Background:Leprosy a chronic infectious affliction, is a communicable disease that posses a risk of permanent and progressive disability. The associated visible deformities and disabilities have contributed to the stigma and discrimination experienced by leprosy patients, even among those who have been cured.Aims and Objectives:1) To assess the knowledge, attitude and belief about leprosy in leprosy patients compared with community members. 2) To find the perceived stigma among leprosy patients. 3). To evaluate the quality of life in leprosy patients as compared to community members using WHO Quality of Life assessment questionaire (WHOQOL- BREF).Materials and Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted at Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, Shantivan, Nere in Panvel Taluka, district Raigad from October – December 2009. A pre-designed and pre-structured questionaire was used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and perceived stigma among leprosy patients and community members. WHO Quality of life questionaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess quality of life in leprosy patients and controls. Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS package.Result:Among the cases and control, 43.13% of cases were aware that leprosy is an infectious disease compared to 20.69% of control. 68.62% of cases had knowledge of hypopigmented patches being a symptom of leprosy compared to the 25.86% in control. There was overall high level of awareness about disease, symptoms, transmission and curability in leprosy patients as compared to control. Among control group, 43.10% of population said that they would not like food to be served by leprosy patients as compared to 13.73% in study group. It was seen that the discrimination was much higher in female leprosy patients as compared to male leprosy patients. The mean quality of life scores for cases was significantly lower than those for control group in physical and psychological domain but not in the social relationship and environmental domain. The mean quality of life scores for male cases were lower in each domain as compared to male control group but the difference was not significant except in the physical and enviornmental domain. The mean quality of life scores for female cases were lower in each domain as compared to female control group and the difference was not significant except in the psychological domain.Conclusions:There was a significant difference in physical domain in male leprosy patients and psychological domain in female leprosy patients as compared with their respective gender controls. The leprosy patients were more aware about the infectious nature of the disease, symptoms, transmission, and curability than the control group. A negative attitude was seen towards the leprosy patients in the society.

A comparative study of knowledge and attitudes regarding biomedical waste (BMW) management with a preliminary intervention in an academic hospital Aims: 1) To assess and compare the knowledge and attitudes regarding biomedical waste (BMW) management in specialists, resident doctors, new medical interns, and fi nal year nursing students. 2) To assess the effectiveness of a training program in changing the knowledge and attitudes regarding BMW management. and Z tests applied. Results: There was a statistically signifi cant difference in the knowledge scores between the groups as determined by a one-way ANOVA test (F (3,226) = 11.098, P < 0.001). A Tukey's post hoc test revealed that the specialists (20.82 ± 5.121) knowledge scores were signifi cantly higher as compared to resident doctors (16.96 ± 5.268), medical interns (18.44 ± 4.293), and nursing group (15.33 ± 5.144). The positive attitude towards safe management of BMW was not found to be signifi cant. After the training program in the medical interns' a statistically signifi cant increase in their knowledge on BMW management was seen. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitudes between the groups of healthcare personnel varied and was not found to be satisfactory. Training programs with periodical sensitization sessions on BMW management are recommended, especially focusing at the junior level.Key words: Att itudes, assessment, biomedical waste, biomedical waste management, educational intervention, knowledge, training Original Article INTRODUCTIONHealthcare activities like immunization, diagnostic tests, medical treatments, and laboratory examinations protect and restore health and save lives. At the same time, however, health services may generate large quantity of wastes and by-products that need to be handled safely and disposed of properly. Public concern about medical waste dates back to early 1980's when large quantities of syringes and needles were found on the beaches of the East Coast and in Florida, USA. In India, the concern for medical waste has come to the fore in recent years. The Government of India notifi ed the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules in July 1998. "Biomedical waste" (BMW) means any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biologicals, and including categories mentioned in Schedule I. [1,2] In India, studies have estimated the average hospital waste generation rate ranges between 0.5 and 2.0 kg/bed/day and annually about 0.33 million tons of waste are generated.[3] Healthcare workers have an important opportunity to manage the environmental effects of their practices. Their efforts may seem small, but each step builds a base of sound behaviors and thinking that are necessary for the success AbstractAccess this article online Website: www.ijmedph.org

Background: Breastfeeding, proper weaning practices, and newborn care play a crucial role in the health of a child. The objective of the study is to determine the availability of information regarding breastfeeding, newborn care and immunization and to find out about the attitude of women towards newborn care practices.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary health care centre in an urban area in Navi Mumbai, on primigravidae in their third trimester of pregnancy. The data was collected by a questionnaire, results were analysed by EpiInfo7.Results: 93% women knew the benefits of breastfeeding, 92% knew of exclusive breastfeeding. 90% would initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, 83% would not give prelacteal feeds. 75% would practise skin-to-skin contact and 95% would practise rooming-in technique. 44% would delay bathing the newborn. 95% women received TT immunisation. All agreed to vaccinate their child. 19% believed traditional practices like applying kajal to eyes, prelacteal feeds etc. to be hazardous.Conclusions: The knowledge pregnant women have about breastfeeding and newborn care is inadequate. There is a need for intervention measures such as behavior-change-communication and better health services, to equip mothers so they may provide optimal care to their babies.

Background: Depression is a common source of disability among women. Antenatal depression has been often overlooked and under diagnosed, throughout the world especially in the developing countries like India. This study was conducted to assess the mental health status of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in a tertiary health care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of three months among randomly selected pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary hospital. A total of 170 pregnant women formed the study subject. Data was collected using a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Among the study population, the prevalence of depression was found to be 20.6%. Depression was significantly associated with the socio-economic status and education of the study subjects. Women with family discord were significantly more depressed than those with no discord. Unplanned pregnancy and preference of male child very significant factors for depression. Multiparity and bad obstetric history also showed a higher level of depression which was statistically significant.Conclusions: There is a significant prevalence of antenatal depression which needs screening and appropriate management. Maternal health policies must integrate maternal depression as a disorder of Public Health importance and interventions should target the pregnant women as early as possible.

Background: Doctors are supposed to lead healthier lifestyles and are usually assumed to have lower morbidity and mortality rates than general population due to their medical knowledge. However, recently a study conducted by the research cell of Indian Medical Association (IMA) concluded that doctors die younger and mostly due to cardiovascular diseases.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 doctors in a medical college for duration of 3 months. Questionnaires were distributed, they were personally interviewed and required clinical examination was done. Data obtained was tabulated in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS software. Risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke and obesity was estimated and its association with various determinants was seen.Results: Odds of having central obesity increases 10 times with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 as compared to <25 kg/m2. With risk ratio of 1.96, doctors are twice at risk of having BMI ≥25 as compared to general population. Number of people with higher risk of CVD increased after 45 years of age. People with at least one NCD outnumbered the people without any NCD, in the age group of 45-54 years and above. Insufficient physical activity is prevalent among 37% in this age group.Conclusions: This study gives an idea on impact of medical profession on lifestyle, outlook and attitude towards personal health among professional doctors. Initiatives must be taken to identify the causes of professional stress among doctors and measures must be taken to prevent them.