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Background: WHO defines health literacy as cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of people to understand, gain access and use the information to obtain good health. Inadequate health literacy has been linked to increased hospital admissions, poorer physical and mental health, lower use of preventive health services like vaccinations and screening tests. These ultimately lead to higher healthcare costs. This study was conducted to assess health literacy among adults attending outpatient clinics at a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Objectives: To estimate proportion of inadequate health literacy and its associated factors among adults attending outpatient clinics at a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult attendees (i.e., patients and companions) of outpatient clinics of a government tertiary care hospital in urban Bangalore. Based on a study done by Almaleh. R et al. (P = 34.3%) with 7% absolute precision, the sample size was calculated as 200. A total of 200 adults attending outpatient clinics at the government tertiary care hospital were selected using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire for sociodemographic factors and HLS-EU-Q16 (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire short version) for assessing health literacy. The data collected was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS 21.0. Results: The proportion of inadequate health literacy among study participants was observed to be 38%. Factors like educational status, age, and gender were found to have an association with it. Health literacy was found to be least in lower-educated individuals. Conclusion: From the present study, it was found that a large part of adult population had limited health literacy. It should be addressed through proper interventions, like ensuring basic education and health awareness programmes.

Background: Quality of life comprises multifaceted dimensions encompassing physical, emotional, social, and psychological aspects. Assessing quality of life is essential not only for mothers but also for their children, family members, and the community. Understanding the impact of different modes of delivery on women’s well-being is crucial for healthcare providers to offer appropriate support and interventions. Objective: To assess and compare the quality of life after normal vaginal delivery and caesarean section among mothers at a government tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. A pilot study was conducted and sample size was calculated as 200, with 100 participants in each group. Samples were selected using a simple random sampling method, and data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess the quality of life. The collected data was entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS 21.0 Results: Out of 200 participants, the mean age of the study population was 24.32 ± 5.58 years. Comparison between the vaginal and cesarean groups revealed that the vaginal birth group had higher mean scores in the physical health domain. Factors such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities were found to be significantly associated with modes of delivery. Conclusion: Different modes of delivery have their own unique challenges and benefits, this study illuminated distinct differences in quality of life. Normal vaginal delivery was associated with a quicker physical recuperation compared to caesarean section, while caesarean sections demanded a longer recovery period and potential physical limitations.

The article discusses the lack of awareness and practice of safety measures among construction workers in Kottayam, Kerala. The study found that many workers were unaware of the occupational hazards associated with their work, and their utilization of safety measures was moderate. The article emphasizes the need for health promotion and campaigns to educate workers about the health risks and proper use of personal protective equipment. The study also found a significant association between total work experience and awareness of occupational hazards. The authors highlight the importance of occupational health and safety training for construction workers to improve their well-being. [Extracted from the article]

AIM: Obesity is a serious, growing problem and an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality. In India prevalence is 22% among males and 21% among females aged 30 years and above, while in Karnataka there is a 14% prevalence of obesity among males and 17.3% among females. The aim of this study is to assess the problem of obesity and dietary factors influencing obesity in order to plan health promotion and prevention strategies to combat this epidemic of non-communicable diseases. METHOD: This cross-sectional community based study was carried out among urban slum dwellers aged 30 years and above, in 2010. Sampling was done by systematic random sampling. Sample size was calculated as 300. Statistical analysis was done using Epi info version 3.5.1, in the year 2011 RESULTS :More than half of the study population (56.5%) had a normal [169 (49.7%)] and underweight [23 (6.8%)] BMI while the overweight [84(24.7%)] and obese [64(18.8%)] category consisted of 148 (43.5%) subjects. Statistically significant association of decreased BMI with increasing frequency of fruits consumed (p <0.05), and increased BMI with increasing frequency of eggs consumed (p <0.05) was observed. There was a lack of correlation between BMI and eating patterns. CONCLUSION: Our study showed significant association of decreased BMI with more fruit intake and increased BMI with increased intake of high caloric food. Obesity has become a significant public health issue in India where planning strategies should be a population-based, multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, culturally relevant approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries diarrhea diseases take a big toll which can be prevented by adequate supply of safe drinking water. Thus a longitudinal study was taken up to determine the morbidity due to water borne diseases and bacteriological quality of water. 150 houses in two different areas, one supplied by bore well and other by tap water was selected by modified cluster sampling. Weekly morbidity details collected. Monthly water samples were assessed for bacteriological quality from main supply, household storage and morbidity reported houses. The difference in proportion of potable and non potable water at storage points was statistically significant. The overall incidence rate of target diseases was 3.58%,majority were diaarrhoel diseases with increased incidence in children less than five years.