Prevalence and pattern of childhood injuries in Siliguri City, West Bengal, India

Background: Children are vulnerable to injuries, and childhood injury is a complex phenomenon precipitated by a set of factors. In India, the magnitude and nature of childhood injury are not clearly known owing to the absence of a proper injury surveillance system. However, in recent days few studies demonstrated a substantially high burden of childhood injury. Objectives: To find out the prevalence, pattern, and the factors associated with injury among children of 0� years in the Siliguri city of West Bengal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 780 children aged 0� years residing in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area selected through cluster sampling technique (30 clusters [wards] with a cluster size of 26). Relevant data were collected by interviewing the mothers of children as respondents and was analyzed using SPSS software, binary logistic regression was applied to test the association between injury and other risk factors. Results: Of total 780 children, 165 had reported a total of 220 injury events with an overall period prevalence of 21.2% and a mean of 0.28 injury events per child. Majority of injuries were superficial in nature (53.2%); due to fall (56.4%), extremities were mostly involved (62.3%), and 12.8% cases were moderate-to-severe grade. Under-five children were most vulnerable. Injury was significantly related to socioeconomic status, presence of siblings, outdoor activities, and the presence of supervising person during travelling. Conclusions: Childhood injury is still highly prevalent in the area with its unique pattern and few preventable risk factors requiring a multifaceted comprehensive approach.

Biochemical responses of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze to heavy metal stress.

Three heavy metals-mercury (II), copper (II) and nickel (II), each at a concentration of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml, were tested for their effects on various biochemical constituents of tea leaves. Both NI (II) and Hg (II) decreased the phenolic contents, while Cu (II) increased it to some extent. The metal treatments enhanced the activity of phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), while the activity of poly phenol oxidase (PPO) showed a decline. Heavy metal stress also decreased the chlorophyll content of the leaves, along with a significant reduction in Hill activity. Proline content increased significantly in all treatments.

Early neonatal morbidity and mortality in a city based medical college nursery.

Early neonatal morbidity & mortality were studied in 7972 viable live born babies over one year period in Medical College, Calcutta. Early neonatal morbidity and mortality rate were 66.85 & 32.86 respectively. About 48% of Early neonatal deaths occurred in 1st 48 hours & 80% within first 72 hours of life. Early neonatal mortality rate per 1000 was maximum in babies born of a primi (43.03) and grand multiparous mother (103.89); maternal age less than 20 yrs. (44.15), and more than 30 yrs. (46.04) & in multiple pregnancy (142.85). It was highest in breech delivery (114.28) & with maternal disease like dribling (179), hypertension (146) & APH (116). Birth asphyxia contributed 65.26% of early neonatal deaths, followed by septicaemia (10.3%). Klebsiella was the most common (55%) organism.