ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as an important public health problem globally as well as in India. It may result in adverse physical and mental health consequences for the victim or unfavourable pregnancy outcomes if it happens during pregnancy. The possible risk factors for IPV can be explained by four levels of ecological factors: individual, partner, household and community. We estimated the prevalence of IPV and its association with selected ecological risk factors among pregnant women availing of antenatal care at a public sector hospital in Bengaluru, southern India. METHODS We included 350 women above the age of 18 years with a confirmed pregnancy of less than 24 weeks and having no obstetric complication. We used the Conflict Tactics Scale to determine the presence of IPV. The risk factors measured were—individual level: respondent’s age, education, occupation, gravidity, planned or unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse, presence of depression and anxiety; partner-related: spouse’s education, occupation and marital discord; household/community-related: socioeconomic status, social support, religion and consanguinity. RESULTS The prevalence of IPV was 3.7%. Factors that were significantly associated on multivariate analysis were higher age (above 20 years) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.82 [1.12–2.97], p=0.016) and presence of depression (AOR 6.84 [1.76–26.61], p=0.005). CONCLUSION The prevalence of IPV was less in our study population compared to figures reported from other Indian study settings.
ABSTRACT
Background: Malnutrition is widely recognized as a major health problem in developing countries. It is wide spread in rural, tribal and urban slum areas. Growing children are most vulnerable to its consequences. Anthropometry is a simple field technique for evaluating physical growth and nutritional status of the children. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of under-fives'. Materials and Methods:This cross sectional study was conducted in Kakati-A sub-centre, under Primary Health Centre Vantamuri of Belgaum district. The sample size was 290. Data collection was done using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical Analysis:Distribution of variables was assessed and comparison was done using chi square test and P value. Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was observed to be 26.55%, 31.38% and 7.59%, while severe degree of underweight, stunting and wasting was observed in 5.86%, 27.24% and 6.51% respectively according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 classification. According to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) classification the prevalence of Grade I malnutrition was 121 (47.10%), Grade II was 29 (10.00%) and Grade III and IV were 4 (1.40%). Conclusion: Majority of the children's diet was not adequate for calories and proteins as per Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. Less than half of children were underweight, nearly one third were stunted and one fifth of children were wasted. No child was found to be overweight or obese.