Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
FOR DISSERTATION
MISS:ALPHONSA THOMAS
I YEAR M. Sc NURSING
MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
YEAR 2011 -2013
DATE OF ADMISSION
30:07:2011
million at the last count, enough to serve nearly half of the country's 1.2 billion population.
India's wireless subscriber base increased from 840.28 million in May 2011 to 851.70
million at the end of June 2011, registering a growth of 1.36%, according to data supplied
by the telecom regulator. The share of Urban Subscriber has marginally decreased to 66%
from 66.02% where as share of Rural Subscribers has marginally increased from 33.98% to
34%. India's telecoms regulator, TRAI [Telecom Regulatory Authority of India] has
reported that the number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 839.32 million at the
end of March 2011 from 826.25 million at the end of February 2011, thereby registering a
growth rate of 2.43%.4
It should come as no surprise that, of todays total mobile phone owners, 36% fall
into the youth demographic, with youth spending an estimated $330 billion annually on
mobile phones . The reasons for the explosion of mobile in general are particularly pertinent
for the youth market. Mobile signifies connectedness, a sense of being in touch or part of a
community wherever you are. For a market that attaches huge importance to being part of
the crowd, being in the know and being on the move, mobile is a natural fit. This is
advantageous for brands that target the youth market and which have leveraged the
capabilities offered by mobile to make marketing more social, local, reward-driven and fun.
Location-based service foursquare experienced 3400% growth during 2010, with 60% of
this new user base falling between the ages of 18 and 23. Youth value the status that is
associated with the places they are checking into in addition to the action of checking in
itself.5
The 18-29 year old age group uses their phones more than any other age group, the
most popular activities being SMS or other messaging services, followed by taking
photographs and listening to music. Underground raves and secret parties, leaked by
anonymous pre-paid mobile texts, saw a surge in popularity during 2010 , further
highlighting the pricelessness of status and connection amongst the youth market. 81% of
youth surveyed last year stated that they would rather spend their last R10 on their mobile
phones than on food.6
A naturally high percentage of early adopters is one of several key primary causes
for the high mobile usage and growth within the youth market - 60% of time spent on
smartphones is new activity for users and younger markets gravitate naturally towards
experimentation and new technologies. A secondary effect of early adoption is the inflated
importance of status for the youth market: 80 million Generation Americans describe a
mobile phone or other technological gadget as being the new car as a barometer of social
4
status. Globally, 64% of consumers between the ages of 16 and 24 cite influence by and a
desire to impress their peers as their number one influence in choosing a mobile phone. For
this reason, brand loyalty to mobile phones and network operators is extremely low one
third of the youth market switch mobile operators every year, swayed by trends and
emergent offerings. Typifying the same lemming-esque behaviour that fuelled the
popularisation of such stylistic mishaps as the shoulder pad and the platform sneaker, a
youth consumer has a 50% chance of switching mobile networks if 10 or more of their
friends do so. The purchase decisions of 57% of Asian youth are driven by word of mouth
from their peers.7
The tipping point, at which 50% of the developed world will own a Smartphone, is
on the horizon. Uptake of services enabled by the proliferation of the mobile web will
continue to be led by the youth market, accelerated by emerging platforms which speak to
the need for information-sharing and commerce, as well as augmenting offline experiences
through real-time social and location-based features. Youth are discovering mobile services
that offer them a way to extend the real life behaviours that come naturally (connection and
sharing) with friends, family and the others on their contact list. The sense of ownership and
identity that accompany a mobile phone empower the consumer (the market gap for
empowerment being even wider in developing nations), allowing them to become
increasingly connected and informed and providing them with a sense and experience - of
independence. No wonder the youth market is so determinedly dialled in8
The largest mobile youth market in the world is Asia, which is home to over half of
the worlds mobile-owning youth accounted for one of every three phones sold. In
developed nations, such as China and Japan, social networking and other mobile Internet
activities are the most popular Amongst all the Asian developing nations, China and India
have been earmarked as the ones to watch, with the latter set to emerge as the mobile youth
superpower. By 2012, one in five of the worlds mobile youth population will be living in
India. Leading the race for mobile adoption are young Indians in rural areas, 100 million of
whom own a cell phone. Although smartphone penetration in India is currently very low at
4%, the rise in popularity and acceptance of the smartphone, combined with lowered prices
offer a bigger opportunity in terms of market size and potential. Indian youth spend almost
6 hours per day on their mobile phones, the bulk of this time being spent listening to music.
