A Case Control Study to Elucidate the Effects of Maternal Anthropometric Characteristics and Other Factors on Birth Weight of Newborn

Background: Birth weight reflects mother’s health and nutritional status during pregnancy. This study was conducted to measure the effect of various maternal factors on birth weight; and also to study the strength of association between risk factors and low birth weight. Methods: A case-control study was conducted among neonates delivered in tertiary care Hospital from June 2013 to July 2014 among mothers who delivered in the hospital and their singleton newborns. Birth weight was measured for all newborns and these mothers undergone anthropometric measurements and were asked relevant questions. Results: The proportion of low birth weight was 27.73%. Maternal age of more than 30 years (odds ratio 1.98; χ2=3.86, P=0.04), gestational age at the time of birth (OR 4.37; χ2=44.21, P=0.000) occupation of mother (OR 1.69, χ2=4.54, P=0.03) maternal height <145 cm (OR 2.74, χ2=17.97, P= 0.000), maternal weight <45 kg (OR 1.90, X2 =8.19, P= 0.004) and complications during pregnancy (OR 1.78 χ2=6.55,  P =0.01) have a significant association with LBW infant. Conclusion: LBW rate was higher when Maternal age more than 30, early gestational age at the time of birth, occupation of mother, maternal height <145 cm, maternal weight < 45 kg and complications during pregnancy

Intrauterine Devices and Reproductive Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Slum

Introduction: The concern that intrauterine devices (IUDs) might cause or facilitate reproductive tract infection has limited its use. Objectives: The study aims to explore the relationship between re- productive tract infections & IUD use. Materials and Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study con- ducted in STI/RTI Clinic located in urban slums of Mumbai, involv- ing total 169 married females of reproductive age group who pre- sented with symptoms of RTI and using atleast one type of contra- ceptive method, who attended OPD from January to March 2012. Tool for interview was the questionnaire about sociodemographic profile, contraceptive practices, and symptoms of the participants. Disease specific laboratory methods were used to confirm diagnosis of RTI. Results: 47(27.81%) females were using IUD as contraceptive method in this study. Proportion of the symptoms was more among IUD us- ers than non IUD users. 33(70.2%) had suffered from STI / RTI who were using IUDs as compared to 63 (51.6%) non-IUD users showing statistically significant association. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between use of IUD and RTI

Immunization Status of Children Under 5 Years in A Tribal Area, Parol, Thane District

Background: Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mor- tality in children. One of the most cost-effective and easy methods for the healthy well-being of a child is immunization. In India, immunization services are offered free in public health facilities, but despite rapid in- creases, the immunization rate remains low in some areas. Objectives: The objective of the study was to study the socio- demographic profile and immunization status of the children aged less than 5yrs. Materials and Methodology: The present study was carried out in a tribal area of Parol in Thane district. In this descriptive cross sectional study tribal children in the age group of 1-5 years were assess for their immunization status. Results: Completely immunized children were 71.1%, partially immu- nized were 17.8% and 11.1% were not immunized. The most common reason for not immunizing the child was ‘fear of side effects’ (40%) and for partially immunizing the child was ‘visit to native place’ or ‘other sibling not well’ (37.5%). There was significant association between poor immunization status and Muslim religion of the children, poor socio- economic status, home delivery, and not having immunization card. Conclusion: The overall coverage of immunization among the tribal area is good but still it has pockets of poor immunization

UNSEEN TUBERCULOSIS: STUDY AMONG INPATIENTS OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH KARNATAKA

Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in high-burden countries like India. However, high proportion of people never diagnosed or treated. Delayed diagnosis poses a significant threat to hospital inpatients, health-care workers, and medical trainees. Hence, systematic screening of high-risk groups, including hospital inpatients, has been recommended as a strategy to identify TB. Using signs and symptoms as an independent screening tool remains a global challenge for its relatively low accuracy. However, it could still be of value when it was used in a specific target population like inpatients of hospital. Hence, this study is aimed to determine the proportion of presumptive and active TB cases among inpatients. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among inpatients above 18 years of age admitted in non-emergency wards admitted during March to April 2023 at ESIC Hospital in Kalaburagi. A pre-existing TB diagnosis and patients admitted to critical care units were excluded. The convenient sampling method was used to recruit participants. Data were collected through using a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. The patients who presented with one of the four symptoms for screening had undergone investigations such as cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test, chest X-ray, and sputum microscopy to confirm the diagnosis, and the findings were recorded as proportion. Results: Out of 1363 inpatients, 35 (2.5%) patients had classified as presumptive TB case. Out of 35, 3 (8.57%) were found to be actual TB cases. All patients who had positive results for TB were young patients and belonged to low socioeconomic class. Two of three were rifampicin-sensitive TB cases. Conclusion: Timely screening of the patient’s is of utmost importance to avoid further spread of TB infection among inpatients. The higher prevalence of actual TB cases in younger adults needs further exploration