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Background: Tobacco use causes over eight million global deaths annually, with seven million directly attributed to tobacco use and 1.2 million to second hand smoke (SHS). Smoke-free environments are crucial to counter SHS. Although India banned smoking in public places in 2008, SHS exposure remains high. Studies have noted that limiting smoking in workplaces, restaurants, etc., helps to reduce overall smoking and reduce SHS exposure. Under this background, the study explores the linkages between smoke-free workplaces and living in smoke-free homes in India. Methods: The two rounds of the GATS India (2009-10 and 2016-17) have been used for the study. The study focuses on male tobacco smokers working indoors or outdoors or both indoors and outdoors. The sample for the study was 2,969 for GATS 1 and 2,801 for GATS 2. Dependent variables include living in a smoke-free home, while the independent variables were adherence to a smoke-free office policy and socio-demographic variables. The two rounds of the GATS data were pooled for analysis. Statistical analysis involves bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Findings reveal that 41% of respondents worked in smoke-free workplaces in GATS 2. Nationally, smoke-free homes increased from 35% in 2009–2010 to 44% in 2016-17. Individuals with smoke-free workplaces were more likely to have smoke-free homes. The Southern region consistently exhibited the highest proportion of smoke-free homes. Urban areas and higher education correlated with increased smoke-free homes. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that workplace smoke-free status is a significant predictor of smoke-free homes. In GATS 2, respondents aged 30 years and above were less likely to have smoke-free homes, while education and Southern region residence positively influenced smoke-free homes. Conclusions: The correlation between smoke-free workplaces and smoke-free homes is linked to stringent workplace no-smoking policies, potentially deterring individuals from smoking at home. Opportunities exist for the expansion and stringent implementation of the smoke-free policies among Indian working adults, leveraging the workplace as a key setting for evidence-based tobacco control. The study highlights positive trends in India's smoke-free homes, crediting workplace policies. Effective policies, education, and regional strategies can advance smoke-free homes, stressing the pivotal role of workplace policies and advocating broader implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Health-related behaviors during adolescence lay the foundation of health status during later life. Most of the studies on health behaviors among adolescents in India have a focus on adolescent girls. India has 133 million adolescent boys; it is important to understand patterns and determinants of physical inactivity and poor dietary intake among them. Method: We analyze levels and patterns of physical activity and dietary habits using data from the 'Understanding Lives of the Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA)' Survey, 2016, from Bihar, one of the less developed states in India. The analysis was carried out using data collected from 2004 adolescent boys aged 14–19 years covering 33,900 households. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of predictor variables on physical activity and dietary habits. Results: Most adolescent boys (71%) engaged in physical activities during the one month before the survey. Fifteen percent did not engage in physical activity during the reference period and 13% never participated in such activities. One-fourth consumed three or more food groups and 6% did not daily consume any of the six selected food groups. Participants' age, place of residence, schooling status, and co-residence with siblings are strong predictors of physical activity. Place of residence, caste and economic status, household head's gender, schooling of household head, and number of siblings are factors identified as predictors of dietary habits. Conclusion: This study underscores the urgent need for steps to enhance participation in physical activities and to promote daily consumption of meals with adequate dietary diversity among adolescent boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy behaviors including smoking, drinking, and drug use often begin during adolescence and are closely related to morbidity and mortality. This study examines the prevalence and factors associated with substance use among adolescent boys in Bihar, India. Data from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA), conducted in 2015–16 in two Indian states, was used for analysis (n = 2004 adolescent boys aged 14–19 years). A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effect of various correlates on substance use. Prevalence of tobacco consumption (19%) is high, followed by consumption of alcohol (8%) and drug use (1.2%) among adolescent boys in Bihar. One-fifth have ever used at least one substance. Age, education, current schooling status, wealth quintile, household head's educational attainment, and mother's education level are found to be important factors influencing substance use. It is essential to adopt more pointed programs which can effectively reduce substance use among adolescents in this and similar states. Programs related to prevention of substances should be expanded effectively through health education programs, media messages at the grassroots level, especially in the socio-economically backward states in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In India, there are many labour laws implemented for the legal provision of working hours, services, and employment conditions of workers. Special protection and rest provision plays a pivotal role in occupational injuries and illness. Aim: To determine the special protection and various provision of rest at the workplace. