Depression, anxiety, stress, and stressors among rural adolescents studying in Pune and a rural block of Nanded district of Maharashtra, India.

Adolescent population is the major demographic and economic force of a nation. Adolescent mental health not only affects overall health at present but also in future life. In this cross-sectional study, 461 rural adolescent students studying in Pune city and the rural area from a block in Nanded district, Maharashtra, were administered a prevalidated, pretested Marathi depression anxiety and stress scale-21 tool including correlated factors to assess the magnitude of depression, anxiety, and stress and its stressors. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among these students was 54%, 60%, and 44%, respectively. Rural students in Pune city were having significantly higher levels of stress than the students studying in the rural area. Disturbed family, harsh parenting, past adverse event experiences, negative feeling about academic performance and tobacco use were significantly associated with higher rates. Findings indicate that the mental health status of these students is alarming needing prompt measures.

Field Testing of Second Generation of Colour-Coded Rings for Detecting Slow Progress of Labour at Rural Health Centres.

INTRODUCTION: An innovative appropriate technological tool of colour-coded rings based on cervicographic principles was developed to monitor deliveries. OBJECTIVES: To study efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of colour-coded rings for monitoring active phase of labour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive deliveries occurring at selected primary health centres from Pune, Satara and Kolhapur Districts of Maharashtra, during 15 months period were included in the study and matched control groups. Training of medical officers and nurses from both study and control area was undertaken in routine natal and post-natal care. In addition, training of use of colour-coded rings was given to health workers from the study area. RESULTS: There were 6705 live births from study area and 6341 from control area. Perinatal mortality rate for study area was 15.9/1000 LB while that was 23.9/1000 LB for control area (p < 0.01). The cause-specific perinatal mortality due to birth asphyxia for the study area was 4.2/1000 LB while that was 8.5/1000 LB for control area (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSION: Higher use rate of colour-coded rings associated with reduction in cause-specific mortality rate due to birth asphyxia in study area indicated that use of colour-coded rings is effective, feasible and acceptable option to cervicography under field conditions.

Field Testing of Appropriate Technological Tool of Individualised Color Coded Any Day Neonatal Growth Monitoring Charts for Neonatal Care at Primary Health Care Level.

OBJECTIVE: To field test the Individualised Color Coded Any Day (ICCAD) growth monitoring charts at primary health care level in three districts of Maharashtra. METHODS: The present study was conducted in three districts of Maharashtra - Pune, Satara and Kolhapur and included newborns with weight ≥ 1500 g born during 1st May 2010 to 30th July 2011. Talukas were matched based on mortality and coverage indicators and put in study (ICCAD use) and control area (ICCAD non-use) from every District. Health centres were selected from each taluka where facilities of expert obstetric and pediatric services did not exist but number of deliveries conducted was high. Data was collected during neonatal period. Three patterns of ICCAD charts; 1500 g to 1999 g, 2000 to 2499 g and ≥2500 g; developed from daily weight record of 430 newborns for 30 d were used. Outcome measures were neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and weight gain in study and control groups. RESULTS: There were 6705 live births from study and 6341 from control area. The NMR of study area (6.3/1000 live births) was significantly lesser as compared to control area (10.6/1000 live births). Birth weight group specific NMR of birth weight between 1500 to <2000 g and ≥2500 g was significantly lower in study area as compared to control area. There was improvement in mean gain weight of 15 g, 43 g and 89 g for respective birth weight groups in ascending order. CONCLUSIONS: This innovative appropriate technological tool based on translational research of ICCAD neonatal growth monitoring charts appears to have benefited the decision of type of care.

Impact of single round of indoor residual spray with lambda-cyhalotrin 10% WP on Plasmodium falciparum infection in Akola district, Maharashtra State.

Lambda-cyhalothrin 10% WP (ICON 10WP) was sprayed from 5th November 1997 at a dose of 25 mg/m2 as indoor residual spray in 74 high risk villages. The spray was completed within 10 days in most of the villages. The monthly entomological monitoring showed nil density of Anopheles culicifacies and Aedes and very low density of non-vector Anopheles and Culex. The impact of Lambda-cyhalothrin spray was discernible right in the month of November 1997 showing 52% reduction in P. falciparum cases as compared to the same month of preceding year. The reduction of P. falciparum cases in three months post-spray period was 77% (from 47 cases to 11 cases) as compared to similar months of preceding year and overall reduction of total malaria cases was 50% during the same period. Since the major part of transmission of P. vivax infection was over by the time Lambda-cyhalothrin spray was taken up, obviously the impact on P. vivax infection was not markedly high as compared to P. falciparum infection. Neither cerebral malaria cases nor deaths due to malaria were recorded in the sprayed villages.

Social classification and maternity practices in Aurangabad, India.

A population of 3870 individuals constituting 823 families residing in five different localities of Aurangabad city was surveyed by house to house visits. The objectives of the study were to assess the validity of social classification by residence in certain localities. The variable used in the study was maternity practices. Family members and children under five years of age were recorded. Mothers of children were asked occupation of the head of the family and delivery details pertaining to these children. Social class was decided by residence in particular localities of the city, classified according to easily ascertainable characteristics of housing. Validity of such classification was judged by comparing it with classification by well known variable like occupation. The findings indicate that the system provides an inexpensive and rapid method of social classification. A total of 661 deliveries were recorded. A total of 67.62% deliveries were conducted in Government or Private Institutions. The remaining deliveries were home deliveries conducted by untrained personnel. Indigenous dais (traditional birth attendants) conducted 20.27% and senior female relatives 10.89% of the total deliveries. The findings, thus, stress the need of identifying and training dais in urban areas.