Cirumstances and motivations for seeking abortions: a community based study in Chandrapur District, Maharashtra.

The present population based group comparison study was undertaken to study the circumstances, motivations and influencing factors for seeking abortion in women in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra. Participants of the study included 500 cases of induced abortion and the equal number of normal delivered women during the same period and in the same area as comparison group. Having two children, domestic problems and unwanted pregnancy were conditions acceptable to study subjects to terminate the pregnancy. Family and domestic problems, poor socio-economic status, short inter-pregnancy interval and completed family size were some of the important reasons quoted by study subjects for not desiring to continue the current pregnancy. Majority of the subjects felt that the decision to terminate or keep pregnancy is usually taken jointly by both the husband and wife. Family and domestic problems, poor socioeconomic status and short inter pregnancy interval were the important reasons quoted by abortion cases for seeking abortion in the current pregnancy. Only 1.80% of the cases reported failure of contraceptive method as a cause of seeking abortion services. In 78.4% of abortion cases as compared to 5.4% subjects from the comparison group, pregnancy was un-planned.

Renal cell carcinoma as significant manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex.

We present a case of renal cell carcinoma diagnosed in 1982; aged 20 years. Regular follow up of the abdomen by USG noted first the presence of 2 nodules in the remaining kidney in 1994, age 30 and more lesions in 1997, aged 35. These were suspected to be angiomyolipomas on USG. The radiologist on this basis raised the question of tuberous sclerosis. Subsequent evaluation by internist/neurologist showed few adenoma sebaceum lesions a single ash leaf macule, a shagreen patch on the back, and characteristic multiple subependymal calcifications diagnostic of tuberous sclerosis on CT scan brain. The mentation was normal, there was history of only a single fit in childhood. The renal cell carcinoma was thus the first significant manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Factors responsible for delayed immunisation among children under 5 years of age.

Although immunisation coverage has increased substantially in recent years, still a sizable proportion of children are not being immunised at appropriate time. The present hospital based, pair matched, case control study was carried out at immunoprophylactic centre of Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, to identify risk factors associated with delayed immunisation among children. This study included 139 children with a delay of more than 90 days for scheduled primary immunisation and equal number of matched control (for dose) receiving immunisation at appropriate time. The study identified significant association of family size [Odd's ratio (OR) = 7.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5-35.6], number of children < 5 years (OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.1-9.9), sex (OR = 3, 95% CI = 1.2-7.4), paternal education (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.6-8.5), maternal education (OR = 4, 95% CI = 1.5-10.9), socio-economic status (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.1-13.2) and distance from health centre (OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 1.2-17.6) with delayed immunisation. Negligence (56%) and unawareness (22.7%) of parents were main reasons for delayed immunisation. Hence more stress on identified risk factors in the study will indirectly help in reducing the frequency of delayed immunisation.

In vitro evaluation on inhibitory nature of some Neem formulations against plant pathogenic fungi.

Different Neem formulations derived from the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) have been found to be potential fungicides against a broad spectrum of plant pathogenic fungi. Some Neem formulations viz. Achook (0.15% EC), Bioneem (0.03% EC), Nimbecidine (0.03% EC) and Neemark (0.03% EC) were examined against some plant pathogenic fungi such as (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria solani, Curvularia lunata, Helminthosporium sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii). Among these Achook (0.15% EC) was found to be more active in terms of Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) value followed by Bioneem, Neemark and Nimbecidine. Remarkably, although all these formulations are oil based, Neem oil itself did not exhibit any fungicidal activity.

Peak expiratory flow rate in handloom weavers.

The present cross-sectional study with a comparison group was carried out to investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in handloom weavers and to study relationship between reduction in PEFR with age, smoking, duration of cotton dust exposure and respiratory morbidity. This study include 319 handloom weavers and equal number of individuals (group matched for age and pair matched for sex) in comparison group. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with advancing age, longer duration of exposure to cotton dust, tobacco smoking and presence of respiratory morbidity on univariate analysis, whereas on multivariate analysis longer duration of exposure to cotton dust and tobacco smoking was found to be non significant.

Infant feeding practices in urban population--a clinic based study.

A clinic based cross-sectional study was conducted at Immunoprophylaxis Clinic at Govt. Medical College, Nagpur. Mothers of 217 children were interviewed for infant feeding practices. In 62.67% of children, breast-feeding was initiated within 24 hrs. after birth. About 22% mother used prelacteal feed and 70% mothers preferred demand feeding. Prominent area of concern includes discarding of colostrum, low exclusive breast feeding rate, delayed weaning and early termination of breast feeding. Further improvement in present day infant feeding practices is possible by emphasising on the health education component of existing nutritional programmes.

Self medication--a growing concern.

31% persons practiced self medication. They were more in 31-40 years (26.9%) and 41-50 years (30.8%). Males were more than females in self prescribers. Illiterate (23.1%) and graduates (26%) were more common self medicators, while labourers (26%) and business men (19.3%) were more involved in self medication. Fever (17.4%), cough (22.2%), boils (7.6%) and acidity (6.8%) were the common complaints for self-prescription. Thus analgesics and antipyretics, (30.9%), tonics (16.1) and antibiotics (10.7%) were commonly used drugs by the customers. Most of the information of drugs was from friends or neighbours (30.8%) or chemist (23.1%).

Breast-feeding practices in a tribal community of Melghat region in Maharastra State.

This cross sectional study was conducted at Chitta-Ranjan Das Mobile Hospital camp stationed at Dharni, to assess the current status of breast-feeding practices in a tribal community of Melghat region of Maharashtra State, using the key Breast-feeding indicators as recommended by W.H.O. working group on Infant Feeding in 1991. The tribal mothers of 462 children in the age group of 0-24 months were interviewed for breast-feeding practices. 69.69% of the children received their first breast feed after 24 hrs. of birth, however none of the children was breast fed within 2 hrs. of birth. The exclusive breast-feeding rate was 0.22 and the predominant breast-feeding rate was 0.79. Timely complementary feeding rate was 0.22. The continued breast-feeding rates at 1 year and 2 years were 0.88 and 0.64, respectively. The ever breast-fed rate, timely first-suckling rate and exclusive breast-feeding rate were 1.00, 0.00 and 0.22 respectively. The median duration of breast-feeding was 23 months. Hence this study confirms the traditional breast-feeding practices in Indian culture.

Infant feeding practices in a tribal community of Melghat region in Maharashtra state.

1. Out of 494 infants none was breastfed within 2 hours of delivery. 36% infants received first breastfeed after 24 hours of delivery 91.2% of the mothers used prelacteal feeds. 2. Only 31.06% of the infants were weaned, out of these only 7 received complementary foods between 4-6 months. 3. Thus, it can be concluded that though breastfeeding is practiced by all mothers, there is need for early initiation of breastfeeding and proper weaning habits.

Cyclopcidal activity of some new insect growth regulators.

A series of synthetic terpenoid diethers, with known mosquito development inhibitory activity, were tested for cyclopcidal activity against adult cyclops, Mesocyclops leuckarti. Four among these exhibited promising activity comparable to that of the conventional organophosphate, temephos, thus providing for the first time a possible reserve arsenal for the control of the guineaworm disease vector.