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted among steel and power industry workers in Odisha, India. The study was conducted with 425 male respondents by adopting the population proportion sampling technique. The primary data was taken from a Steel and Power limited industry situated in Angul district of Odisha from February 2019 to October 2019. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS version 25.0) was used in the analysis process by using the univariate and bivariate models to assess the objectives. Results: The study showed 92.5% of respondents were provided rest, and 59.1% of respondents were in the employment contract. More than 43.3% of respondents reported they received compensation during occupational injury and diseases, whereas 45.6% didn't get any compensation in the event of occupational diseases. Out of the 393 workers got rest, a vast majority (95.4%) of respondents reported that they were allowed night rest, and 84.5% were allowed for meal breaks during work. More than 59% of respondents receive short breaks during work, and 52.9% were entitled to weekly breaks/rest. Religion, caste, education, technical education, occupation, type of work, and the number of working hours were strongly associated with the respondent's characteristics. Conclusion: Special protection provisions are critical factors for the treatment of occupational health hazards. It has been confirmed that night rest and meal break rest were provided to the workers. Except for the shift work rest and extended workload rest, the provision of rest was sufficiently provided at the workplace. Special protections are expected to strengthen the occupational health of workers and stay away from medical expenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to assess the burden and correlates of morbidity and other dimensions (perceived health and physical mobility) of the health status of older adults (defined as those aged 60 and above). We used data from the National Sample Survey (NSS) 71st round for understanding the health status of older adults in India. The NSS 71st round collected data from 65,932 households (36,480 in rural and 29,452 in urban areas). The present analysis is based on data related to 27,245 persons aged 60 and above living in the sample households. Overall, 30% of those aged 60 and above reported that they have morbidity, either chronic or acute. More than one-fifth (22%) rated their health status as poor while 8% are physically immobile. Forty-three percent of older adults have overall poor health status. Multivariate analysis reveals that age, religion, expenditure quintile are significantly associated with poor overall health of the older adults. Given the high proportion of poor overall health status among older adults and their increasing population size, this study indicates the need to strengthen healthcare services as well as the economic and social security programs directed at the welfare of older adults in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase proportion of elderly means additional national responsibility to meet the emerging challenges to ensure well-being. Family, kinship, and community which were the strong sources of social support and care for the elderly in India has become weaker in recent times. Eight of India's states are considered to be relatively socioeconomically backward, and are referred to as the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states, while rest of the states are demographically more advanced and many have achieved replacement level of fertility. The purpose of this paper is to compare the pattern of living arrangements and economic dependency among elderly in EAG and non-EAG states of India. Data from the National Sample Survey 71st round was used for analysis (N = 27,245). Results suggest that majority of the elderly co-resided both in EAG and non-EAG states. The major difference in living alone between EAG and non- EAG states is found according to religion, consumer expenditure quintile, and perceived health. Overall, 72% elderly are economically dependent on others. The differences between EAG and non-EAG states in economic dependency are considerable according to marital status, education, religion, and consumer expenditure quintile. Multivariate analysis revealed that the chances of living alone and economic dependency are higher in non-EAG states than EAG states. Number of surviving children, education, and consumer expenditure quintile are the significant predictors of living alone, while age, gender, and education significantly influence economic dependency. The findings call for making appropriate changes in policies and programmes to ensure social security and health of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Government of India has taken many measures to empower women and women reservations by the 73rd (Constitutional Amendment Act) through Panchayati raj Institutions. As a result of this, there was created more space for women in decision making process at the grass root level in all over the country. From the beginning, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have been considered as a means to Democratic Decentralization and in recent years Panchayati raj is useful for explicit moves to increase women's political participation. The present paper deals with Empowerment of Women through Panchayati Raj which is based on a detailed analytical study undertaken in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remedial writing instruction is part of a larger basic skills academic re-education program focused on students who did not benefit from conventional strategies or procedures. The present study uses an exploratory-cum-one shot pre-test post-test non-experimental design comprising of non-equivalent groups