Assessment for Nutritional Status Among Pre - School Children in South Delhi, India

Background: Weight is an important metric to measure protein energy status, and women from underdeveloped or developed nations who are heavier at pre - pregnancy deliver heavier babies. Methods: This study was conducted in JJ Colony, Madanpur Khadar Extension of South Delhi and included 50 children each in two groups (between 24 - 35 months and 36 - 47 months of age), with equal number of both genders. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were measured. Results: Underweight in age 24 - 47 months: 51 (51%), 36 (36% ), 11 (11%) and 2 (2%) children were found to be in the ranges of normal weight, Grade - I, Grade - II, and severely underweight, respectively by Indian Academy of Paediatrics or IAP classification. By Gomez classification, the same were estimated to be 28 (28 %), 45 (45%), 25 (25%), and 2 (2%). Stunting and wasting in age 24 - 47 months: 52 (52%), 11 (11%), 16 (16%), and 21 (21%) children were found to be normal, in Grade - I, Grade - II and in Grade - III stunting respectively in height for age, while 82 (82%), 13 (13 %), 4 (4%), and 1 (1%) children were found to be normal, in Grade - I, Grade - II and Grade - III wasting in weight for height respectively; using the Waterlow classification. Conclusion: The most extensively used markers of nutritional quality in a population are anthropometric measures. In a total of 100 children, three types of assessments based on weight and height were done - weight for age to rule out underweight, height for age to rule out stunting and weight for height to rule out wasting.

Status of Immunization Coverage among Preschool Children in an Area of South Delhi, New Delhi, India

Background: High levels of immunization coverage in children can ensure the control of vaccine - preventable diseases, and there are various factors that can affect preschool immunization. Studies that focus on vaccination coverage in various populations are crucial for identifying the vaccination status of a given community and for strategizing the national programs. This study assessed the vaccination coverage in preschool children living in a resettlement colo ny in an area of New Delhi. Methods: This community - based cross - sectional study was conducted in JJ Colony, Madanpur Khadar Extension of South Delhi, New Delhi between October 2008 to January 2009, in 100 preschool children between 24 – 47 months of age, w ith equal number in both genders. No significant association of the vaccination status with factors like gender of the children, educational, or socio - economic condition, was found in this study. Results: Out of a total of 100 children studied, forty - four children (44%) were fully vaccinated, forty - nine children (49%) were partially immunised, and seven children (7%) were not vaccinated. Vaccines for diphtheria - tetanus - pertussis (DPT - I) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV - I) had the maximum coverage (92%) whil e DPT Booster and OPV Booster had the lowest (44%). Conclusion: Future possibilities and potential for evaluating vaccination coverage should be explored in vulnerable areas like resettlement colonies, in migrant populations and in urban poor sections of s ociety to get estimates on the gap in vaccination coverage in such areas.

Impact of teaching on dental knowledge in fifth standard of MCD primary school children of south Delhi.

Effect of teaching in dental knowledge in 5th standard of MCD primary school children. Design cross sectional study. This study was carried out in children of 9-15 years age group of two MCD primary schools of New Delhi, India. The Data was collected in 180 children in two stages i.e. in pre-teaching assessment, by WHO structured questionnaire in local language and after 30 days in post teaching assessment with same questionnaire was done after providing dental health education. The knowledge about tooth eruption, no. of milk teeth and permanent teeth were 72.78%, 3.89% and 60.56% in pre teaching assessment respectively while 100%, 91.11% and 97.78% were in post teaching assessment respectively. The function of teeth, essential of food chewing and importance of oral heath were 70.56%, 43.89% and 47.22% in pre teaching assessment respectively while 97.22%, 94.44% and 91.11% were in post teaching assessment respectively. The healthy gum colour, calcium and vit- C are essential elements of teeth were 33.89%, 45.0% and 17.22% in pre teaching assessment respectively while 90.56%, 92.22% and 91.11% were in post teaching assessment respectively. There is significant improvement in the knowledge by teaching about oral health to the children.

Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha in pre eclampsia.

Cytokines are major contributors in pathogenesis of pre eclampsia. Serum TNF-alpha was determined in 10 normal and 30 pre-eclamptic pregnant females with special reference to maternal age, parity and levels of mean arterial blood pressure. TNF-alpha was determined using sandwich ELISA technique. Serum TNF-alpha level in normal pregnant females was 9.3 +/- 0.56 pg/ml, while in pre-eclamptic pregnant females it was 67.66 +/- 61.83 pg/ml. This increase TNF-alpha was highly significant (P < 0.001). There was no significant changes in serum TNF-alpha with respect to maternal age, parity and mean arterial pressure in both normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.