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This study aimed to assess the knowledge of and attitudes to, medical ethics among doctors in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur. It also looked at the association between levels of knowledge and selected variables. A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to all doctors working in RIMS, Imphal between September and October 2007. 315 of 440 (71.6%) doctors contacted, responded. 62.2% of respondents (196) were below 35 years of age. 22.5% (71) were faculty members. 98.7% (311) had heard of the Code of Medical Ethics but only 188 (59.7%) had read it, even in part. 69.2% (218) felt that the undergraduate curriculum on medical ethics was not adequate. 10.5% (33) could describe what medical professionalism meant. Knowledge of medical ethics was higher among those who were over 35 years of age, those who graduated before 1999 and those having higher educational qualifications. The doctors in this survey lacked adequate and detailed knowledge on the code of ethics, though most of them had read it once. There is a need to sensitise doctors on medical ethics and professionalism.

Background: Malnutrition in elderly (≥60 years) is both a health outcome as well as a risk factor for diseases. It increases the risk both of morbidity and mortality among them. Objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of nutritional status among elderly people and any associated factors between nutritional status with selected variables of interest.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2017 in a rural community in Kongpal in Imphal East, Manipur in North-Eastern India.  Using a structured interview schedule, data were collected from 245 elderly people aged ≥60 years. For nutritional assessment, Mini nutritional assessment tool (MNA) was used. Descriptive statistics like mean (SD) and Chi-square test was used.  P<0.05 was taken as significant.Results: A total of 250 eligible individuals participated. Mean age (SD) was 69.5 (±7.7) years and majority (82.4%) belonged to 60-74 age groups. Around three-fifth of the respondents (56.0%) reported they suffered from co-morbid illnesses. According to MNA tool, one-fifths (20.8%) of respondents were malnourished and 49.2% at risk of malnourished. Significant association was found between being malnourished with older age group, female gender, among unmarried/widow/widower, lower educational level, unemployed/ homemaker and financially dependent on other.Conclusions: The overall prevalence of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition in our study was 20.8% and 49.2%. Approaches to improve the nutritional status of the elderly should focus primarily on those who are older, low educational status, female gender and financially dependence.

Background: Menopause marks the transition of a women's reproductive life. The age at menopause shows variability from region to region and have been found to be affected by various biosocial factors like body size and shape, age at menarche, socioeconomic status, parity, income, educational status and dietary habits. The study aims in identifying the determinants of menopause. Methods: The study was done on 100 menopausal women, 1 to 5 years since cessation of menstruation. Various variables like age at menarche, settlement, religion, occupation, socioeconomic status, history of joint pains, parity, BMI, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and haemoglobin content were taken. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22, to find any association of these variables with age at menopause. Results: The present study revealed a mean age of 45.5 (± 2.3) years with a median age of 46 years at natural menopause.Women who attained early menarche has early onset of menopause and vice versa. The study revealed a significant relationship between mean age at menopause with variables like settlement (rural women having earlier onset compared to urban women, p value of 0.001), socioeconomic status (low class having an earlier onset followed by middle class and high class with a p-value of 0.003), menstrual cycle( women with regular menstrual cycle has an earlier age at menopause as compared to women with irregular menstruation) and parity (women with high parity >2 has earlier onset of menopause as compared to those having parity of ≤2). Conclusion: Age at menopause is important as the timing of menopause is an indicator of ovarian function and aging and critical for a women's health.

BACKGROUNDChildren are affected by various eye disorders like refractive error, eye infections, and squint. Uncorrected refractive errors are a common, but avoidable problem. The presence of uncorrected refractive error in children has a considerable impact on their physical, mental, and behavioural development. Early detection and timely intervention can improve a child's potential tremendously during the formative years.