India is predicted to leapfrog both the US and Europe to become the second largest
smartphone market in the world with 66 million users by 2012. Over time, the number of
cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the amount of time people use cell
phone is have increased. Cell phone technology has also undergone substantial changes3
The Mobile Society Research Institute, based in Japan, has reported that,according
to an international study at how youth in Japan, South Korea, China, India, and Mexico use
mobile technology in their daily lives. Over 6,000 youth between the ages of 19 and 30 and
their parents were surveyed on a range of questions regarding their use, attitudes and
feelings toward mobile phones.The survey found that ,Mobile phone technology has
become ubiquitous among youth. The survey found that 24% of them bought their mobile
phone when one of their three closest friends bought a mobile phone. The network effect
was strongest in Japan India and China, and weakest in Mexico.Youth.The survey reveals
that 4% more girls owned a mobile phone than boys, and 9% more girls who did not own a
mobile phone wanted to. Among those surveyed who send/receive mobile SMS/texting
and/or mobile email tend to view their mobile phone as an essential device in their life.
Moreover, mobile email/SMS technology is used more than traditional voice
communications. The network effect seems to play an important role in the acquisition of
these behaviors.Ownership of mobile phones by youth has a direct correlation with age,
being female, parental income, parental emphasis on education, use of video games and
computers. In India, children are more likely to share a mobile phone with their entire
family. Network effect plays a high role in when or what age Indian children begin using
mobile technology. Among the children surveyed, 60% of parents expressed some concerns
about their children using mobile technology.6
Mobile phones today go beyond just voice communication and provide a multitude of
other features and services including text messaging (SMS), multimedia messaging (MMS),
photo display and recording, video playback and recording, calendaring, etc. The paper will
also seek out the usage patterns of mobile phones as an information access device with
respect to these features.
mobile phones account for 88% of all telecommunication users. The rural sector accounts
for more than 25% of all wireless phone users and this proportion is bound to grow as
affordability of mobile phones continues to increase. In the years ahead, an ever-increasing
number exposed for long periods of time to radiation from mobile phones. In 2008, the
Telecom Commission (the policy-making body of the Department of Telecommunicatics,
Government of India) adopted the emission guidelines prescribed by the International
Commission on Non-Protection (ICNIRP). Studies have demonstrated that usage
behaviours, such as duration of usage and predominant, one-sided use of mobile phones are
some of the chief risks that increase likelihood of hazards resulting from mobile phone use9
Radiofrequency energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic
radiation can be categorized into two types: ionizing (e.g., x-rays, radon, and cosmic rays)
and non-ionizing (e.g., radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency or power frequency)
Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from radiation therapy, is known to increase the risk
of cancer. However, although many studies have examined the potential health effects of
non-ionizing radiation from radar, microwave ovens, and other sources, there is currently no
consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk The one known
biological effect of radiofrequency energy is heating. The ability of microwave ovens to
heat food is one example of this effect of radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency exposure
from cell phone use does cause heating; however, it is not sufficient to measurably increase
body temperature.A recent study showed that when people used a cell phone for 50 minutes,
brain tissues on the same side of the head as the phones antenna metabolized more glucose
than did tissues on the opposite side of the brain The researchers noted that the results are
preliminary, and possible health outcomes from this increase in glucose metabolism are still
unknown.10
Part of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset are absorbed by the
human head. The radio waves emitted by a GSM handset can have a peak power of 2 watts,
and a US analogue phone had a maximum transmit power of 3.6 watts.. The maximum
power output from a mobile phone is regulated by the mobile phone standard and by the
regulatory agencies in each country. Radiofrequency exposure limits for mobile phone users
are given in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) - the rate of radiofrequency energy
absorption per unit mass of the body. Currently, two international bodies have developed
exposure guidelines for workers and for the general public, except patients undergoing
medical diagnosis or treatment. These guidelines are based on a detailed assessment of the
available scientific evidence. The rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body is
measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and its maximum levels for modern
handsets have been set by governmental regulating agencies in many countries. In the USA,
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg, averaged
over a volume of 1 gram of tissue, for the head. In Europe, the limit is 2 W/kg, averaged
over a volume of 10 grams of tissue. SAR values are heavily dependent on the size of the
averaging volume. Without information about the averaging volume used, comparisons
between different measurements cannot be made11
According to a newsletter submitted the level of eclectromagnetic exposure that we
are exposed to is huge compared with what has been there through billions of years before.
