An estimated seven million babies are born of low birth weight (LBW) annually in India. Birth weight is the most important determinant of survival and freedom from morbidity during the early life of a newborn. Compared to babies of normal birth weight, LBW babies suffer a far higher incidence of birth asphyxia, birth trauma, infective diseases, and malnutrition. LBW newborns are five times more likely to die during the neonatal period and three times more likely to die during infancy compared to newborns of normal birth weight. If LBW is detected in timely fashion, however, intensive neonatal care can mollify the negative impact of the condition's related problems, thus enhancing survival and minimizing the extent of disabling handicaps. A scientifically sound, cheap, and simple way for peripheral health workers to detect LBW babies at the large scale in communities is called for. Any surrogate birth weight parameter must be simple, highly correlated with birth weight, and of reasonably accurate diagnostic ability. Researchers have developed color-coded qualitative measuring tapes with markers for LBW of less than 2 kg, 2-2.5 kg, and above 2.5 kg which are usable by peripheral health workers with little instruction. No consensus has, however, been reached on a surrogate parameter to best predict LBW. Researchers are strongly urged to continue the search.

An epidemiological study of tuberculosis infection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was conducted, between January 1987 to February 1990. A proportional to population size sampling method was used for the whole country, and 1933 subjects were screened. A pre- designed questionnaire was used to collect details of BCG scar, age, sex, residence area, nationality, education, occupation and tuberculosis test. The relative importance of these factors was assessed by using Logistic Regression Analysis. The extent to which these factors affected the severity of tuberculosis was also examined. A number of statistically significant association were found between positive tuberculin test (> 10mm) and age (p < 0.0001), sex (p = 0.018), nationality (p = 0.009), residence area (p = 0.05) and occupation (p = 0.0003).

During epidemic investigation, water sources were tested for quality for drinking purpose. Out of 30 khatris tested, water of 86.7% khatris was fit for human consumption and fecal coliform was not found in any of them. Modification of these khatris was stressed by respondents.

Considering environmental sanitation and health care services as most important determinants of health, this study was undertaken to know their impacts in an urban slum area of Calcutta. The families were studied in-depth and detail in relation to their health status in the form of morbidities and utilisation of preventive and promotive services. The health service impact was mainly assessed through comparative study between these who availed the services and to these who did not. Similarly, environmental sanitation services impact on health was measured through comparing the slum group with those who lived in Pucca houses. The criteria of priority decision on determinants was attempted through analysis of cost of these services and comparing their beneficial effects on health.

An evaluation survey (1991-92) on utilization and awareness of ICDS services among pregnant and lactating women revealed that in subcentre areas beneficiaries were less aware of location and staff of anganwadi centre (AWC) and that they visited AWC less often as compared to their counterparts in non-subcentre areas. More beneficiaries in subcentre area said that immunization services provided by AWC were inadequate as compared to the responses in non-subcentre area. A different role for AWC & its staff in subcentre headquarter villages is recommended.

A sample survey of K.A.P. about malaria was carried out among sample of 359 inhabitants selected by random sampling in a tribal area of Baster district, which is a hyper-endemic area of the disease, predominantly by P.falciparum infection and understanding about the problem of malaria was poor, only about 50% (ranging from 30% to 60%) of the respondents were aware about cause and signs and symptoms of malaria, breeding & resting habit of mosquito, usefulness of insecticidal spray and ill effect of mud plastering following residual spraying. Proper health education and community involvement are, therefore, necessary to achieve control of malaria in the locality.

In order to determine the epidemiological factors in cases of excessive and/or irregular uterine bleeding, a prospective study was conducted in consecutive women complaining of excessive and/or irregular uterine bleeding from menarche to menopause, who were admitted in Kamla Nehru Hospital of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, from January 1, 1989 to September 15, 1989. A control group of 50 patients who had normal menstrual cycles was taken at random from the gynecological outpatient department. During the period there were 217 (22.7%) such patients out of a total of 995 gynecological admissions. 82 (37.7%) of the women were literate. The incidence of abnormal uterine bleeding was more prevalent in low socioeconomic classes, to which 88.3% of the patients belonged. The mean age of the study group patients was 37.1 +or- 9.19 years, and of the control group, 31.9 +or- 6.93 years, and the difference was significant [S.E.(d) = 1.1]. Patients over 30 years old were more numerous in the study group (80.1%) than in the controls (58%), and the difference was highly significant (chi square = 20.18, p 0.01). The mean parity of the patients was 3.7 +or- 2.2 and 2.7 +or- 1.8 in the study and the control groups, respectively, and this difference was significant [S.E.(d) = 0.30]. The incidence of abnormal uterine bleeding was higher in high parity women, as 72.7% were gravida III and above. 35% and 14% of the patients in the study and the control groups, respectively, had undergone a gynecological operation in the past, and the difference was highly significant (chi square = 8.37, p 0.005). In addition, 33.1% and 14% of the patients in the study and the control groups, respectively, had undergone tubal sterilization, and this difference was also highly significant (chi square = 7.16, p 0.01). The incidence of copper-T use was higher (13.8%) in the study group as compared to the controls (6%) (chi square = 2.27, p 0.5).

A epidemiological study of Onchocerciasis among different ethnic groups in the Blue Nile valley of Western Ethiopia was conducted to obtain baseline data on disease prevalence, skin snips samples were obtained from 493 persons, representing different ethnic groups (Nilotic and Oromos), living under different geographic and climatic conditions (lowlands, Midland and highland) or Mendi district for parasitological verification. A total of 169 (34%) had microfilariae of the skin by direct microscopy. The highest prevalence rate (81%) was found among the Nilotic people living along the southern banks of the Blue Nile River. Most patient had wide spread skin infection. Epidemiological differences were also observed.