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Background: Anemia is a common public health problem throughout the globe with its main effect not only on health of people but also impact on socioeconomic development. A high prevalence of anemia among school children is an indication of a severe problem highlighting the necessity of proper action to prevent further deterioration. This study sought to study the impact of nutritional education on knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding anemia among school children. Methods: This is an interventional study among school children of Kendriye Vidyalaya, No. 2 Belgaum district, India. Structured and self-administered questionnaires were used to know the knowledge, attitude and practice of student anemia. The data were analyzed using paired t-test and McNemar test. Results: There was significant increment in the mean knowledge and attitude scores of the school children at the post-test evaluation. Overall increase of 51.2% in mean score of knowledge and overall increase of 20.7% in mean score of attitudes was found (P < 0.05). Increase in frequency of consumption pattern of iron rich foods especially ragi, jaggery, green leafy vegetables and sprouted grains was reported. Conclusion: The nutritional education resulted in improvement of knowledge and change in attitude regarding anemia as well as increase in consumption of foods rich in Iron. Therefore, nutritional education is one of the cost-effective and sustainable method for lowering the cases of anemia.

Purpose: To assess the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D on gingivitis at various doses.Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, daily oral vitamin D supplementation was given in doses of 2000 IU for group A, 1000 IU for group B, 500 IU for group C and a placebo for group D over a 3-month period. The changes in gingival scores were measured after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months.Results: The gingivitis score changed in direct proportion to the dose of vitamin D supplementation. In group A, the mean gingival scores were 2.4 (baseline), 1.7 after the first month, 0.8 after the second month and 0.3 after the third month. The group B mean baseline gingival score of 2.3 decreased to 2.0 in the first month, 1.1 after the second month and 0.5 after the third month. In group C, the baseline gingival scores were 2.2 and 1.9 after one month, 1.4 after two months and 0.8 by the last visit. Comparing baseline gingivitis scores with the later-visit score using the Wilcoxon paired test, the significant anti-inflammatory effect was seen in group A after one month, in group B at two months and in group C at three months after oral vitamin D supplementation (P < 0.0001). However, group D did not show a significant antiinflammatory effect.Conclusion: There is a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D on gingivitis. Vitamin D is a safe and effective anti-inflammatory agent in doses ranging from 500 IU to 2000 IU. Results are apparent earlier with the higher dose of 2000 IU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AIDS epidemic is major public health emergency and young people are bearing the main brunt of the new infection worldwide. MSM constitute a high risk group for sexually transmitted infections including HIV in many parts of the world. Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude of HIV/AIDS and sexual practices among MSM residing in city of Belgaum. Methodology: Cross sectional study was conducted at Sweekar NGO for MSM. Based on the Sampling Procedure and inclusion Criteria 50% of MSM were selected for the study. Therefore the sample size for this study was 416. Data collection was done using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Results: A total of 416 MSM were interviewed by the trained peer workers. Majority of them (27.64%) were in 25-30 years of age. Majority of them had good knowledge of modes of transmission of HIV(90.38%), its prevention (98.09%), availability of treatment (89.66%). 61.30% were having good knowledge of symptoms. Friend was the first sexual partner for 67.89% participants. Half of the participants were performing both anal and oral form sex. Conclusion: Although the knowledge of modes of transmission, symptoms, investigations, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS has been good among the MSM but prevention was not been practiced by most. NGOs working with MSM need to organize some interventions aimed at changing the harmful sexual practices into healthy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Conventional examination system mostly assesses student's theoretical knowledge and fails to assess clinical competencies required for future practice. OSCE is objective and reliable method of assessment; if included as formative assessment, can identify student deficiencies and help them to prepare better for summative assessments. Methods: The present study was conducted to know the role of OSCE in formative assessment, in comparison with long case discussions in Community Medicine. 126 undergraduate medical students of 2008 admission batch, who had appeared for practical and OSCE exams in pre-final year were included in the study. Mean, S.D. and correlation co-efficient were used for analysis. Results: The students performed better in long case discussions (68.60 ± 9.7) compared to OSCE (48.67 ± 10.3) in the present study. 