Study on the socio-economic factors and human behaviour in a cross-section of tribal communities in Sundargarh district, Orissa revealed that poor socioeconomic status and socio-cultural factors play important role in maintaining high degree of malaria transmission. Human behaviour such as location of hamlets, type of housing, sleeping habits, outdoor activities after dusk, poor knowledge about the disease and treatment seeking behaviour are of great significance as determinants of malaria transmission. All these factors need to be considered before planning community health programme. Estimation of economic loss due to malaria showed an average loss of 8.96 mandays per malaria patient with an average loss of 3.84 mandays to other family members. Mean total loss per malaria episode comes to Rs.334.91. The study showed that malaria is one of the major disease affecting the tribals to the greatest extent and putting a lot of burden on the economic upliftment of these communities.

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Indulgence in tobacco is a known health risk. The example of school teachers in this regard is likely to have far reaching influence on their pupils and the community. A cross sectional study among 257 teachers from 30 schools revealed that as high as 51.0% teachers consumed tobacco in one form or the other. Smoking was the most popular form of tobacco use (72%). Marked gender differences were noted with 73.9%. Male teachers hooked to tobacco habit in comparison to 13.9% of female teachers. Educational qualification had paradoxical effect on tobacco habit as fewer (20.0%) graduate teachers used tobacco in comparison to non graduate teachers (55.7%). However proportion of Post graduate teachers consuming tobacco was still higher (64.2%). Initiation to tobacco habit in majority began at age 21 years and beyond. Common reasons given for tobacco consumption were curiosity (37.9%), to be social (22.0%), enjoyment (21.2%), to relieve stress (8.17%) and improving performance (5.8%). 21.9% smokers consumed more than 20 cigarettes a day. More than four fifth teachers consciously avoided tobacco use in school premises. Nearly half (45.3%) of tobacco users reported reduction in tobacco use in preceding two years. By and large teachers (92.4%) were aware of harmful consequences of tobacco on health. But only in 29.6% it was a cause for concern. 71.2% respondents intended to give up tobacco habit. 33.7% smokers were aware of hazards of passive smoking to others.

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A study was carried out based upon the data available from National Leprosy Eradication Program of Purulia district in West Bengal. The result showed that the disease was in a declining trend up to the year 1998 and was inclining during the year 1998-1999 due to more case detection through MLEC-I, then followed by declining trend during the year 2000 as it was observed by MLEC-II. Single skin lesion rate was higher, MB rate was same and reduced deformity rate indicates early detection of cases due to better awareness of the community about the disease.

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The functioning of "Monitoring and Continuing Education System" of ICDS Programme in Hooghly District was studied through record analysis and individual interviews of Anganwadi Workers (AWW). No Sector Adviser was entrusted the task of monitoring and continuing education activities in 15 out of 17 sectors, supervisors and Health Workers were present in 88.0% and 29.4% sector meetings respectively. The sector meetings were not usually held on fixed dates. Visits of Anganwadi centres (AWC) by Health Workers, Supervisors and Child Development Project Officers (CDPO) were very infrequent and no joint visit was made. Only 11.8% Anganwadi Workers were exposed to continuing education sessions. There was gross under reporting of pregnant mothers and live births. Need of all-round improvement of functioning of 'Monitoring and Continuing Education System' of ICDS Programme is well felt.

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