Acute respiratory infections in children: a study of knowledge and practices of mothers in rural Haryana.

In the present study, data were collected on knowledge and practices of mothers in two villages of Block Beri of district Rohtak for devising a standard management plan. In all 304 mothers were interviewed. About 23 per cent mothers recognised pneumonia by fast breathing and 11.2 per cent recognised severe pneumonia by chest indrawing. Only 1.3 per cent mothers knew infective origin of ARI. Although most of them were convinced about continuation of breast feeding, 70 per cent of them were advising food restriction. Use of herbal tea in ARI was widely prevalent and so was the practice of putting warm mustard oil in ear for curing ear pain. Primary Health Centre was the most frequented place for treatment of ARI and mother-in-law was the most important person in taking management decisions for the child.

Participatory health communication and action through women groups in rural areas.

Twelve women groups in 10 villages of block Beri were identified and activized through participatory health communication actions for mother and child development. Women could undertaken responsibilities on key health problems concerning mothers and children. In these villages over 58% of antenatal mothers now used home made clean packets for delivery and chose right place for delivery. Most of them (60%) now initiate breast feeding immediately after delivery as against 23% in the year 1988. Over 54% of women now drink chlorinated water and almost same proportion used sugar salt solution in diarrheal diseases. Thus women have become self reliant in chlorination of wells and pots as also in diarrheal diseases management. Practice of hand washing has been almost universalized.

Nutritional beliefs amongst Anganwadi workers.

Knowledge about nutritive value of common foods, dietary beliefs during antenatal period, lactation, and during a few common diseases was assessed amongst 92 Anganwadi workers (AWW). All the workers were aware of the fact that during pregnancy, mothers require extra calories in order to meet the demand of fetus and 79.3% believed that simple multimix of cereals, pulses and oil prepared at home is much more nutritive than commercial weaning foods besides being cheaper. Nearly one fourth of the workers believed that both non-vegetarian foods as well as pulses should be avoided during the later half of pregnancy. Only 14.2% of AWW were not in favour of giving any food during episode of diarrhea while 27.2% believed that less food should be given to children suffering from pneumonia. It is suggested that there is need for updating the knowledge of AWW by continued in service health training.

Assessment of knowledge and skills about growth monitoring amongst multipurpose workers in an ICDS project.

Knowledge and skills amongst 34 multipurpose workers working in an ICDS project about growth monitoring was assessed using interview technique. All workers had correct knowledge about rationale of growth monitoring. A total of 73.5% and 94.1% had knowledge that flattened growth curve indicates no weight gain and descending growth indicates decrease in weight, respectively.

Height and weight of 'well-to-do' school children in Haryana.

A study was conducted in five public schools of Haryana. Height and weight of 4405 well-to-do school children (both sexes) between the ages of 5 to 15 years were measured using standard accepted technique. Height and weight of children were compared with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) standards; the values of mean height and weight of the Haryana children were significantly higher for both sexes at all ages.

Skinfold thickness in well-nourished school children in Haryana.

Skin fold thickness of 4405 (2212 male and 2193 female) well-nourished school children between 5 to 15 years of age in five public schools of Haryana was measured by standard accepted technique. The findings of the present study were comparable with earlier studies conducted in well-nourished Indian school children at Hyderabad and with the British children. Children belonging to low income groups had smaller fat folds at all ages as compared to the present study.

Maternal beliefs regarding diet during common childhood illnesses.

Maternal beliefs regarding diet during common childhood illnesses--diarrhea, fever, measles, cough and marasmus were determined in 143 rural mothers by using the interview technique. Some foods were preferred while others were restricted during episode of each illness, depending upon their 'hot' and 'cold', 'light' and 'heavy' and other characteristics, as determined by locally prevalent traditional dietary beliefs. 'Cold' foods like curd, butter milk were restricted during an episode of cough while 'hot' foods like tea, ginger with honey, were preferred. During diarrhea, 'light' foods like khichri, diluted milk and 'easy to digest' were preferred while 'heavy' foods like undiluted milk, roti and 'difficult to digest' were restricted. The study revealed that for a successful health education, it is important to identify local cultural practices and beliefs. The useful practices should be encouraged and reinforced while the harmful ones should be discouraged.

Goitre in school girls of the Mewat area of Haryana.

A survey was carried out on 5449 school girls aged 10-16 years in the Mewat area of Haryana for goitre. The overall prevalence of goitre was nearly 29.5%. Thus goitre was a public health problem in the region. Analysis of the water sources in the study population used for drinking and cooking purposes revealed low iodine content, high mineral contents (calcium, magnesium, flouride and chloride), total hardness of water as well as bacterial pollution. These factors were related to the high prevalence rate.