Analysis of records of admitted children (0-12 years) in Chittaranjan Sishusadan Hospital, Calcutta during 1987 revealed that acute respiratory infections contributed 20.1% of all admissions. Lower respiratory infections were common. 93.7% of children were below 5 years of age. Case fatality rate due to ARI was the highest (17.6%) during infancy. Higher number of admissions were observed during the monsoon months.

Bed utilisation efficiency and hospital resource utilisation are of prime importance to remove the "Hospital Bottlenecks" which in turn reduces length of stay of in-patients. The present study on in-patient system in Gynaecology Ward of a non-teaching hospital revealed that a considerable number of bed days were unnecessarily lost during various activities related to investigation, operation and post-operative stay. Overall length of stay found in this study (14.02 days) is considerably higher than Indian optimum. Average time-lags found between admission to pre-operative investigation and post-operative stay were 3.25 days and 10.22 days respectively.

A population of 3870 individuals constituting 823 families residing in five different localities of Aurangabad city was surveyed by house to house visits. The objectives of the study were to assess the validity of social classification by residence in certain localities. The variable used in the study was maternity practices. Family members and children under five years of age were recorded. Mothers of children were asked occupation of the head of the family and delivery details pertaining to these children. Social class was decided by residence in particular localities of the city, classified according to easily ascertainable characteristics of housing. Validity of such classification was judged by comparing it with classification by well known variable like occupation. The findings indicate that the system provides an inexpensive and rapid method of social classification. A total of 661 deliveries were recorded. A total of 67.62% deliveries were conducted in Government or Private Institutions. The remaining deliveries were home deliveries conducted by untrained personnel. Indigenous dais (traditional birth attendants) conducted 20.27% and senior female relatives 10.89% of the total deliveries. The findings, thus, stress the need of identifying and training dais in urban areas.

The prevalence of different types of hepatitis virus was estimated in 185 hospitalized jaundiced patients. It was found that 41.08% were positive for HBs Ag by ELISA method. The jaundiced group was also tested for IgM antibody and for total antibodies (IgG and IgM) to HAV infection by ELISA method and 5.40% were found to be positive. All patients in the jaundiced group had serum bilirubin above normal values. It was, therefore, assumed that the rest 52.92% were suffering from Non A Non B virus infection.