The scientific journal Reviews on Environmental Health has published a report by
international scientists calling for greatly reduced exposure limits for electromagnetic
radiation from power line and telecommunications technologies, including cell phones and
wireless technologies. The statement, called The Seletun Scientific Statement, was written
by seven scientists in five countries, based on a large and growing body of science showing
biological effects. They say governments should take decisive action now to protect
biological function as well as the health of future generations.11
A considerable body of evidence proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that microwave
radiation from mobile phones and cordless phones cause a significantly increased risk for
health The reason is that present safety norms allow the use of mobile phones that emit far
too strong radiaton to be safe. These safety norms are contradicted by scientific evidence.
Research indicates that much weaker radiation than what is allowed in mobile and cordless
phones may have harmful effects. 12
A report says that the environmnent ministry of the German government said in
september 2007 that,people should avoid using Wi-Fi wherever possible because of the
risks it may pose to health. Wi-fi networks operate in the 2.4 and 5 GHz microwave bands,
that is the same order of magnitude as GSM mobile phone microwaves (0,9-1,8 GHz) and
the latest mobile brand G3 (1,9-2 GHz and 2,1-2,2 GHz). Higher frequencies are known to
be more harmful.13
carcinogenic.WHO
(World
Health
Organization)
recommends
to
use
"Precautionary principle" with the purposes of decreasing of the risk. Russian National
Committee of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection recommended to limit the use of cell
phone by children and teenagers under 16 years old 17,12
The localised Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) as per the Indian guidelines standard
is 2 watt per kg, averaged over a six minute period. According to the study however, the
radiation effects are more in Indians than Europeans due to the tropical climate in India, low
mass index and low fat content. With higher SAR values of mobile handsets, the public
could potentially receive much higher radio frequency exposure. SAR levels be lowered
down to 1.6 watt per kg, as prescribed by the Federal Communication Commission of
United States (US).18
A boon for better communication, cell phone usage nonetheless has many health
hazards. Various studies indicate that the emissions from a cell phone can be extremely
harmful, causing genetic damage, tumours, memory loss, and increased blood pressure and
weakening of the immune system. This is alarming information, and one has to take into
account all these factors. The effect of mobile phone radiation on human health is the
subject of recent interest and study, as a result of the enormous increase in mobile phone
usage throughout the world .But the irony is that the public awareness regarding these
health hazards are considerably low and the mobile phone industry is trying to hide the
actual facts.There for the researcher felt the need to create awareness regarding health
hazards of mobile phone to youth since they are the most users.
2. To assess the attitude of youth regarding the health hazards of mobile phones
3. To correlate the knowledge and attitude of youth regarding the health hazards of
mobile phones
4. To associate the knowledge and attitude of youth regarding the health hazards
of mobile phones with selected demographic variable.
5. To develop a leaflet regarding safe use of mobile phones.
Knowledge and attitude of youth may be affected by age, gender, educational status,
economic status, previous knowledge of health hazards of mobile phones,type of
family,residence,number of sims they are using,frequency of changing the
phone,cost of mobile,side effects while using,use of ear phones,and duration of
mobile phone usage per day.
The youth will have favorable attitude but may not have adequate knowledge
regarding the health hazards of mobile phones.
The selected group will have limited knowledge on health hazards of mobile phones
6.7 HYPOTHESES
H1: There will be significant correlation between knowledge and attitude of youth
regarding health hazards of mobile phones and selected demographic variables.
H2: There will be significant association of knowledge and attitude regarding health
hazards of mobile phones with selected demographic variables.
