Introduction:Depression, being the most common neuropsychiatric complication of HIV, is also associated with increased health-care utilization, decreased quality of life (QOL), and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Depression is a multidimensional disorder affected by a variety of biological, psychological, and social determinants and this relation becomes more complicated in HIV patients. The current study therefore aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of depression and assess difference in the QOL of HIV patients not having depression and those suffering from depression.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at an ART center in a tertiary care hospital in HIV/AIDS patients of 18 years of age. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were studied, depression anxiety and stress scale-21 was used to assess depression, and QOL assessment was done using WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire.Results and Conclusions:Out of 754 study subjects, 377, i.e., 50% suffered from depression and nearly 75.9% of them were in the age group of 25–44 years. The prevalence of depression was higher in females, illiterates, and unemployed HIV patients as compared to males, literates, and employed subjects, respectively. HIV patients who were depressed had significantly lower QOL than the subjects not suffering from depression, more so in the environment and social relationships domains.

Context: On the basis of emerging evidence, it is now apparent that primary hypertension is detectable in the young and that it occurs commonly. The longterm health risks for hypertensive children and adolescents can be substantial. Early diagnosis of hypertension (HT) is an important strategy in its control. Previous studies have documented that hypertension may begin in adolescence, perhaps even in childhood. Aims: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and its correlation with anthropometric variables like height, weight and body mass index (BMI) among school-going children in Nagpur city, Central India. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study done in one randomly selected school. Materials and Methods: School-going children aged between 12 and 16 years were included in the study. The weight and height were measured using a standard procedure. Blood pressure measurements were taken by a mercury sphygmomanometer. Hypertension was diagnosed if blood pressure was more than 95 th percentile for the age and height. The distributions of blood pressure by anthropometric characteristics were studied. Statistical Analysis Used: Mean, standard deviation, correlation coeffi cient and χ 2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 11.77%. Blood pressure of both genders appears to have positive correlation with anthropometric characteristics. Conclusions: Increase in anthropometric measurements like height, weight and BMI were found to be positively correlated with hypertension among school children in the present study.

Background: Pre-school children are more vulnerable as any adverse influence operating on them during this period may result in limitation in their development (both physical and mental), some of which at least are irreversible. Nutritional problems among children cause major morbidity and mortality in India. India is home to the largest number of underweight and stunted children in the world. The aims and objectives of the study were to assess prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting among pre-school children in rural area of Chhattisgarh state.Methods: A community-based, cross- sectional study was conducted among 400 pre-school children in rural area during January-May 2107. Anthropometric measurements were taken. The indicators of nutritional status of children like underweight, stunting and wasting were expressed using WHO conducted ‘Multicentric Growth Reference Study’ (MGRS) standards.Results: Out of 400 children studied, 36% were underweight, 35.5% were stunted and 28.5% were having wasting. More than 50% of girl children were underweight and stunted. Nutritional indicators became worse as age advances.Conclusions: Almost one third of pre-school children were underweight and stunted. Female children were more nutritionally deprived than males. For attainment of best possible nutrition and growth in children, targeted short-term strategies addressing underlying risk factors and more long-term poverty alleviation strategies may be needed.

IntroductionMenstruation is an essential phenomenon in an adolescent girl's life. In India, females who are menstruating are considered impure and teenage girls are not allowed to undertake home chores or engage in religious or cultural events during their period. Up-to-date knowledge about menstruation, beginning in early adolescence, would improve safe practices and relieve the distress of millions of women. Material and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls (10-19 years) residing in a tribal area of Nagpur District from January to March 2022. Three tribal residential schools (Ashram Shala) were selected from a total of six in Hingana Taluka of Nagpur District, using simple random sampling to fulfill the required sample size of 272. Demographic details, age at menarche, awareness of menstruation, sources of information about menstruation, menstrual hygiene practices, and restrictions observed during menstruation were assessed. ResultsThe average age at menarche was 13.04+0.96 years (range 11-16 years). Only 45.17% of girls were aware of the menarche and menstrual cycle before its onset. The duration of the menstrual cycle ranged from 21-35 days in most of the girls (90.69%), and it was regular in 85.86% of girls. Duration of bleeding was two to six days for the majority of the girls (87.93%). Around 73.79% of girls were using sanitary pads, while 26.21% of girls were using clothes. The most important restrictions imposed on the girls during menstruation were not being allowed to attend religious functions (97.93%), followed by not being allowed to attend classes (65.86%).The use of sanitary pads was significantly more in late adolescent girls than in early adolescent girls ( 2 =14.97, p=0.0001), girls who have literate mothers than girls with illiterate mothers ( 2 =5.17, p=0.02), and girls belonging to higher socioeconomic classes (class I, II, III) than lower ones (class IV, V) ( 2 =44.23, p<0.0001). ConclusionThe tribal adolescent girls still don't exercise proper hygiene throughout their periods. During menstruation, the majority of girls are still subjected to various restrictions.

Background: A hospital bed is both a scarce and expensive commodity in healthcare. The efficient bed management is most important for better utilization of hospitals. Hospital utilization indices are sensitive indicators to find pressure areas and thus help in proper allocation of hospital resources and forming better healthcare policies for hospitals. The objective of the study was to study the pattern of hospital bed utilization in last five years; seasonal and departmentwise variation in hospital utilization indices. Methods: It is a record based observational cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Concerned data was collected from the medical record section and entered in a pre-designed proforma. Trends of various hospital indices were analysed. Results: There were no much fluctuations in bed occupancy rate (BOR), Average length of stay (ALOS), bed turnover rate (BTOR) and turn over interval (TOI) from 2009 to 2013. For the year 2013, overall BOR of hospital is 75.71%, highest in the rainy season. The ALOS in hospital is 5.39 days and is around 5 days in all the months. BOR is highest in Surgery, obstetric-gynecology and ophthalmology department and lowest in skin department while ALOS is more in surgery and orthopedics followed by skin and obstetric-gynecology departments. ALOS is lowest in the department of Ophthalmology. Conclusions: By studying the different indices, it was found that hospital utilization is optimum for this institution. The study findings will help in formulation of new health care policies for hospital.