Biochemical profile of hypertensive individuals in an urban community.

Of the 1,432 participants, 767 were males and 665 were females. The prevalence of hypertension was 13.90%. The sex-wise prevalence was 9.52% and 18.95% in males and females respectively. The age distribution of hypertension was multi-modal. More than one-third of the hypertensive patients were also diabetics. The difference in the distribution of blood levels of sugar, electrolytes and cholesterol in the hypertensives and normotensives were not statistically significant. These findings question the rationale of ordering these blood tests as part of routine investigations for all hypertensives.

Family planning: views of female non-acceptors in rural India.

A study conducted on eligible rural women who were unwilling to accept family planning methods revealed that many women were concerned about child survival and viewed children as a source of support in old age. Family size was usually decided by in-laws. Pressure from in-laws to have more children was significantly higher in families where the women were less educated or illiterate.

Pattern of leprosy deformities among agricultural labourers in an endemic district: a pilot study.

A study of 1,338 leprosy affected agricultural labourers in an endemic district revealed that 12% had deformities. The patient's sex, type of disease, duration and educational status seemed to influence pattern of leprosy deformities. The patients continued working despite deformities in order to avoid financial dependence on their family members and loss of dignity.

Role of the family in drug abuse.

A simple random survey of 9863 population out of the total 70,000 population is one slum pocket of Bombay revealed drug dependence in 104 persons. Out of 104, 83.65% smoked 'brown sugar' 10.68% used cannabis and 5.77% opium. Most of the addicts (95.2%) belonged to large families. Family history of alcoholism and drug abuse was present in 41.35%. Parental deprivation was additional contributing factor in 30.7%.

Child-to-parent education: a pilot study.

A controlled study carried out in the hilly Konkan region on the West coast of India showed that school children have the potential for transmitting their newly acquired knowledge to their parents. Though the results indicate that acquisition of knowledge does not mean a change in attitudes concerning leprosy, child-to-parent education may show promising results in leprosy education in developing countries where most parents of school children are illiterate and are not easily reached by conventional methods of health education.

Anti-leprosy vaccines: current status and future prospects.

Different types of leprosy vaccines are currently used in field trials in India. The rationale behind their use, the parameters for determining their efficacy, their merits and demerits are discussed and the future prospects are highlighted.

Employment status of leprosy patients with deformities in a suburban slum.

In a poor slum area in suburban Bombay, a study of 129 leprosy patients with deformities revealed that only 46% were employed before the appearance of deformities and most of them had lost their jobs after deformities had appeared. Health education on care of anesthetic extremities did not have the desired impact on the patients, many of them had worsening of their deformities during the phase of their employment because they had to take up any kind of work in order to make a living. They were mostly poorly educated and lacked special skills. The only feasible alternative in this kind of situation appears to be a selective community-based rehabilitation of leprosy patients with deformities.