12
13
14
phones and 190% for cordless phones. The greatest risk was for Astrocytoma, a malignant
tumor.24
The three-year study focused on the association between brain tumor and mobile
phone usage with 750 Samples who had used cell phones for at least 10 years. In the study,
researchers questioned 150 patients already diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign
tumor on the auditory nerve that takes several years to grow before being diagnosed, and
600 who did not have it exhibited some changes in the cell type in the temporal area. All
750 subjects had been using cell phones for at least 10 years, nearly all early analog models
that emit more electromagnetic radiation than the digital models now on the market. Digital
phones emit radiation in pulses; the older analog varieties emit continuous waves. 25
In 2007, University in Sweden from 2 cohort studies and 16 case-control studies
with 300 samples found that Cell phone users had an increased risk of malignant gliomas
,and a Link between cell phone use and a higher rate of acoustic neuromas.Tumors are more
likely to occur on the side of the head that the cell handset is used, One hour of cell phone
use per day significantly increases tumor risk after ten years or more.26
A case control study conducted in Germany regarding the risk of cancer from
mobile phone base stations found a threefold higher frequency of cancer among people
living in the vicinity (400 m) of a GSM base station compared to people living further away
from the antenna. The risk for mammary cancer was 3,4 times greater and the average age
of contracting this disease was considerably lower, 50,8 years than in the control group
(69,9 years). The frequency increased also the longer people had been exposed to the
radiation. The study covered a ten year long period (1994-2004), starting the year after the
installation of the base station. Before the installation of the base station, there was no
difference in cancer incidence between n people living in the vicinity of the (future) base
station and the control area27.
A comparitive study was conducted Over 900 cancer patients from the years 19972003 in Scotland to find the relation between cancer incidence and time of exposure to
mobile phone radiations.these patients have been compared with a control group of over
2000 persons. The conclusion is that those who have used a mobile or a cordless phone for
more than one hour a day during ten years ran twice the risk of the control group to have
gliomas, the most malignant form of brain tumor.28
15
A survey study was conducted about the connection between mobile phone use and
cancer incidence. It followed over 420,000 Danish citizens for 20 years and showed a direct
relationship between mobile phone usage and glioma.the study proved that the rate of
cancer occurance is highly related to the duration of usage of mobile phones 29
A study conducted in Europe regarding the risk of different age groups for cancer
causation from mobile phones in 2008 found that age is a significant factor in the risk of.
They found that the use of cell phones before age 20 increased the risk of brain tumors by
5.2, compared to 1.4 for all ages.30
An australian meta-study presented that there is an increasing body of evidence for a
link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours.A scientific team at the Perth
conducted an epidemiological study in2008 regarding the health risk and mobile usage,with
400 people suggested that regular use of a mobile phone over a decade or more was
associated with an increased risk of acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor. The
increase was not noted in those who had used phones for fewer than 10 years. 31
A report was submitted regarding the effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation
(RFR) emitted by standard GSM cell phones on the cognitive functions of humans. The
study confirmed longer (slower) response times to a spatial working memory task when
exposed to RFR from a standard GSM cellular phone placed next to the head of male
subjects, and showed that longer duration of exposure to RFR may increase the effects on
performance. Right-handed subjects exposed to RFR on the left side of their head on
average had significantly longer response times when compared to exposure to the right
side and sham-exposure31
A crossectional study conducted by National cancer institute using 400 samples,
regarding cancer risk and mobile usage showed a statistically significant, albeit modest,
increase in the risk of glioma among the small proportion of study participants who spent
the most total time on cell phone calls.This confirms that the risk of cancer causation is
directly proportional to the length of usage of mobilephones in a day32.
CEFALO is a multicenter case-control study conducted in Denmark, Sweden,
Norway, and Switzerland that includes all children and adolescents aged 7-19 years who
were diagnosed with a brain tumor between 2004 and 2008. They conducted interviews, in
16
person, with 352 case patients (participation rate: 83%) and 646 control subjects
(participation rate: 71%) and their parents. Control subjects were randomly selected from
population registries and matched by age, sex, and geographical region. They asked about
mobile phone use and included mobile phone operator records when available. Odds ratios
(ORs) for brain tumor risk and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using
conditional logistic regression models.The results shows that.Regular users of mobile
phones were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with brain tumors compared
with nonusers . Children who started to use mobile phones at least 5 years ago were at
increased risk compared with those who had never regularly used mobile phones. In a
subset of study participants for whom operator recorded data were available, brain tumor
risk was related to the time elapsed since the mobile phone subscription was started and
amount of use. An increased risk of brain tumors was observed for brain areas receiving the
highest amount of exposure.33
A meta analysis study was conducted in Sweden to find out the association between
long term mobile use and brain tumors. The study identified ten studies on glioma and meta
analysis yielded OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.8-1.1. Latency period of 10-years gave OR = 1.2,
95% CI = 0.8-1.9 based on six studies, for ipsilateral use (same side as tumour) OR = 2.0,
95% CI = 1.2-3.4 (four studies), but contralateral use did not increase the risk significantly,
OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.6-2.0. Meta-analysis of nine studies on acoustic neuroma gave OR =
0.9, 95% CI = 0.7-1.1 increasing to OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.6-2.8 using 10-years latency
period (four studies). Ipsilateral use gave OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1-5.3 and contra-lateral OR
= 1.2, 95% CI = 0.7-2.2 in the 10-years latency period group (three studies). Seven studies
gave results for meningioma yielding overall OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.7-0.99. Using 10years latency period OR = 1.3, 9.34
B.Studies showing genotoxic effects
In December 2004, a pan-European study named REFLEX (Risk Evaluation of
Potential Environmental Hazards from Low Energy Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure
Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), involving 12 collaborating laboratories in several
countries showed some compelling evidence of DNA damage of cells in in-vitro cultures,
when exposed between 0.3 to 2 watts/kg, whole-sample average. There were indications,
but not rigorous evidence of other cell changes, including damage to chromosomes,
alterations in the activity of certain genes and a boosted rate of cell division35.
