Self medication is a foe and a friend at the same time. In a developing country like India, Self Medication practices may prove to be an alternative for those who cannot either afford or avail medical help from practitioners. Aim: This study was proposed to understand the factors affecting self medication practicesin a tertiary care institute amongst health care providing workers. Method: A cross sectional survey was undertaken with a sample size of 176 randomly selected health care workers of a tertiary care institute of Vidarbha region of central India. Data was collected using a pre-structured questionnaire and later analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Self medication use was reported by 68.2% of the subjects, maximum subjects were females (55%). Common factors affecting self medication were left over medicines (38.6%) and direct purchase from pharmacists(35.2%). Major cause for this practice was found to be lack of time (28.4%) among study participants. Conclusion: Educating population regarding correct practices of medication and justified use of drugs may be helpful in self medication practices.

Couvelaire uterus also known as uteroplacental apoplexy is a known complication of severe form of placental abruption. Any vascular damage within the placenta that leadsto hemorrhage, progressingintoand infiltrating thewalls of the uterus causesthis condition.1 The only known way to diagnose it is by direct visualization or biopsy. However, very few cases have been reported till now. 2 In this case study, we are reporting a case of Couvelaire uterus with a short review on it.

Background: Acute respiratory illness is regarded as one of the commonest cause of death and sickness among under-five children in developing countries. In India, during the year 2013, about 31.7 million cases of ARI were reported. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of respiratory illness among the under-five children in Chidambaram municipality and to find out the associated risk factors of respiratory illness. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a pre-tested pro forma. Results:Out of 1697 people surveyed, 145 were under-five children. Prevalence of respiratory illness among the under-five children was found to be 52.4% (Upper respiratory tract infections-42.7% and bronchial asthma-18.5%). Respiratory illness was found to be significantly associated with cross ventilation, income and mother’s education. Absence of cross ventilation, low family income, and low educational status of mother had an odds ratio of 2.9, 4.6 and 5.33 respectively. Conclusion: Absence of cross ventilation, low family income, and low educational status of mother are the risk factors contributing significantly to acute respiratory illness among underfives

Introduction: Use of community health workers as a strategy for improving the health of individuals and communities is increasingly getting attention worldwide. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) has been introduced in National Rural Health Mission. Are they aware of what is expected from them for child health? Objective: To assess the awareness and practices of ASHA workers regarding child health. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in north east district of Delhi among 55 ASHA workers. Data was collected using a pre tested semistructured questionnaire that consisted of items on socio-demographic profile of ASHA workers, and knowledge and practices about child health. The data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 17. Results: Mean age of ASHAs was 31.84 + 7.2 years. Most of them were married (96.4%) and Hindu (85.5%). Fifty two (94.5%) ASHA workers knew that exclusive breastfeeding should be continued till 6 months of age. 54 (98.2%) ASHAs were aware of their role of mobilizing children for immunization and 43 (78.2%) knew about their role in counseling mothers about child nutrition. Thirty seven (67.3%) ASHA workers reported that they used to visit the newborn in their area within a week of birth. None of the ASHA workers were provided with drug kits. Conclusion: The present study showed knowledge is good in certain areas, but improvement is needed in other areas and skills and administrative support is needed to deliver child health services effectively.

Background: Census 2011 estimated that there are approximately 253 million adolescents in India, constituting about 20.9% of the total population. Adolescence is an important stage of growth and development in the lifespan of a person. Unique changes that occur in an individual during this period are accompanied by progressive achievement of biological maturity. Inadequate nutrition in adolescence can potentially retard growth and sexual maturation, although these are likely consequences of chronic malnutrition in infancy and childhood. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the service area of an urban health center, Rohtak during the months of January to March 2015. The participants involved were school going boys (10 to 19 years). The participants were classified on the basis of their health (under-nutritional status), depending upon the Z-score value (WHO growth standards, 2007) of their respective BMI. Results: A total of 649 boys participated in the study. Overall mean age of study participants was 15.5 years. The proportion of adolescents who were undernourished based on BMI Z Score came out as 36.7% (13.3% severely undernourished and 23.4% moderately undernourished). As education and health are correlated, in the present study,the mothers with higher level of education were having significantly (P = 0.017) least proportion (29.8%) of undernourished participants. Conclusion: Nutritional status of the studied children is not impressive among adolescent boys. There is a need for health promotion activities among school children by providing an enabling environment. Improving nutritional status of adolescents will go a long way in maintaining the health of the country.

Introduction: Plenty of myths are prevailing in minds of people with concern over the fertility and outcome of pregnancies in the residents around the Nuclear power plants. These myths need to be addressed on the basis of scientific facts and figures. Objective: To compare the crude birth rate, general marital fertility rate, congenital anomalies rate, still birth rate, and abortion ratio of population residing around Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS) and district Bulandshahr, UP and India. Methods: Secondary data analysis based on the vital statistics available of the PHC, district and nation. Data was presented in tabular and graphic form. Results: Crude Birth Rate [CBR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 27.6, NAPS was 6, Bulandshahr was 26.4, Uttar Pradesh was 25, and India was 22.5. General Marital Fertility Rate [GMFR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 172.5, NAPS was 52.5, Bulandshahr was 148.23, Uttar Pradesh was 170.7, and India was 120.3. Still Birth Rate [SBR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 9.97, NAPS was 4.79, Bulandshahr was 9.57, Uttar Pradesh was 9, and India was 8. Congenital Anomalies Rate [CAR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 41.44, NAPS was 2.41, and India was 64.3. CAR for Bulandshahr and Uttar Pradesh were not available. Abortion Ratio [AR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 0.01, NAPS was 0.03, Bulandshahr was 0.01, Uttar Pradesh was 0.02, and India was 0.03. Conclusion: The findings indicate that people staying in the vicinity of a Nuclear Power Plant had more birth rates, lesser abortions, still births, congenital anomalies as compared to district and national average.

Socioeconomic status of the individual and family has direct implication on health status, therefore its assessment is an important aspect in health research. From 1976, Kuppuswamy’s scale is an important tool to assess socio economic status of families residing in urban areasin India. The three aspects of Kuppuswamy’sscale are education, occupation of the head of the family, and total monthly family income. This scale needs to be revised at regular intervals in order to account for economic shuffle and changing inflation rate in the country and to revalidate its application in health research. This current update has been done using Consumer price index (industrial workers) as given by Labor Bureau, Government of India with base year 2001. This will be applicable for researches conducted in the year 2014 and 2015.