A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted during June to December 1999 in Amdanga block of North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Among a sample of 143 adolescent girls (10-19 years), selected through multistage sampling procedure. Data was collected by interviewing the adolescent girls and their parent, whenever necessary using pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured schedule. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standardized methodology as recommended by WHO and standard clinical examination procedures were followed. Standard operational definitions were used. Appropriate statistical tests like Chi-square test were applied as and when required. Overall prevalence of 'thinness' and 'stunting' were found to be 14.7% and 37.8% respectively. There was no significant association (p>0.05) of thinness or stunting with per capita monthly family income and literacy status of parents. Common nutritional deficiency disorders were anaemia (44.8%), dental caries (25.9%), angular stomatitis (15.4%) etc.

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Two hundred and fifty human serum samples were collected (122 from general population and the rest from people associated with animals) from central Kerala and tested for Brucella agglutinins using various standard tests. The overall seropositivity for brucellosis using all the tests was 1.6%. Among the general population a prevalence of 2.45% was observed and among the veterinary students 1.14%.

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Proportion of aged persons in India is increasing and is expected to be around 70 million by the end of the year 2000. The epidemiological consequences would be increase in the geriatric problems, particularly, impairments, disabilities and handicaps There are not many community-based studies using the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH). The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of disabled in the elderly population (aged above 60 years) in a district of south India using ICIDH classification.Thirty villages were selected using probability proportional to size linear systematic sampling (PPSLSS) from Villupuram health unit district in Tamilnadu in south India. One hundred and five households were selected from each selected village by using linear systematic sampling. A structured proforma was administered to 974 subjects to obtain information on disability as perceived by rural geriatric population.Visual disability was found to be the most important single preventable disability (56%). Only 33% of persons with visual disability wore spectacles. A decline in social interaction was reported.There was an urgent need to strengthen health care activities related to geriatric health care to improve the quality of life of the elderly population, including care of vision in particular.

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A retrospective study from a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kolkata revealed 3.6% of total paediatric admissions were due to poisoning. Majority of the cases included oral/chemical poisoning followed by biological/envennomation. Kerosene was the commonest among all poisoning. Most of the cases were accidental.

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Self medication by mothers influences the morbidity and mortality in children. The present study evaluates mothers' attitude and practices regarding use of medication in their preschool age children. 976 mothers having at least one child < 6 years with history of illness in past 30 days were interviewed according to a predesigned questionnaire. Five hundred and seventy five (58.91 %) used medication on their own, most commonly for cough & cold (23.9%). The commonest nonprescribed drugs used were analgesics - antipyretics (34.9%). Inspite of the nonresponse, shortage of money and availability of the drugs without prescription has encouraged self medication. These findings necessitates mothers' education and enforcement of law against selling of non-prescribed drugs.

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A cross sectional study with 368 males (husbands of women delivered at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital) revealed that 89% of them were aware of contraception. But only the meaning of birth spacing was known to 13% of them correctly. Education, income and parity were significantly associated with knowledge on birth spacing.

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A cross-sectional study among 145 fresh entrants of medical education revealed that, 99% of boys and 98% of girls are aware of AIDS by its definition and its causation.96% of girls, compared to 91% of boys are aware that, HIV spreads by blood. Very few, 5% of girls and 2.5% of boys are of the misconception that HIV may be transmitted through health personnel on examination of HIV patient. About 80% of boys and 90% of girls opine that HIV is transmitted through pregnancy.

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A clinic based descriptive (case series) study was conducted among 106 study subjects with poor glycaemic control in a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata. Poor compliance was observed in 89.62% and 10.38% had good/acceptable compliance. Compliance was better in above 60 years age group, in males, in married and educated persons. Non-compliance factors acted mostly in combination.

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