17
A meta-analysis (2008) of 63 in vitro and in vivo studies from the years 19902005
concluded that RF radiation is genotoxic in some conditions. A four year study conducted
by the European Union (EU) by 12 research groups in 7 European countries found that
radiation from cell phones harm body cells and damages DNA. The damaged DNA was
passed on to subsequent generations of cells, a condition for the formation of cancer36.
A meta-study (2009) of 101 publications on genotoxicity of RF electromagnetic
fields showed that 49 reported a genotoxic effect and 42 not. The authors found "ample
evidence that RF-EMF can alter the genetic material of exposed cells in vivo and in vitro
and in more than one way37
C.Studies related to complicatins in the cardio vascular system
A crossectinal study in canada with 250 samples regarding the effect of radio
frequency radiations on heart rate found that, immediately at the start of radiation exposure,
the pulse frequency almost doubled ( 122 to 129 BP and returned to normal (66 BPM)
immediately as the phone was turned off. The subject did not know when he was exposed.
The study was double-blind, that is, neither the subjects nor the experimenters knew when
the radiation occurred. Also irregular heart beating occurred at exposure. Most importantly
the radiation exposure was 200 times lower than the intensity approved according to federal
guidelines in Canada and the US (1000 microW/cm2, 10mW/m2). They emphasizes that
the results are relevant for mobile phones as well, because the radiation is in the same range
of radiation intensity and frequency.38
Another
radiations on blood pressure in Netherland with 125 samples found that during exposed to
2.0 watts of RF-EMF(Radio frequency Electro magnetic field) for 10 minutes the blood
pressure increases by 3.4% than control groups. In 1995, a meta study in Europe reported
damaged DNA after two hours of microwave radiation at levels deemed safe according to
government standards39
A Canadian state funded survey was conducted in 2007.The survey analysed 869
hypertensive patients.A questionnaire and personnel interview was used to collect datas.The
survey revealed that about 89.34 % of the samples were chronic users of mobile phones.40
D.studies showing other complications
18
A case control study was conducted to evaluated the effect of RF-EMF on spermspecific characteristics to assess the fertilizing competence of sperm in South Africa..
