Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol Intake In a Rural Block of Haryana, India.

Alcohol consumption is today’s major public health concern in our country, which can be largely reduced solely by primordial and primary prevention. According to NFHS III, 31.9% of men and 2.2% of women drink alcohol in India. Aims & objectives: To determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol intake among the rural community of block Beri, district Jhajjar, Haryana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the period of September 2012 to August 2013. Multistage random sampling was used in this study. From each selected PHC, two subcentres were randomly selected and from each subcentre area, two anganwadis were also selected by simple random sampling technique. Hence a total of 6 sub-health centres and 12 anganwadis were included in the study. From each anganwadi, 90 individuals of 15-64 years age group who were further subdivided into 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years age-group were selected and interviewed. Thus, a sample size of 1080 was included in the study Appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of ever alcohol intake was found 25.7% (Males:49.1%; Females: 2.4%). The prevalence of current alcohol intake was found to be 18.8% (Males: 36.9%; Females: 0.7%). Conclusion: Our study confirmed the high burden of alcohol intake in rural areas and reiterated the need to address these issues comprehensively as a part of NCD prevention and control strategy.

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.