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Background: Domestic violence against women is a major public health problem leading to violation of women's human right. It occurs in different forms such as physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual. Domestic violence does not take place itself, there are various reason associated with men and women both. The type of domestic violence and reasons for it differ depending on the associated risk factors. Most commonly seen risk factors are low level of education of both wife and husband, poverty, harmful use of alcohol by husband,and accepting violence as male privilege etcetera. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with domestic violence among married women of urban slums. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted among 385 married women aged between 15 and 49 years residing in slum areas. Information was collected on sociodemographic factors and types of domestic violence after obtaining written consent. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square, univariate, and multivariate analysis test was done to find the association of the factors with domestic violence. Results: Domestic violence was statistically associated with the low level of education, low socio-economic status, and employment status of the respondents. It was also associated with education level and alcohol use by their husbands. Conclusions: Women's empowerment as far as education and overall socio-economic development may reduce domestic violence.

Background: Health status of infants is a sensitive indicator of development and factors influencing it need to be better understood. Objectives: This study was conducted to search for factors associated with morbidity among infants and to find out their influence on weight gain during infancy. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal study was undertaken in south India from November 2004 till April 2006. A birth cohort of all children born during first 6 months of the study period were assessed at enrollment and followed up monthly till they attained 1 year of age. Results: Incidence of morbidity among infants was found to be least among those exclusively breast fed (EBF) for 6 months and most when EBF for less than 6 months (P = 0.045). It was also more when infants were weaned with a combination of animal milk, formula milk, semi-solids and solid diet and least when weaned only with semi-solids and solids (P = 0.018). Diarrheal episodes were more in infants who were bottle-fed (P < 0.001). Weight gain between 6 th and 12 th month of infancy was found to be significantly affected by various morbidities (P = 0.001). Incidence of morbidities was less among preterm babies and more among partially immunized (P < 0.001) babies with birth order ≥ 3 (P = 0.012), babies of mothers with low socio-economic and educational status. Delayed milestones during infancy was seen more in babies with history of birth asphyxia (P = 0.018). Conclusion: Several factors influenced incidence of morbidities and these morbidities had a negative effect on weight gain. Hence these factors need to be addressed to promote better child health.

Context: Majority of the Indian population lives in rural area, where the main occupation is agriculture. In developing countries, agriculture workers have multitude of health problems, whereas they do not have access to the adequate health care facilities. Aims: The present study was aimed to know the health-seeking behavior of agricultural workers. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was done from January 2009 to December 2009 in a rural area of Bhutaramanahatti sub-center (Vantamuri PHC), Belgaum District. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 agricultural workers of age 16-60 years were interviewed in their households/fields. Data were acquired on a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Percentages and Chi-square test. Results: Among the study participants 55.75% were males and 44.25% were females, with a male to female ratio of 1.25:1. Most of the agricultural workers (89.5%) were Hindus, 10.5% were Muslims, and 47% were illiterates, whereas 38% had passed first to fifth grades, 14.5% had passed sixth to tenth grades, and 0.5% had attended tenth plus. Of the 400 subjects, 295 (73.75%) belonged to Class V socioeconomic status. Overall, 48.75% opted government doctors and 28% opted private doctors as the first priority health care providers for their illness. 37.75% preferred private or AYUSH practitioners and 18.25% opted government doctors in case illness was not cured or they were not satisfied with the treatment given by the first health care provider. Conclusions: The present study reveals that most of the agricultural workers depended on government doctor for their illness. In order to overcome the situation, special health check-up camps need to be conducted with emphasis on improvement of health.