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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: Ageing is a physiological process that starts from birth, continues throughout life, and ends with death. Poor nutrition is not a natural concomitant of ageing; older adults are at risk for malnutrition due to physiological, psychological, social, dietary, and environmental risk factors. Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of elderly living in rural India and to study the factors related to nutritional status. Materials and Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Butramatti village, which comes under Primary Health Centre, Vantamuri. Predesigned and pretested questionnaire and nutritional status were assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale, an instrument designed by Nestle Nutrition Institute specifically for elderly people. Results: Out of the total 190 participants, 85 (44.70%) were having BMI less than 19, 28 (14.70%) were having BMI 19 to less than 21, 11 (5.80%) were having BMI 21 to less than 23, and 66 (34.70%) were having BMI 23 or greater. And out of 190 participants, 31 (43.7%) males and 52 (43.3%) females were at risk of malnutrition. Eighteen (25.4%) males and 25 (21%) females were suffering from malnutrition and only 22 (31%) males and 42 (35.3%) females were well nourished. However, the association of gender and nutritional status of elderly was not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.735). Conclusion: The results suggest that MNA is a useful tool in the identification of elderly at risk of malnutrition. Prevalence of elderly individuals who were malnourished and were at risk of malnutrition was high in our study.

Background: Poisoning, both accidental and intentional (homicidal/suicidal), is an important contributor to death and illness all over the world. Not all sickness can be avoided or cured, but that owing to poisoning, with which we are particularly concerned here, is largely curable and preventable. According to the WHO, more than 3 million poisoning cases have been reported, of which 252,881 deaths occurred worldwide, of which 99% are from developing countries. So, this study has been taken to determine patterns of poisonings in a tertiary hospital. Objective: To know the pattern of poisoning cases admitted at a tertiary-care hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective record-based study of all poisoning cases admitted at KLE Hospital from January 2012 to December 2012 was done. Data were collected from Medical Records Department, KLE Hospital. Sociodemographic details such as age, sex, occupation, type of poisoning, length of hospital stay, outcome, and other details were collected from the patients’ case notes, treatment charts, nursing notes, laboratory reports, and discharge summaries. Result: Male to female poisoning ratio was 1.65:1. Commonly used poisons were organophosphate (OP) compounds (71.8%), rat poison (10%), pyrethroid compounds (4%), herbicidal poison (4%), drug poisoning and endosulfan (1% each), and unknown poisoning (2%). Of 110 cases, 47% improved, 27.2% improved with some morbidity, 14% resulted in mortality, and 12% went against medical advice. Conclusion: Poisoning rates are seen more among, the farmers and young population, OP poisoning being the most common type. Poison information centers could be set up along with first aid facilities and manpower provisions at primary health-care level.

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.