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INTRODUCTIONEvery year 38 million people succumb to death all over the world due to non-communicable diseases (NCD). Three-fourths of these deaths occur in low and middleincome countries like India. The probability of dying between 30 to 70 years in India is about 26 %, the cause being NCD's.1 A set of risk factors is attributed in the causation of these new generation epidemic diseases affecting the population across the World. These risk factors are tobacco, insufficient physical activity, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity and raised cholesterol. Insufficient physical activity increases the risk of diabetes, breast and colon cancers, high blood pressure and depression. According to World Health Organisation, 23 % of the population are physically inactive globally. It amounts to be the 4 th leading risk factor for global mortality. 3Globalization and urbanisation affected the interests in ABSTRACT Background: Three fourth of the world's death burden is shared by low to middle income countries due to noncommunicable diseases. Physical inactivity is one of the important preventable risk factor in non-communicable diseases. It amounts to 4 th leading risk factor for global mortality. Hence, this study was conducted to study the physical activity level and its correlates among adult patients attending health training centres in Nagpur. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among adult patients attending the health centres of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College. Pregnant women, lactating women, debilitated patients and patients not giving consent were excluded from the study. A preformed and pretested questionnaire was used to conduct the interviews which included socio-demographic variables like age, sex, and educational status. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were measured according to the standard guidelines. The physical activity level was calculated using the principles of 1985 FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation (WHO, 1985). Results: Of 200 study subjects, 59% were having a sedentary lifestyle, 27% were having a moderately active lifestyle and 14% were having a vigorously active lifestyle. A statistically significant increasing trend for sedentary study subjects (p =0.002 with age was found. Those who reported sedentary physical activity levels had 3.42 odds of being hypertensive, 7.44 times odds of being diabetic, 3 times odds of being overweight and 2.41 odds of being obese. The adults in urban areas were having significantly less physical activity levels when compared rural areas. Conclusions: Higher levels of sedentary lifestyle were found in urban areas compared to rural areas. As the age increased the sedentary lifestyle was having a significantly increasing trend. Physical activity was associated with the diabetic status, hypertensive status, and obesity status.

Background: The Internet has become an integral part of life. India is the third largest country in the world next to china and United States in respect of the number of internet users. Adolescents usually have poorer self- control, worse self-regulation, and poorer cognition as compared to adults and are considered the most vulnerable group to the temptations of the internet. Objective of the study was to understand the patterns, preferred use of internet, prevalence Internet addiction and its effect on their mental health status among college students in Nagpur.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in different colleges across in the Nagpur corporation during the period Dec 2016 to May 2017. Pre-validated, pre-tested, structured questionnaire was developed. Young’s 20-item scale for Internet addiction (YIAT) was applied to qualify for the prevalence of Internet addiction. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire has excellent psychometric properties as a screening instrument for psychiatric disorders in nonclinical settings.Results: This study of college students aged 17-25 years with marginally high male representation (51.92%), identified 30.69%, 26.60% and 0.26% students with mild, moderate and severe Internet addiction respectively. Those who are having internet addiction are two times at a risk of having poor mental health (OR = 2.28, p = 0.01).Conclusions: Disproportionate Internet use is an evolving issue among college going students as our study have highlighted that excessive use of the Internet undesirably affects one’s physical and mental health and social well-being.

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Background: Medical education has been reported to be one of the most stressful academic curricula worldwide, negatively affecting the physical and mental health of medical students. A medical student can be stressed due to different reasons or stressors such as the academic, financial problem, health problem or loss of close family member or friend, etc. It is the person’s ability to face the everyday challenges which will determine whether he/she will be stressed or not. This stress manifests itself in a variety of forms, including burnout, depressive symptoms, poor Quality of Life, and fatigue. The greater the number of forms of stress experienced by an individual student, the higher the risk of recent suicidal ideation or serious thoughts of dropping out of medical school.Methods: Present observational study was conducted at Government Medical College, Gondia during July 2017 to April 2018. To collect the data, medical students’ stress questionnaire (MSSQ) was used.Results: Out of 100 study subjects approached, 98 subjects responded. At Ist session, Out of 6 domains, Academic related stressors was found to be highest (1.95±0.668) followed by Teaching and learning related stressors (1.39±0.81). Similarly in IInd session, similar results were exaggerated. Academic related stressors was found to be (2.00±0.61) followed by Teaching and learning related stressors (1.39±0.81).Conclusions: A large proportion of medical students have potential psychological problems. The stressors experienced by the students were mainly related to academics and psychosocial concerns.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children. In India, it constitutes 15% of under five deaths. Various risk factors are responsible for ARI in children. Study of risk factors will help to reduce the high morbidity and mortality due to ARI. The objectives were to study risk factors responsible for acute respiratory infections in children and to find out case fatality rate &/ outcome of acute respiratory infections ARI in children.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was done in 2013-14 in a tertiary care centre to study the risk factors associated with ARI in children. All the pediatric patients between 0-12 years admitted in a tertiary care centre at Solapur were enrolled in the study.Results: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) were more common in 1-4 years age group i.e. 57.31% (196). It was more common in males i.e. 64.33% (220) than females i.e. 35.67% (122). ARI was more common in lower socio-economic classes i.e. class V (50.58%), class IV (22.52%); in patients whose mothers were illiterate 43.28% and who had history of parental smoking 84.21%. Maximum patients of ARI were having history of overcrowding 75.73%, inadequate cross-ventilation 81.87% and use of smoky chullah 78.65% in their home. Statistically significant association found between ARI cases and these socio-demographic factors. 46.78% (160) were incompletely immunized and 16.37% (56) were not immunized at all. Only 36.84% (126) were completely immunized for their age. Maximum cases of ARI (50.88%) occurred in winter season followed by rainy season (26.90%). Outcome showed that 91.52% (313) were cured, while 1.75% (6) patients died due to ARI.Conclusions: The present study has identified various socio-demographic, nutritional and environmental risk factors for ARI which can be prevented by effective health education and an appropriate initiative taken by the government.

Background: Dependence on using biomass fuels for cooking and heating leads to Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) which can lead to adverse health outcomes. Aim of this study was to observe the housing and kitchen conditions in households of tribal areas, assess the knowledge of women regarding the IAP and perceived health effects due to it.Methods: Cross-sectional community- based study conducted in 100 women above the age of 18 years in a tribal village. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and spot observations were made. Chi-Square was used to calculate the association between type of stove, housing conditions and health effects of IAP. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of the health effects of IAP.Results: The mean age of women was 29 years; all houses had a separate kitchen; 34% used mud stove with wood. Easy availability and economic reasons were cited for using wood. 47% of women thought IAP present in their homes and the most common source was cooking. Symptoms like asthma, sweating, burns/rash, and headache had a significantly higher association in women using mud stove (P<0.05) than LPG stove. A strong association was found between cooking hours and health effects due to IAP (P< 0.004).Conclusions: IAP due to cooking and unfavorable housing conditions are associated with health problems in women. Knowledge regarding IAP is poor. Reasons for reliance on using mud stove needs to be addressed.