case of any emergency, they are advised to be in touch with the student for further referral guidance.
• Counselling for deaddiction was conducted for the persons who gave the history of addiction. Regular follow up of adopted families is being done in each visit.

 

 

• Act as a conduit between the population and relevant health care facility:
  • Health camp was arranged for all FAP beneficiaries. In the camp specialist doctors from Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Dermatology and Dentistry department were available. Blood pressure, Height and Weight measurement was done of all beneficiaries. According to BP and BMI they were counselled for lifestyle changes and diet. Free medication was available in the camp and if any patient needed any further diagnostic or treatment assistance, we referred them to the SAL hospital.

 Figure showing – Specialty-wise number of patients in the health camp

• Cancer screening was done by students. First we taught students that how it should be done. Breast cancer and oral cancer screening. 8 patients were suspected to be positive for oral cancer. Referred to higher center for further investigation. Preventive measures for respective cancers were explained by educating them about red flags.

 

• To generate and analyze the data for improving health outcomes:
  • After taking detailed history and collecting data about physical, psycho-social & biological environment, students could detect the various socio-cultural factors affecting the health of their allotted families.
  • Moreover, after making proper assessment of income and expenses, the Socio-Economic status of the families was identified.

 

Active contribution by students:

• Taking and recording general, family and social history of the family.
• Assessment and recording of physical, mental and social health status with analysis of any health issue among family members.
• Health education and IEC was done about government schemes, cleanliness, hand hygiene, environmental sanitation, and healthy food habits.
• Awareness about importance of yoga, exercise and fitness.
• Counselling and important tips provided to Antenatal women about personal care, food habits and doctor visit.
• Explanation about vaccination program and Promotion of deaddiction program.
• • General information about all infectious diseases, and Non-Communicable Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, road traffic accidents, obesity was given.
  • Advised them to call on personal number of students and to reach the suggested nearby health facility in case of any emergency.
  • Knowledge about food poisoning, insect bite and snake bite was given to all family members.

  Areas of improvement for FAP:

  • It has been planned to adopt 5 families per student for the next batch, for which search of appropriate village and community is already started. For the present batch also, our plan was of 5 families per student but because of poor co-operation of urban slum population and many hurdles we were able to take only 3 families per student. All measures are meticulously undertaken in alignment with NMC norms for the Family Adoption Program, leaving minimal room for enhancement. These can be achieved through the following initiatives:
  • Providing seamless patient transport from the field to the hospital and ensuring regular follow-ups until full recovery.
  • Assisting families in accessing various government schemes for health benefits and social security.
  • Conducting impactful health awareness campaigns through street plays (nukkad natak), rallies, and other engaging activities to address prevalent health issues in the village.
  • Promoting awareness about yoga, exercise, and healthy diets in collaboration with ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
  • Collecting and analyzing family data, then sharing findings with local leaders to foster community improvements.
  • Offering contact details of students and MSW for assistance with any health issues faced by families.
  • Promptly informing local health authorities about any unusual occurrences or increases in illness within the village to prevent potential outbreaks.
  • Activities carried out under FAP consistently updated on the institution’s website to keep all the stakeholders informed and engaged.