for initial development and try-out of a need based remedial instruction program on 17 students from 5 government schools randomly identified as falling below a set cut-off score on a criterion referenced Tamil writing assessment device. The 12-week teaching program spread across 36 sessions of 45-minute duration each for 3 days a week, was carried out using an assortment of individual as well as small group based strategies, techniques and activities drawn from several sources, but based on a discernible 4-tier interventional model. It involved (i) direct skills based instruction on identified individual skill deficits; (ii) teaching the generic structure, semantics, grammar and organization of writing; (iii) promoting self management strategies for writing; and, (iv) use of technology-assisted procedures for writing. Results indicate the possibility of developing a comprehensive remedial teaching package program for improving Tamil writing in primary school children and demonstrates significant gains between their pre to post test writing scores (p: <0.001). Admittedly, the rather inferior research design used in this study precludes sufficient external validity and wide spread applications of the results in classroom settings across the country. Nonetheless, it paves the way for a need to undertake more intensive, highly focused and case-controlled studies on writing intervention strategies on several other Indian languages for benefit of such students in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examines the social, demographic and behavioural characteristics among migrant and non-migrant men having sex with men (MSM) in Mumbai, India. It discusses the factors affecting sexual behaviours of homosexual and bisexual men having sex with men. More than half of the respondents had sexual intercourse before completing 15 years of age.

Examines sexual behavior of low-income college students in India using a survey conducted in 1997. Linking of sexual behavior to knowledgeability on sexuality-related issues; Attitudes towards sex; Levels of social interaction; Exposure to erotic materials.

Background: The cancer burden in northeast India is high, with low survival and low case detection. Despite the availability of cancer institutes in the region, existing literature remarks on the increasing travel outside the region for cancer care. However, research is sparse on identifying impediment factors to the access of state cancer institutes., Objective: To examine the barriers to cancer care in five common cancer sites: oral, lungs, stomach, breast and cervix., Method: Following a descriptive multiple-embedded case study design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, 388 participants were selected in phase one by stratified random sampling. In phase two, by purposive sampling, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted., Result: The result suggests that family decision is the central factor in cancer care access. Treatment initiation is delayed because the existing government health insurance scheme does not cover diagnostic tests. Adverse steps are taken to fund cancer treatment. Besides, opting for alternative medicines were due to fear of surgery, chemotherapy and recommendations by relatives. Arranging accommodation, transportation and infrastructure shortage was another hurdle. In contrast, the lack of awareness of the state cancer institutes was a barrier to its access., Conclusion: This paper identifies and describes factors that hinder access to state cancer institutes. The findings could enhance policy interventions for efficient cancer care access in the region. Integration with NGOs working at the state level for cancer services would support ease of access by providing funds for diagnostic tests, accommodation and transportation, especially for those who cannot afford it., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study aims to assess the preventive measures and self-protective rights of employees at the workplace. A survey has been conducted in a steel and power industry of Angul district of Odisha (India) using a semi-structured interview schedule to assess the determinants of occupational hazards. Occupational health practices among 425 male workers were assessed from the steel and power industry using the population proportion to sample technique (PPS). Respondents from the higher educational background, skilled workers, Hindu religious group, general category, and employees with high-household income were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with self-protective rights at the workplace. Industrial workers are considered a vulnerable group with respect to the power of self-protective rights in the industry. The factors such as job insecurity, financial hardship, less education, and unskilled profession make them vulnerable, which forces them to settle with a lower level of rights at the workplace., Competing Interests: None

The present study was aimed at mutational screening of the gene coding for galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase in females with premature ovarian failure within an Indian population. A case-control-based study approach was used. It included females with premature ovarian failure (n = 108), primary amenorrhoea (n = 37) and secondary amenorrhoea (n = 9), and a control group of 136 women with a normal ovarian pattern. Gene sequencing analysis for the presence of mutations in the promoter and the coding regions of GALT has shown the absence of any mutation. A hexanucleotide deletion was found in the third intronic region of GALT in both cases and controls. These data support the hypothesis that there is no significant association between GALT mutations and ovarian failure, and hence the present authors conclude that there is no relationship between ovarian failure and GALT polymorphisms in Indian women.