Highly motile human spermatozoa were exposed for 1 h to 900-MHz mobile phone
radiation at a specific absorption rate of 2.0 W/kg and examined at various times after
exposure. The acrosome reaction was evaluated using flow cytometry. The radiation did not
affect sperm propensity for the acrosome reaction. Morphometric parameters were assessed
using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Significant reduction in sperm head area (9.2 0.7
m vs. 18.8 1.4 m) and acrosome percentage of the head area (21.5 4% vs. 35.5
11.4%) was reported among exposed sperm compared with unexposed controls. Spermzona binding was assessed directly after exposure using the hemizona assay. The mean
number of zona-bound sperm of the test hemizona and controls was 22.8 12.4 and 31.8
12.8 (p < 0.05), respectively. This study concludes that although RF-EMF exposure did not
adversely affect the acrosome reaction, it had a significant effect on sperm morphometry. In
addition, a significant decrease in sperm binding to the hemizona was observed. These
results could indicate a significant effect of RF-EMF on sperm fertilization potential41
An experimental laboratory study conducted in Ohio using 567 samples of
mammalian brains to find the changes happening due to exposure to mobile phone
radiations.The experimental group animals were exposed to microwaves from GSM mobile
phones. Exposed animals, were much more likely to have albumin leaking from blood
vessels. Control animals, in contrast, showed either no albumin leakage or occasional
isolated spots. A closer look at the cells within the brain revealed that exposed animals had
scattered and grouped dark neuronsoft en shrunken. with loss of internal cell structures. A
neuronal damage of the kind described here may not have immediate, demonstrable
consequences, even if repeated. In the long run, however, it may result in reduced brain
reserve capacity that might be unveiled by other later neuronal disease or even the wear and
tear of aging.38
An Egyptian study was done to study fetal and neonatal heart rate (HR) and cardiac
output (COP), following acute maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted
by mobile phone.The study was carried out at Benha University Hospital and El-Shorouq
Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, from October 2003 to March 2004. Ninety women with
uncomplicated pregnancies aged 18-33 years, and 30 full term healthy newborn infants
were included. The pregnant mothers were exposed to EMF emitted by mobile telephones
19
while on telephone-dialing mode for 10 minutes during pregnancy and after birth. The main
outcome were measurements of fetal and neonatal HR and COP.they found a statistical
significant increase in fetal and neonatal HR, and statistical significant decrease in stroke
volume and COP before and after use of mobile phone were noted. All these changes are
attenuated with increase in gestational age.this concluded that exposure of pregnant women
to mobile phone significantly increase fetal and neonatal HR, and significantly decreased
the cardiac out put42
An experimental study conducted at the University of Montpellier in France was
carried out on 6000 chick embryos.That embrios are exposed to GSM radiations. The
results suggested that the heavily exposed chick eggs were five times less likely to survive
than the control group. This study raised questions about possible effects on pregnant
women but it has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed scientific literature or been reproduced,
so its findings are difficult to assess43
Swedish researchers from Lund University have conducted an experimental study
regarding the effects of microwave radiation on the rat brain using 464 rat bains. They
found a leakage of albumin into the brain via a permeated blood-brain barrier compared to
the control group.This study revealed that mobile phone radiations can alter the
permeability of bllo brain barrier.44
A a prospective cohort study of young adults of age 20 to 24 was conducted by
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department in, Sweden to investigate about the
associations between psychosocial aspects of mobile phone use and mental health
symptoms with 4156 samples.Mobile phone exposure variables included frequency of use,
demands on availability, perceived stressfulness of accessibility, being awakened at night by
the mobile phone, and personal overuse of the mobile phone. Mental health outcomes
included current stress, sleep disorders, and symptoms of depression. Prevalence ratios
(PRs) were calculated for cross-sectional and prospective associations between exposure
variables and mental health outcomes.It has been found that there were cross-sectional
associations between high to low mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and
symptoms of depression for the men and women. All qualitative variables had crosssectional associations with mental health outcomes. In prospective analysis, overuse was
associated with stress and sleep disturbances for women, and high accessibility stress was
associated with stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for both men and
20
women. High frequency of mobile phone use at baseline was a risk factor for mental health
outcomes at 1-year follow-up among the young adults. The risk for reporting mental health
symptoms at follow-up was greatest among those who had perceived accessibility via
mobile phones to be stressful. 36
According to the International Headache Society's survey headache was the most
prevalent symptom among users compared with non-users of mobile phones, with an
adjusted prevalence rate ratio of 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.70). There was a
significant increase in the prevalence of headache with increasing duration of use (min/day)
(P=0.038). The prevalence of headache was considerably reduced among those who used
hands-free equipment compared with those who never used such equipment (42% v 65%).
