Onset of menstruation is one of the most important changes occurring during adolescence. In various parts of India, there are several cultural traditions, myths and misconceptions related to menstruation, which make them vulnerable to genital tract infections. To understand the perceptions, source of information and status of menstrual hygiene a cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 300 school going adolescent girls (10-19 yrs) in the rural area of Wardha district, Maharashtra, India.Majority of the girls received the information regarding menstruation from their mothers (41%), followed by Media (24%) and friends (19%). Of the girls who developed genital tract infections, 66% used cloth. 37% girls do not disclose about their menstruation. Cleanliness of external genitalia was unsatisfactory. Hence it is important to educate the girls with scientific knowledge and dispelling their myths and misconceptions thereby encouraging safe and hygienic practices for safeguarding themselves against various infections.

Introduction: The chances of food contamination largely depend on the health status of food handlers & their hygiene behaviors and practices. Often these food handlers are appointed without proper health examination. The present study was conducted to assess health status of food handlers working in food establishment nearby a medical institute. Material & methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 160 food handlers of both sexes. Stool examination and nail culture was also done. Result: There was no registration of these food establishments. Most of the food handlers were young in age, mostly cooks (35.62 %) and literate (63.13 %). Point prevalence of morbidity was 54 (33.75%) and period prevalence 26.25 %. 21.87 % were anemic. www.ccsenet.org/gjhs

No abstract

Background:Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and vascular occlusion, causing recurrent painful episodes, neuro-cognitive deficits, organ failures and death in early adulthood. Besides the medical consequences, most of the families with a child of SCD have to cope with financial and social crisis. Quality of life (QOL) is a broad multidimensional concept that usually includes subjective evaluations of both positive and negative aspects of life. Other than health; emotional well being, social dysfunction, chronic pain and fatigability are also important aspects of overall quality of life that add to the complexity of its measurement.Aim:The present case control study was designed to determine the health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients of sickle cell disease and to compare it with patients of other chronic non-communicable diseases.Setting and Design:Case control study conducted at tertiary health care facility of Central India.Material and Methods:The present study conducted to measure HRQoL among patients of SCD and patients of other chronic non-communicable diseases. A translated and pretested version of WHO SF-36 questionnaire was used to measure HRQoL.Results:We observed that there was significantly lower HRQoL among SCD patients.Conclusion:Besides merely pharmacotherapy, restoration of overall quality of life should be the mainstay of management of patients with SCD.

Background: Cotton and synthetic textile industry in India is the largest industry in the country accounting for 14 percent of industrial output and providing employment to around 35 million workers. The workers are at risk of suffering from various chronic respiratory illnesses like byssinosis, chronic bronchitis due to exposure to the cotton dust in the worksites. Even though quite a few studies have been conducted in textile mills in India enough emphasis has not been given on the epidemiological aspects of chronic respiratory illness among the workers in these mills. The present study was, therefore, undertaken with two fold objectives to determine prevalence of respiratory morbidities and to find out the epidemiological aspects of the respiratory morbidities in spinning mill workers.Methodology: A Cross sectional study was conducted among 462 cotton textile workers in Babashaheb Kedar Sut Girni Pvt. Ltd. of Central India. Interview technique was used to collect sociodemographic, anthropometric & addiction information on a predesigned proforma followed by detailed general and systemic examination.Results: Present study revealed that among 462 workers (25.3%) workers had chronic respiratory morbidities. The morbidities included Byssinosis (11.7 %), chronic bronchitis (5.8%), Bronchial asthma (4.5%), Tuberculosis (1.5%), other obstructive pulmonary diseases (1.7 %) All the workers were male and age ranged from 21 -58 years. Majority of the workers 450 i.e (97.4 %) were literate and 437 (94.6%) belonged to class III & IV according to modified Kuppu swamy's classification. The spinning process was carried out in seven main sections. Majority of the workers belonged to ring frame section 217 (47%). The present study showed that 151 (32.7%) had cotton dust exposure for more than 20 years. Only masks were provided as protective devices and 191 (41.3%) of the workers were using it. Total 160 (34.7 %) workers were smokers.Conclusion: Advancing age, sections, duration of exposure, non usage of protective devices and smoking were seen as major determinants of chronic respiratory morbidities in spinning mill workers.