Background: A community-based epidemiological study on birth weight of newborns was undertaken in the rural domain of a backward district of West Bengal. Objectives: To find out the magnitude of low birth weight (< 2.5 kg.) newborns and to highlight association, if any, of the socio-demographic, maternal and obstetric factors with birth weight of newborns. Methods: The study was undertaken in 30 sub-centre areas (cluster), selected by '30 clusters sampling technique', in the rural area of Puruliya district. An adequate sample of 512 newborns (466 plus 10% extra allowance) delivered in those selected clusters (17 consecutive deliveries in each cluster) were to be studied. But, due to inability to record birth weight within 48 hours (in home deliveries) and other reasons, 487 newborns were included in assessing magnitude of the LBW problem. Indepth information on several variables was obtained from 439 mothers of the newborns. Health Workers (F), Anganwadi Workers, Trained dais and Health Supervisors -(F), specially trained for the survey, collected information by using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Results & conclusion: The incidence of LBW was 31.3%. Among different variables studied, statistically significant association was found in case of educational level of mothers and also place of delivery of newborns. More such community-based studies should be conducted

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Leptospirosis is one of the important zoonoses of man and animals. In recent years, it has increasingly been reported from different parts of the world including India. Sera from 536 individuals with pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) belonging to different age group, sex and occupation and having varying levels of exposure to animals, forest and flood were examined for the presence of antibodies to pathogenic Leptospira by commercially available kit. Overall 22.57% individuals with PUO were found to be positive for leptospirosis with 27.93% among male and 11.79% among female patients. This difference among genders was statistically significant. The seropositivity was higher among patients in the age groups of 21 -30 years followed by 31-40 and 41-50 years. Seropositivity was higher among individuals having contact with animals, working in forest and flood affected areas.

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Climate change is a major threat to the health of current and future generations. This paper assesses the current estimations of adverse health outcomes of climate change and explores methodological issues. The study is essentially based on literature review. The estimation of disease burden does not portray an accurate picture of the problem due to methodological constraints on account of de-linking several non-climatic factors. In particular, the developing nations face greater challenges due to poor infrastructure, and lack of institutions and health services. The concept of climate epidemiology can minimize the existing research gap by adapting trans-disciplinary approach and it can establish as a new frontier for health advocacy in the larger context of global environmental change.

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Objectives: To study whether individual susceptibility plays a role in the occurrence of summer associated symptoms (dizziness, giddiness, fainting and weakness) among women 18-40 years of age and their effect on the quality of life. Methods: It was a prospective community based study carried out in an urban slum of Delhi as a follow up of an earlier study. All women who had "given symptoms" during summer in the earlier study and a sample of those who were asymptomatic were included in the current study. Both the groups were studied for the occurrence of "given symptoms" and quality of life during next summer and winter using a pre structured questionnaire and WHOQOL- BREF. Results: Incidence of "given symptoms" during summer was more than three times among women who were symptomatic earlier compared to women who were asymptomatic. The incidence of these symptoms was significantly higher among the former across different age groups and BMI categories. Their physical domain of quality of life was also adversely affected. Conclusions: Continued high incidence of summer associated symptoms with adverse effect on their physical quality of life, among women who were symptomatic earlier too, points to individual susceptibility rather than random occurrence. This aspect requires for further studies.

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Full text not available  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

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Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]