Pattern of family planning practices among Janani Suraksha Yojana beneficiaries: Central Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Short birth interval adversely affects the maternal and neonatal health. The use of contraceptive methods is still one of the biggest challenges in developing countries despite various programs. Janani Suraksha Yojana was started with aims to achieve national targets for contraception. Methods: The present study was a cross sectional study conducted in Lucknow district amongst the women admitted in three blocks of rural area health centers. The blocks were selected by simple random sampling method. A total of 400 women who delivered in the labor wards of the health centers were interviewed and enrolled. Results: In the present study, out of 400 mothers, 39(9.8%) mothers had their first delivery below the age of 18 yrs. According to modified Udai Pareek Scale, 56.3% of the mothers belonged to 5th socio-economic status. Birth spacing was the purpose to use family planning (FP) methods among 121(55.5%) of the mothers. The use of FP method was significantly associated with occupation of mothers and their husband and education of mothers. It was also found that the use of FP method was significantly (p=0.001) higher among those beneficiaries who had birth interval > 3 years (72.1%) in contrast to 2-3yrs (68.8%), 1-2yrs (60.2%) and < 1yr (36.4%). Conclusions: JSY is a promising program for promotion of contraception. Knowledge about the family planning methods should be provided to the beneficiaries during their ANC visits as during this period they are more receptive to family planning methods.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Biomedical Waste Management among Healthcare Personnel in Lucknow, India.

Background: Biomedical waste (BMW) is waste generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, or in research activities pertaining thereto, or in the production and testing of biologicals, and is contaminated with human fluids. Objective: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) regarding healthcare waste management among healthcare personnel in Lucknow District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst medical, dental, paramedical staff and graduate and postgraduate students of King George’s Medical and Dental University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 28 healthcare personnel consented for interview. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the study unit. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire for KAP study was used for data collection. Data were collected, compiled and tabulated using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS 17.0 version for calculation of percentages. Results: In present study, 83.3% of medical and dental doctors and students had knowledge about waste management plan and its authorization. Majorities of the medical doctors (83.3%), paramedics (80%) and students (66.7%) had knowledge about place of waste disposal. On practice level, most of the healthcare personnel were using autoclave and lesser number of personnel were using dry heat sterilization. Conclusion: The healthcare personnel were observed to be good in theoretical knowledge as well as practices. The need of comprehensive training programs regarding BMW management is highly recommended to all hospital staff. Wherever, generated, a safe and reliable method for handling of BMW is essential.

Original research paper age at menarche and affecting bio-social factors among the girls of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The age at which first menstrual bleeding occurs in female, i.e menarche is viewed as an excellent physiological marker of adolescent maturation. The aim of this study is to determine the mean age at menarche among adolescent girls and to assess the influence of some Bio-social parameters affecting it.This study was conducted among 150 adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19 years, randomly selected from urban & rural government schools of Lucknow. 75 girls from each school were selected from November 2009 to March 2010. This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Girls were studied about their socioeconomic status, weight, height, place of residence. Out of 150 cases studied 108 cases were having menstruation, most frequent age of menarche being 13 years when 32 cases (29.63%) had its onset. The lowest age was 8 years and highest was 15 year. Mean age at menarche was found to be 12.43 ± 1.49. There seems to be definite association of various factors which modify the age at menarche like socio-economic status, body mass index, place of residence.

The association of anthropometric measures and osteoarthritis knee in non-obese subjects: a cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Body mass index (BMI) and knee osteoarthritis have a strong association, but other anthropometric measures lack such associations. To date, no study has evaluated non-obese knee osteoarthritis to negate the systemic and metabolic effects of obesity. This study examines the validity of the contention that BMI and other anthropometric measures have a significant relationship with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: In total, 180 subjects with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis were recruited and classified according to Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades. Body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, waist-hip ratio and triceps-skinfold thickness were recorded by standard procedures. Osteoarthritis outcome scores (WOMAC) were evaluated. RESULTS: (1) In both genders, the BMI was significantly higher for KL grade 4 than for grade 2; triceps-skinfold thickness was positively correlated with the joint space width of the tibial medial compartment. (2) In males, triceps-skinfold thickness significantly increased as the KL grades moved from 2 to 4; the significantly higher BMI found in varus aligned knees was positively correlated with WOMAC scores. (3) In females, the waist-hip ratio was significantly higher for KL grade 4 than for grade 2; a significant correlation was found between BMI and WOMAC scores. The waist-hip ratio was significantly associated with varus aligned knees and it positively correlated with WOMAC scores and with the joint space width of the tibial medial compartment. The mid-upper arm circumference demonstrated no correlation with knee osteoarthritis. CONCLUS'ON: This study validates the contention that BMI and other anthropometric measures have a significant association with knee osteoarthritis. Contrary to common belief, the triceps-skinfold thickness (peripheral fat) in males and the waist-hip ratio (central fat) in females were more strongly associated with knee osteoarthritis than BMI.

Normal Values of Liver and Spleen Size by Ultrasonography in Indian Children.

Objectives: To establish normative data for the ultrasonographic measurement of liver and spleen size in healthy Indian children. Setting: Tertiary-care pediatric teaching hospital. Design: Cross-sectional, hospital-based study. Participants: 597 healthy children between the ages of 1 month to 12 years. Measurements: Ultrasonographic evaluation for the assessment of liver and spleen size. These were correlated with the age, sex, height/length and weight of the participants. Results: Normal liver and spleen length and range were obtained sonographically. The liver and spleen length significantly correlated highly with the height/length of the subjects (P=0.0001). Conclusions: The study provides the normal values of liver and spleen size by ultrasonography in healthy Indian children.