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Nearly three-fourth of the indigenous medical practitioners (74.37%) in the rural area of Agra were treating 15 patients in a day. Maximum number of patients was attended by trained practitioners. Only 21.82 percent of the practitioners were providing preventive services apart from curative services. Inspite of wide variations in level of training with consequent difference in knowledge, skills and practice, these practitioners still make a significant contribution to health care of the community provided they get some training of modern health system and state patronage. To start with, at least they should be given orientation towards vaccination as they are still giving tetanus toxoid only at the time of injury. In the same way training should be given regarding distribution of vitamin 'A' for prevention of night blindness and iron folic acid tablets for control of anaemia in vulnerable groups.

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Kala-azar (KA), an enigmatic disease has resurged in India since 1970's after about a lull of 20 years, displaying its pestering nature. Various aspects of KA such as epidemiology, parasitology, immunology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, vector relationship, control measures etc. have been discussed focussing enigmatic and controversial issues specially in Indian perspective.

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Present study revealed several significant associations. Firstly, two related variables, like duration of antenatal care and birth-weight of newborn were significantly associated with incidence of neonatal morbidity. Apart from these, attributes like mother's educational status and per capita family income were also found as important factors determining occurrence of illness during neonatal period. Moreover, children of working mothers suffered more from illness. However, it should be pointed out here that majority of the attributes discussed here, such as, occupation, literacy, income etc, are inter-dependant. So, to quantify correctly the relative risk and attributable risk of these factors in causing childhood disease needs cohort study with matched control to neutralise the effects of confounding variables.

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An explorative study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diet patterns during pregnancy and lactation among Non-Bengali Muslim mothers. 100 consecutive mothers admitted for delivery in the Obstetric Ward of Islamia Hospital, Calcutta, were selected as index cases. Retrospective data from these mothers were collected about their diet patterns during pregnancy. At least 3 home visits were made for each mother after her discharge from the hospital: the 1st visit within 7 days after discharge, the 2nd visit when the infant was 4-6 months old during the weaning period, and the 3rd visit when the infant was 8-12 months old. 60% of mothers were illiterate and 34% had up to primary level education, while only 4% and 2% of mothers had up to secondary and higher than secondary level education, respectively. None of the mothers was working. Only 13% of the families' daily diet was nonvegetarian. There was a wide gap between the mothers' attitude towards various nutritious food categories and the actual practice of consuming them because of the inability to buy those food items owing to poverty. When pregnant, they avoided leafy vegetables (96%) as well as brinjal, cauliflower, and cabbage (42%) for fear of gastric upset. 75% of mothers avoided pineapple and papaya; and 50% avoided fish since it was believed to cause scaly patches on the child's face and body. 76% of mothers, irrespective of their level of education or economic status, were consuming sago, barley, garlic, and turmeric in the erroneous belief of augmenting breast milk secretion. Garlic and turmeric were also believed to improve the baby's complexion and protect the baby and mother from cough and cold. Common food items avoided by mothers during lactation were vegetables (93%), fruits (81%), pulses (59%), and roots and tubers (54%).

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