Health hazards of mobile phones 45
A study conducted by hearing experts, who compared the hearing ability of 100
mobile phone users between the ages of 18 and 25 with that of 50 others who did not use
mobile phones. This study found a 18% reduction in hearing capacity in those who use
mobile phones.it again established a direct relation ship between length of time of mobile
usage and the percentage of hearing loss46
A saudi Arabian study conducted with the aim to investigate the association of using
mobile phones with fatigue, headache, dizziness, tension and sleep disturbance in the Saudi
population and provide health and social awareness in using these devicesThis study was
conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University,
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the year 2002 to 2003. In the present study, a total
of 437 subjects (55.1% male and 39.9% female) were invited, they have and had been using
mobile phones. A questionnaire was distributed regarding detailed history and association
of mobile phones with health hazards.The results of the present study showed an association
between the use of mobile phones and health hazards. The overall mean percentage for
these clinical findings in all groups were headache (21.6%), sleep disturbance (4.%),
tension (3.9%), fatigue (3%) and dizziness (2.4%).47
A study about the persons living near mobile phone base stations reveald that
symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and difficulty in concentration were more common in
people with higher potential exposures to radiation from nearby base stations, and that the
21
association remained significant after adjustment for various possible confounding factors,
including regular personal use of mobile phones.48
As per the studies conducted in china regarding the effects from cell phone radiation
on children, demonstrates an increase in phonemic perception disorders, abatement of
efficiency, reduced indicators for the arbitrary and semantic memory and increased
fatigue.Over the four-year monitoring of 196 children ages 7-12 who were users of mobile
communication devices, a steady decline in these parameters like from high values to
bottom standards compared was observed. 49
22
v).SAMPLE:
Youth aged 18 to 25 years who are fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be the
samples.sample size will be 90.
vi).CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF SAMPLE
Inclusion criteria
1.Youth in the age group 18 to 25 years
2.Youth studying graduate or post graduate courses in the selected college at Banglore
3.Students who are present at the time of data collection
4.Students who are able to read, write and understand English language
Exclusion criteria:
1.Students who are abscent at the time of data collection
2.Students who are not willing to participate in the study
23
3.Students who are below the age of 18 and above the age of 25.
vii).SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:
Sampling technique used in the study is Non probability convenience sampling.
viii).TOOL FOR DATA COLLECTION
Section A: Self administered questionnaire to assess demographic data such as age,
gender, educational status, economic status, previous knowledge of health hazards of
mobile phones,type of family,residence,number of sims they are using,frequency of
changing the phone,cost of mobile,side effects while using,use of ear phones,and duration
of mobile phone usage per day.
Section B: Self administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge of
youth
24
Inferential statistics:
1.Correlation - co- efficient will be used to determine the correlation between
knowledge and attitude of youth in selected colleges in, Bangalore regarding health hazards
of mobile phones
2 chi-square test will be used to determine the association between knowledge
attitude with selected demographic variables.
xi).PROJECTED OUT COME
The investigator will be able to identify the existing knowledge and attitude of youth
regarding health hazards of mobile phones.Based on the findings the investigator will
prepare a leaflet about the health hazards and safe use of mobile phones,which will help to
improve the knowledge and attitude of youth regarding health hazards of mobile phones
7.3 DOES THE STUDY REQUIRE ANY INVESTIGATION TO BE CONDUCTED
ON THE PATIENT OR OTHER HUMAN BEINGS OR ANIMALS?
Yes the study requires minimum investigation on knowledge and attitude of youth
regarding halth hazards of mobile phones,because the investigator is planning only for
descriptive study and no active manipulation is involved in the study. No other investigation
which cause any harm will be done in the subjects. .
7.4 HAS ETHICAL CLEARANCE BEEN OBTAINED FROM CONCERNED
AUTHORITY?
Permission will be obtained from the head of the institution.Formal permission will
be obtained from concerned authority of selected colleges at banglore
25
8 LIST OF REFERANCES
1. Mobile phone usage continue to increase worldwide. Avilable from
http://www.cellular-news.com
2. Lance Whitney.Cell phone subscriptions to hit 5 billion globally. Avilable from
http://reviews.cnet.com
3. Global mobile statistics 2011 Avilable from http://mobithinking.com
4. U N report.India has more mobile phones than toilets. Avilable from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
5. Youth marketing & mobile culture research. Avilable from
http://www.mobileyouth.org/
6. What are different age groups doing on their Mobile Phones Avilable from
http://themobilemarketer.wordpress.com /
7. The mobileYouth Report 2012 Avilable from http://www.mobileyouth.org/
8. Mobile Society Research Institute. Study on youth and Mobile Phone Use.
Avilable from http://www.moba-ken.jp/
26
27
28
29
30
10
11
Prof.P.Maria Ignatius
Principal
11.1
Signature
11.2
co-guide if any
11.3
Signature
11.4
11.5
Signature
Miss:G.Vijayalakshmi
Prof.P.Maria Ignatius
31
12
12.1
Signature
32