Conservative statistics estimate that 10% of women more than 18 years and 33% of women more than 40 years are

Background: Access to menstrual hygiene resources is a basic human and healthcare right. A substantial number of women in rural areas and urban slums do not use sanitary napkins due to its prohibitive cost and difficult access, leading to consequences like infections and the subsequent morbidity, school absenteeism and decreased social participation. The study explored the reasons for non-usage of sanitary napkins in an urban slum of Delhi. It was further studied if there would be a high acceptance if low-cost product was made available at health-centre.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done to assess the magnitude and reasons for not using sanitary napkins and acceptability of low-priced sanitary napkins provided through RHTC.Results: Most women (47%) do not use sanitary napkins because its price was perceived as high as against the benefit that can be accrued. Difficult in access to product purchase was the second important reason for non-usage. A low-priced sanitary napkin provided through RHTC was an acceptable solution to them.Conclusions: Increasing the accessibility of affordable sanitary napkins through health centers can increase in usage of sanitary napkins.

Background: India bears a high burden of both dengue and malaria. An early distinction between the two could be invaluable in reducing mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study is to identify clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters for the same, which could aid early detection and treatment of both diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South Delhi, India. 100 pre-diagnosed patients each of dengue and malaria were studied. Features on clinical examination, and results of radiological and biochemical investigations were recorded. Continuous variables were compared using t-test, whereas categorical variables were subjected to chi-square test. P-value of ≤0.05 was taken as significant.Results: All patients presented with short pyrexia (fever < 7 days). Rash (27%), pruritus (28%), abdominal pain (30%) and breathlessness (20%) were significantly associated with dengue, whereas headache (99%) was significantly associated with malaria. Radiological investigations showed patients with dengue had pleural effusion (46%) and ascites (49%), and hepatosplenomegaly was more common in malaria (44%). Mean hemoglobin levels, and platelet counts were significantly lower in malaria (11.24 g/dL, and 62.07 × 10 3 /mm 3 respectively), than in dengue (13.03 g/dL, and 84.61 × 10 3 /mm 3 respectively). Liver enzymes showed rise in both diseases with a marked elevation in dengue. Raised serum bilirubin levels and mild renal dysfunction were both highly significant for malaria (P < 0.001). Conclusion:The study concludes that a distinction between dengue and malaria can be made on the basis of their clinical, radiological and biochemical findings.