In our country, every year, there are more than 2 million incident TB cases, which is more than one-fifth of the global burden. [2] TB poses as a main causative factor of mortality, causing death in two people for every 3 min in our country. In 2011, globally, 1.4 million people died of TB of which nearly 1 million were HIV-negative individuals and 43,000 were HIV-positive cases. In 2011, it was found that TB was mainly responsible for causing deaths in 300,000 HIV-negative women and 200,000 HIV-positive women. [3] In order to combat TB, the National Tuberculosis Program of India was started in 1962, which was renamed to Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). The goal of this program is to decrease the mortality and morbidity owing to TB and reduce the transmission of infection until it ceases to be a major public health problem. [4] The program uses DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Shortcourse) to achieve this goal. For the program to be a success, Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem globally, and India has the largest number of TB patients throughout the world. Correct knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding tuberculosis in the community are essential for the effective functioning of control programs. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding tuberculosis among the rural population in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, as tuberculosis is more prevalent in rural areas. Materials and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in Chunampet, a rural area in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu in February 2013. All adult population (2013) aged older than 18 years who were permanent residents of the study area were included in the study. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used as a study tool. Data collection was done by house-to-house survey. Data analysis was done by using SPSS software, version 16.0. Informed oral consent was obtained from all the participants. Result: Knowledge regarding the cause and mode of transmission of TB was inadequate. Attitude regarding the diagnosis and treatment of TB was good. Practice regarding BCG vaccination was poor in the study population. Conclusion: Intervention measures in the form of IEC activities should be carried out in rural areas to increase the awareness regarding tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND:Epidemiological studies in India have shown that the prevalence of diabetes in the population is at least twice the number of persons diagnosed with diabetes residing in the given area. Similarly, community-based prevalence figures are unavailable in Puducherry,.AIMS:The aim of this study was to estimate the number of persons diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in Puducherry.SETTING AND DESIGN:This study was conducted in the service area of the Urban Health Centre (UHC), Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Puducherry with retrospective data from family records.METHODS:The diagnosis of diabetes was retrospectively documented by reviewing all family folders of 2667 families (Population 11,835) for the period of 1/1/2003 to 31/12/2006. The data was verified by home visits from January until March, 2007. The case definition used, was a resident diagnosed with diabetes by a medical doctor and who was on antidiabetes treatment for at least the past six months.RESULTS:We found 643 individuals who had been diagnosed with diabetes. The prevalence of known diabetes was estimated to be 5.6% (5.31% in males and 6.1% in females). The age-sex specific prevalence was estimated using the 2001 Census data. There are about 48,876 known diabetics living in Puducherry.CONCLUSIONS:(1) Community-based health surveillance data comprise a useful tool to measure the prevalence of diagnosed cases of diabetes mellitus within the Indian context; 2) Diabetes mellitus is an important public health priority requiring urgent preventive action as there are about 97,752 persons in Puducherry who have either been diagnosed with diabetes or remain undiagnosed for the disease.

Magnitude and Risk Factors of Injuries in a Glass Bottle Manufacturing Plant: Joy Bazroy et al. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India—A study was conducted in a glass bottle manufacturing plant in Pondicherry, India, to assess the magnitude and identify the risk factors of work‐related injuries between January and December 1998. Three hundred and seventyseven injuries were reported among 341 permanent workers followed up for one year (incidence=1,105.5/ 1,000 workers/yr). A higher load of injuries was noted in the first half of the night shifts and the second half of the other three shifts. Injuries were higher in the second half of the week and during the first half of the year. Hands and wrists were the most common sites of injury (40.6%), whereas the eye, foot, ankles and other body parts had 30%, 14.6%, 10.6% and 4.2% of injuries respectively. The commonest type of injury was cuts and lacerations (50.1%); injuries to the eye (due to foreign bodies, chemicals and welding sparks) accounted for 30%, sprains 8% and burns 7.1% of the injuries. A cohort of 75 workers chosen from the 341 permanent workers were followed up for the one year for identification of risk factors. Significant risk factors were age (less than 30 yr) and experience (less than 2 yr). Technical factors responsible for injury were a hazardous worksite in 37 (38.5%) cases, inadequate protection with safety wear in 32 (33%) cases and proximity to machines in 14 (14.6%) cases. Human factors identified were non‐use of protective wear in 43 (45%), overconfidence in 18 (18.7%) and timing error while working with machines in 11 (11.4%) episodes.

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