Geriatric population forms a significant proportion of our total population. Hence, various problems affecting the overall health of the elderly need special consideration. In this context, studies were undertaken to assess the socio-demographic factors, diet and health profile of 320 elderly men and women of all the three income groups of Urban Baroda. Data on socio-demographic factors was collected using an open ended questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements of height, weight, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and body mass index (BMI). Information on dietary profile was collected by 24 hour dietary recall method. Fasting practices were also studied. Socio-demographic data of geriatric men of high, middle and low income groups revealed that majority of the subjects were married. A greater percentage of high income group (HIG) men had nuclear family whereas majority of low income groups (LIG) elderly men resided in a joint family. Socio-demographic profile of elderly women of all the 3 income groups revealed that most of the subjects were Hindus. The percentage of widowhood, illiteracy and joint family system were higher in LIG as compared to the elderly women in middle and high income groups (MIG and HIG). Nutrient intake data of elderly men of all the income groups revealed lower consumption of energy, protein, iron and beta-carotene as compared to the RDA whereas fats and vitamin C intakes were higher as compared to the RDA (p < 0.05). The mean nutrient intake, by the LIG elderly women, in terms of energy, protein, iron, calcium, beta-carotene and vitamin C were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the RDA as well as when compared to the elderly women of MIG and HIG. Mean anthropometric measurements of weight and BMI were higher in elderly HIG and MIG men as compared to the elderly men from LIG. Significant difference was found in all the anthropometric measurements of elderly women of LIG as compared to HIG and MIG. Morbidity profile showed a striking rise in problems of oral cavity, cardio vascular disease, neurological problems and problems of gastro intestinal tract with advancing age in both elderly men and women. The study reveals striking differences in diet, health and disease profile with advancing age.

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Seventy nine traditional birth attendants (TBAs) of Raipur Rani community development block, Haryana were interviewed to assess the effectiveness of continuing training in changing their knowledge and practices regarding maternal and newborn care. Seventy three percent of them reported participation in continuing training sessions. However, analysis of attendance register showed that only 35.4% had attended more than 50% sessions in year 1993. Most (83.5%) of the TBAs gave advice to pregnant women for increased food intake, 47% advised tetanus toxoid, 16.5% for more rest, and 31.6% for iron tablets. Many of them were aware of maternal complications i.e. anaemia (64.6%), oedema (26.6%), bleeding per veginum (39.2%), abnormal presentation (77.2%) and high fever (48.1%). Risks to newborn like low birth weight, fever, cough/rapid breathing and hypothermia were known to 20.2%, 31.6%, 17.7% and 1.3% of the TBAs respectively. Knowledge regarding causes of low birth weight baby like 'weak' mother, less diet in pregnancy, short birth interval and preterm delivery were reported by 69.6%, 63.3%, 12.6% and 3.8% respectively. About two fifth of TBAs advised referral to hospital in case of prolonged labour and 88.6% for very low birth weight babies. Disposable Dai Kit and weighing machine were available with 32% and 73% TBAs. Significantly higher proportion of TBAs participating in continuing training advised tetanus toxoid vaccination, appropriate feeding practices of the newborn, hospital referral in case of prolonged labour and were less inclined to advise injection to speed up labour. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase the attendance of TBAs in continuing training sessions so as to sustain modern maternal and newborn care practices acquired after initial training.

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A community based study to examine the extent of contamination of supplementary milk feeds of 149 children aged 6-24 months was conducted in a semi urban slum of Varanasi, India. Out of 201 children, 149 top milk samples were collected directly from the feeding utensils into a sterile vial and subjected to bacteriological analysis. Overall, 53.7% of milk samples were contaminated by bacteria and among them 16.1% were potentially enteropathogenic in nature. The distribution of pathogens was E. coli (13.4%), Klebsiella spp (5.4%), Enterobacter spp. (5.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.7%), Shigella spp. (2.7%) and others (22.1%). The rate of contamination was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in lower income group (73.4%), lower caste (69.6%) and in case of illiterate mothers (69.3%). Bivariate analysis indicated that wherever the afore mentioned parameters of hygiene were adverse, isolation rates increased multifoldely. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the probability of a milk sample being positive for bacterial contamination was higher by 20 times when unclean utensils were used, by 3 times if mothers hands were dirty and by 2.8 time if the mothers were illiterate. The odds of contamination by pathogens was 25.7 times higher if the feeding utensils were dirty.

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