Prevalence and pattern of childhood morbidity in a tribal area of Maharastra.

Previous studies have demonstrated that tribal children suffer from a higher rate of morbidity. Gender discrimination in the form of dietary neglect of the female children has also been noted. The community based cross-sectional study was carried out in tribal PHC Salona of Chikhaldara Block, Amaravati District, Maharashtra to study the prevalence and pattern of morbidities in children. 2603 study children between 0-72 months of age were covered in a house to house survey by the investigator. Parents of eligible children were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire for socio-demographic details, personal habits, past and current medical history. The prevalence of overall morbidities was 34.7% and it was higher in female as compared to male children (34.8% vs. 29.7%; chi2 = 9.3, p <0.005). Among individual morbidities, the prevalence of acute respiratory infections was the highest (25.5%) followed by acute diarrhoeal diseases (5.8%), conjunctivitis (1.5%), and skin infections (1.2%).

Immunity against diphtheria in the age group 15 to 25 years.

Levels of diphtheria antitoxin in 254 serum samples were estimated in subjects in the age group 15 to 25 years with no previous history of immunisation against diphtheria using indirect haemagglutination test. All the individuals showed more than 0.03 IU/ml of diphtheria antitoxin level. This indicates that the age group studied was not susceptible to diphtheria. No significant relationship could be, however, ascertained between diphtheria antitoxin level and epidemiological factors like age, area (rural/urban), socioeconomic status, family size, education status and religion.

Measles antibody levels in 3 to 9 months old infants.

Measles HI antibody titre was estimated in 248 infants aged 3 to 9 months. A total of 129 (52.02%) infants were seropositive (HI antibody titre more than 1:8). Geometric mean titre (GMT) and percentage of seropositive infants decreased with age and was minimum i.e., 5.52 and 22.22% respectively at the age of 7 months. After the age of 7 months the GMT and percentage of seropositive infants increased indicating that optimum age-of measles immunization in the area studied is around 7 months. Percentage of seropositivity did not differ significantly in relation to sex, socio-economic status and national status of infant.