Determinants of maternal health care utilization at urban slums in Northeast India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Factors affecting maternal health care utilization determine maternal mortality rate (MMR). Therefore this study has been carried out to out to assess the level and determinants of maternal health care service utilization in an urban slum of north-east India. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. The study area comprised of four municipal wards with well-defined geographical boundaries. All married women in the age group 18-45 years who were either pregnant and/ or had at least one child under 3 years of age on the day of survey residing in that area for a minimum of one year were the study population. Data collection was done by house-to-house visit. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test was used for data analysis. Results: Adequate utilization of IFA and TT was 86.3% and 84.4%, respectively. Adequate utilization of maternal health care was found to be 79.8% and 20.2% respectively. Age, educational status, income of the participants and birth order of the relevant child was found to be significantly associated with the maternal health care utilization. Conclusions: The study concludes that maternal health care utilization was found adequate among 79.8% of study participants, out of which antenatal care, intranatal care and postnatal care utilization rate was found in 85.4%, 89.8% and 82.5% respectively. Age, education, income of the women and birth order of their children were significantly associated with maternal health care utilization.

Cervical Intramedullary Ancient Schwannoma

A young male of 24 years was presented with a history of gradually progressive spastic quadriparesis for long four years. He was investigated and MRI revealed a neoplastic lesion in the cervical cord at the level of C4, C5 with perilesional edema and tumour syrinx formation, suggestive of astrocytoma. After total removal histopathology proved it to be an ancient schwannoma.

An unusual presentation of medial sphenoid wing meningioma.

A young woman of 26 years attended eye OPD with the complaints of complete and rapid loss of vision of her righ eye and progressive dimness of vision of left eye, frontal headache and nausea for last two months. On eye examination, she was found to have no perception of light to her right eye. Ophthalmoscopy examination revealed primary optic atrophy in right eye and marked papilloedema to her left eye. CT scan of brain showed space occupying lesion in right parasellar region with sellar and suprasellar extension with involvement of right anterior clinoid process suggesting medial sphenoid wing meningioma. The patient underwent surgery and the histopathology proved the diagnosis as meningioma. The case of medial sphenoid wing meningioma in a young female producing rapid Foster Kennedy syndrome is reported for its unusual presentation.

Massive pancreatico-pleural effusion--an often unrecognised entity.

Massive haemorrhagic pleural effusion secondary to pancreatitis in a five year old girl is described. The diagnosis was established on the basis of an exudative pleural effusion with an amylase level above 4,000 IU/l. Management of effusion was by intercostal tube drainage and antibiotics.