Background: Anemia is a major public health problem especially in adolescent age group because of its intergenerational impact. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India launched the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation programme for adolescent girls and boys. The objectives of the study were to study the awareness of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in preventing anemia in the study subjects; to assess the implementation of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in government schools and anganwadi centres.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the 4 government schools and 11 anganwadi centres of the urban field practising area of a tertiary health care centre, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad. All the students who were present at the time of study, the teachers and anganwadi workers, who gave consent were included. The study was carried out for a period of 3 months (August to October, 2018) using a pretested schedule.Results: A total of 313 students, 21 teachers and 10 anganwadi workers had participated in the study. Among school students, only 15% had awareness of anemia. Girls had better knowledge than boys (p<0.05). The benefits of iron folic acid tablets were known to 17% students and 67% teachers. Most commonly side effects were nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Irregular supply of tablets and poor maintainence of records was seen.Conclusions: The supply and distribution of tablets was found to be not in accordance with the guidelines of the programme.There is need of regular orientation to the teachers and anganwadi workers and nutrition education meetings for behaviour change communication to the parents.

Background: Breastfeeding is the best preventive intervention and has potential impact on child mortality. Breastmilk is safest, least allergic and has nutritional, immunological, behavioural and economic benefits. It also provides desirable mother baby bonding. Early human milk promotes gut maturation and immune activation in infants. Despite of the demonstrated benefit of breastfeeding, the duration and prevalence are still low in first six months of life. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practices among study population; to assess awareness regarding colostrum; to assess the socio demographic profile among mothers of 0-2 years children. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of tertiary health care center, Hyderabad. 100 mothers having children between 0-2 years age group were included by using simple random technique. Predesigned questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: Mean age group (yrs) of the mothers was 25.6±3.81, literate mothers are 81%, illiterates are 19% and employed mothers were 68%. Awareness regarding exclusive breastfeeding was more among literates than illiterates (p<0.05). Literacy status had no association regarding knowledge on colostrum among study subject. Pre lacteal feeds were practiced among 32% of mothers before initiation of breast feeding. The practice of prelacteal feeds were more in primi than multi para mothers (p<0.05). Practice of burping after the breastfeeding were followed by 71%. Mothers practicing correct positioning during breastfeeding were 63%. Conclusions: Among study subject 75% of them were given colostrum. Exclusive breastfeeding upto 0-6 months was practiced by 64% of mothers.

Background: According to WHO, responsiveness is an important goal of the health system, in addition to the two predominant goals of improving health and fairness of financing. Responsiveness includes non-medical aspects of health care. As the progress to universal health coverage is gaining pace, the present study has attempted to study the domains of responsiveness in the government and private health services and health care providers. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study for a period of 3 months in the households of the urban field practising area. Sampling technique was simple random sampling. Assuming the prevalence of 50% and allowable error of 5%, 400 households were surveyed. KISH table method was used at household level. Study tool was World Health Survey responsiveness module questionnaire for the eight responsiveness domains-prompt attention, dignity, communication, autonomy, confidentiality, choice, quality of basic facilities and social support (for inpatients). Results: The mean age (yrs) of the study subjects is 46.078±13.998. 68.25% (273) were males.31.75% (127) were females. 46.25% (185) were using government services and 53.75% (215) were using private services. The mean waiting time (min) in the public health facilities was 135.2±111.2 which was more than private facilities, 62.4±40.8. Conclusions: All the responsiveness domains (except confidentiality) were found to be positively associated (p<0.05) with the government health services. Proportion of people rating the responsiveness domains from most important to the least important showed prompt attention (52%) and dignity (30%) as the most important domains.

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem and is among top ten causes of deaths worldwide. People with diabetes are three times at higher risk of getting infected with tuberculosis. Globally 10.4 million TB cases exists of them 10% are linked to diabetes. In India 13% of Tuberculosis cases were diabetic. DM has been reported to modify the clinical features of TB. The objectives were to study the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adult tuberculosis patients registered in DOTS centre in tertiary health care centre, Hyderabad and to study the clinical profile of tuberculosis in study subjects.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 4 DOTS centres under tertiary health care facility, Hyderabad. Sample size 200 was calculated using formula 4PQ/L2. Study subjects were registered adult tuberculosis patients attending DOTS centre and undergoing anti tuberculosis treatment. Data from study subjects was obtained by interview method using semi structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic parameters and clinical parameters.Results: Out of 200 patients, the prevalence of DM was found to be 18% (n=36). Increasing age (p<0.000), male sex (p=0.04), low BMI (p=0.02), family history of TB (p=0.017), Sputum positive severity (p=0.0008) are significantly associated with DM-TB comorbidity and clinical manifestations like bilateral involvement (p=0.151), multi lobes (p=0.243), other associated lung diseases (p=0.154), treatment category (p=0.8203) are not significantly associated with DM-TB comorbidity.Conclusions: Bidirectional screening of TB and DM will detect early and prevent complications of comorbiditiy.

Background: Biological hazards and health safety issues are a special concern in laboratory technicians who handle blood, body fluids, and tissues which may contain infectious agents. Lack of knowledge of standard precautions has been noted to influence the practice and behaviour change in relation to these precautions requires knowledge. This study therefore aims to study the awareness and practice of universal precautions (U.P) in lab technicians.Methods: Cross sectional type of study was conducted in the tertiary health care facility (Osmania General Hospital) in Hyderabad district among laboratory technicians of various departments from 1-20/11/18. Random sampling was done and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire.Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft excel 07. Descriptive analysis was done and Chi-square tests were used for establishing association.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 32.37 years, all of them were graduates by education and the mean length of experience was 5.45 yrs. The mean score for knowledge was 14 (41.1%).In the domain of practice, the responses were quite satisfactory with majority of the responses being “always” for all the practices, wearing eye shields and face masks was only “sometimes” followed and majority of “not applicable” were for wearing glovesConclusions: Although standard and isolation precautions are introduced, the overall performance of respondents was unsatisfactory.