80% of students perceived that OSCE is one of the good methods of assessment. The students felt that it creates an insight on self performance of students and helps them to prepare better in summative assessment. Conclusion: OSCE can be included in formative assessments, as there is uniformity in assessment and objectivity in scoring. Majority of students perceived OSCE as one of the good methods of assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 6th and 12th 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under five children are naturally curious and they come in contact with objects that can cause burn injuries. This study was undertaken to know the demographic profile, types, causes and outcome of burn injuries in under five children. A one year cross sectional study of 34 under five children admitted with burn injuries in two tertiary care hospitals of Belgaum city was conducted between April 2004 to March 2005. Maximum numbers of injuries (88.24%) was accidental and were due to hot water (29.4%). The overall mortality was 14.70%. Flame injury caused 60% of the deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted with the objective to determine the treatment seeking behavior of parents/caretakers for injuries sustained by children under five years of age in rural Southern India. Out of 325 children, 39.7 % were treated by a health personnel, 29% received home remedy while the rest (31.3%) did not receive any treatment. Abrasion (72.6%) was the commonest type of injury observed. 47.3% of injuries were treated within an hour of onset. Commonest home remedies used ranged from antiseptics to folk remedies. Training of parents and caretakers for hygienic and timely treatment of injury is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rearing practices are a major determinant of nutritional and health status of infants. Therefore these practices need to be better understood., Objectives: To find out infant rearing practices in the study area., Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on a birth cohort of 194 infants. Information on rearing practices and anthropometric measurements were recorded every month for a period of 1 year., Results: Only 67 (34.5%) newborns were breast fed within half an hour of delivery. Prelacteal feeds was given to 65 (33.5%) newborns and this was seen more among home deliveries (P=0.018). Demand feeding was practiced by 169 (87.1%) mothers. Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) for 6 months was practiced by 81 (41.7%) mothers. Bottle feeding was seen in 7 (3.6%) cases. Weight gain during infancy was found to be maximum when infants were EBF for 6 months (P<0.001) and weaned with semi-solid and solid diet alone in the following 6 months (P=0.002). Gain in all anthropometric measurements was more in the initial 6 months of infancy compared to latter. Four (2.1%) infants were malnourished. Oil massage before bath was practiced by 189 (97.4%) mothers. Over 50% mothers practiced oil application to eyes or ears of infants. Delayed initiation of bath (beyond 1week) was seen in 15 (7.7%) cases., Conclusion: Faulty rearing practices need to be corrected in order to improve the health status of infants.

Background: Maternal mortality rates in India are estimated at 560/100,000 live births and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) accounts for 35-56% of these deaths. Given that 50% of births in rural India occur at home, oral Misoprostol administered by minimally trained midwives may be an effective uterotonic agent for preventing PPH when the use of other uterotonics is not feasible. While the import for testing the effectiveness of this intervention may be readily obvious, the elements essential for the conduct of a scientific study in rural areas served by indigenous health workers may not be as evident., Methods: We present the design as well as the preparation and development of an ongoing NICHD sponsored U.S.-Indian collaborative randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial (RCT) conducted in four Primary Health Center areas of Belgaum District, Karnataka, India. The primary goal of the trial is to assess the effectiveness of Misoprostol 600 microg orally in reducing the incidence of acute PPH (> or = 500 mL) in women delivering at home or in neighboring sub-centers. 1600 pregnant women will be randomized to receive Misoprostol or placebo immediately post-delivery of the infant. However, beyond testing the scientific merit of the RCT, this study also tests the feasibility of having indigenous midwives regularly using Misoprostol in rural areas as well as the willingness of these communities to accept this intervention. In addition, this paper also explores the international and community collaborations necessary for the conduct of this study., Findings: It is necessary to have several critical elements in place, including international collaboration between the Indian and US research sites, funding through a private/public collaboration and trained scientists, as well as commitment from the community for the successful conduct of such a study. In the development and implementation of a RCT, careful attention must be paid to the training of field personnel involved in the delivery process and developing a data collection and monitoring system to ensure that information gathered is valid., Conclusions: A joint U.S.-Indian collaboration to test the efficacy and the feasibility of an innovative method to reduce PPH can serve as collaborative model to develop additional interventions to improve maternal mortality and morbidity. If Misoprostol is shown to be sufficiently safe and efficacious in the prevention of PPH, the appropriate government agencies will be encouraged to make the drug available to midwives (ANMs) and rurally located physicians for whom parenteral medications are either not permitted or impractical and/or unavailable. Such a project can serve as a model applicable to rural settings throughout the developing world for improving delivery practices and reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. These are important public health concerns in India and other developing nations.