A health education programme for taeniasis/cysticercosis was implemented and evaluated among schoolchildren and the general community in a rural block in southern India, an area that is endemic for cysticercosis. The baseline survey among 831 participants from three randomly selected villages showed poor knowledge regarding the spread of taeniasis and neurocysticercosis. There was also a lack of adequate hygiene and sanitation practices. Health education was given in these villages and in the schools located in these villages regarding the lifecycle of the pork tapeworm, spread of taeniasis and cysticercosis, and prevention of these conditions. The post-intervention test conducted 6 months later among 1060 participants revealed a 46% increase in the overall score of knowledge and practices. Awareness about the mode of spread of taeniasis and cysticercosis improved by almost 3 times and the reported practice of washing hands with soap and water before eating improved by 4.8 times and after using the toilet by 3.6 times. One person who reported the passage of tapeworm segments was confirmed to be a carrier of Taenia solium and was treated. The health education given on prevention of taeniasis and cysticercosis was useful in improving the knowledge and practices of the community and also in diagnosing taeniasis through self-reporting.

While absolute values of birthweights were lower than the WHO 2006 child growth standards there was a J shaped curve of birthweight and mortality. This suggests that in a given population, mortality increases at extremes of birthweights, even if some of these birthweights may be considered normal by other standards.

Summaryobjective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies for the control of taeniasis in a community, in terms of cost per case treated.methods A study was conducted in South India to determine the prevalence of taeniasis by screening stool samples from 653 randomly chosen subjects, for coproantigens. The costs incurred in the project were used to estimate the cost per case screened and treated. A one-way sensitivity analysis was carried out for varying rates of taeniasis, different screening strategies and mass therapy. Further sensitivity analysis was carried out with different manpower and test costs.results The rate of taeniasis as detected by ELISA for coproantigen was 3 per 1000 (2 of 653 samples). Our study showed that mass therapy without screening for taeniasis would be the most economical strategy in terms of cost per case treated if field workers are employed exclusively for either mass therapy or screening. For each strategy, costs per case treated are higher at low prevalence of taeniasis, with a sharp rise below 15%.conclusions In places that are endemic for taeniasis and neurocysticercosis, mass therapy or screening for taeniasis should be considered. Screening by stool microscopy is not cost-effective in terms of cost per case of taeniasis treated owing to its low sensitivity. Although the cost per case of taeniasis treated is high at low prevalence of taeniasis for all options, incorporating mass therapy into existing mass drug distribution programmes might prove to be the most cost-effective control strategy.

No abstract

Objective:To determine the relationship between birth weight and the evolution of obesity in adult life in women from a rural developmental block in southern India.Design:Non-concurrent cohortSetting:General community- a rural developmental block in southern India.Participants:Two hundred and seventy one young healthy females were recruited from a birth cohort. The study subjects were 98 women in the age group of 19-23 years who had been born with low birth weight (LBW) and 173 women in the same age group who had been born with normal birth weight (NBW).Materials and Methods:Data collection involved interview using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements.Analysis:Chi-square test to assess significance of association, independent sample t test to assess the difference between means, odds ratios for measuring magnitude of association, stratified analysis to identify various interactions and confounders, and multiple logistic regression models to identify the relationship between birth weight and young adult obesity (BMI > 25).Results:A crude odds ratio of 0.564 (95% CI 0.262 - 1.214) was obtained for the association between LBW and development of obesity later in life. In the final logistic regression model, it was found that a young adult female with low birth weight who belonged to a higher socio-economic group had a higher risk of developing obesity (Adjusted odds for the interaction term between LBW and high SES 6.251; 95% CI 1.236 - 31.611).Conclusion:The study could not find any significant association between LBW and development of obesity later in life, but it found a higher probability of developing obesity later in life among low birth weight female children born in high socio-economic status families.

Background: Absence of menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age group could be physiological or pathological. Ascertaining the cause for this is a common clinical scenario faced by physicians. It is also a common clinical problem in women who are on treatment with antipsychotic medication. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the occurrence of antipsychotic induced amenorrhoea among women aged 18-45 years, attending outpatient services of a tertiary care setting, the factors associated and to assess the effective strategies of treatment.Methods: Retrospective chart review of clinical details of women in the reproductive age group who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was carried out. They were divided into two groups: Group A included 84 women with antipsychotic induced amenorrhea and Group B included 94 women on antipsychotics and had normal menstrual cycles. Various factors and strategies which worsened or alleviated the symptoms were noted.Results: Women who were less than 35 years of age, on antipsychotic treatment for more than two years duration (52;83.9%) and those who were on treatment with Risperidone (69;73.4%) were identified as having the risk of developing antipsychotic induced amenorrhoea. The strategy of switch of medication to prolactin sparing antipsychotic was more effective in regularising the menstrual cycles (43;87.8%).Conclusions: In women presenting with amenorrhoea, a possible medication induced aetiology need to be considered, especially use of antipsychotics. Further understanding of the complexities of this relationship may help to guide the assessment and proper treatment of women with antipsychotic related amenorrhoea.