Background: Since independence, the Government of India has made great eff orts to curb maternal mortality and morbidity by introducing various women-oriented developmental programs. Despite this, India is still struggling with a high maternal mortality and morbidity, which is compounded by low utilization of maternal health care services. Aim: The study is aimed to fi nd out the status of maternal health care services utilization and associated factors among recently delivered women in a block of Darjeeling district of West Bengal Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 953 recently delivered women residing in tea gardens of Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Utilization of maternal health care services including antenatal care during pregnancy, provision of safe delivery and postnatal care after delivery was assessed among them. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 (IL, Chicago, USA). Logistic regression analysis was done. P values less than 0.05 were considered as signifi cant. Results: The utilization of full antenatal care was 48.6% (463/953), institutional delivery 73.5% (700/953) and adequate postnatal visit was 72.6% (692/953) among the study population. The important factors associated with low utilization of services were belonging to Islam, Scheduled tribe, lower socioeconomic status, and lower literacy level of both the husband and wife. The major barrier towards utilization of these services was ignorance followed by distance to the health care center. Conclusion: The present study revealed low utilization of pregnancy-related health care utilization among the study population; especially in case of antenatal care. The study can provide new insight for policy makers to devote resources for achieving the best possible quality of maternal and child health services.

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem in developing countries including India. The epidemiological observations depicted that infants weighing lesser than 2500 g are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies, closely associated with the fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The present study was undertaken with the objectives to find out the relevant socio-demographic and biological determinants of Low Birth Weight babies and to assess the degree of association between impact of health education and Low birth weight babies. METHODS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from May -August 2013 in Dilawarganj, an urban slum, the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar. Study population comprised of women in 3 rd trimester of pregnancy belonged to DILAWARGANJ urban slum area. 100 mothers of low birth weight and normal birth weight babies at urban slum of Kishanganj (Among them 33 mothers had delivered LBW babies & 67 mothers had delivered normal babies) were selected and interviewed through house to house survey with the help of a pre-designed, pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the sociodemographic factors that have been considered in the present study, it was observed that 51.5% mothers belong to age group 20 -29, 84.8% mothers from Muslim community, 66.67% mothers were illiterate, 69.7% mothers were multipara,75.76% mothers reside in a nuclear family 60.6% mothers were engaged in agricultural fields66.67% belong to lower and poor socio-economic group. It was also observed that 84.85% mothers do not consumes extra meals, 81.82% do not take adequate rest & sleep, 93.9% mothers take less than 100 IFA tablets, 69.7% mothers attend less than 3 ANC, 84.85% mothers practice exclusive breast feeding and 78.8% mother give vaccines to their babies. CONCLUSION: The study of LBW baby in Kishanganj, Bihar has highlighted the factors regarding high prevalence of LBW baby and identified socio-demographic profile and common existing problems. To combat these factors, better training to health care providers should be done and implementation of different policies by the government was needed.

Traditionally, doctors were always selected and trained to be the lone Ranger, practicing in splendid isolation, accountable only to their patients and conscience. The picture has changed dramatically in the past few years with the widespread introduction of health insurance, corporate hospitals and managed care. Leadership in medical care has never been more important that it is today. Notwithstanding the expansion of corporate medicine, almost daily we hear of the disastrous breakdown of many of these health care systems. Even a cursory analysis shows that poor leadership in addition to poor leadership, in addition to poor management, is the cause. The medical community still does not understand the essential role of the medical leadership is not particularly inclined to get involved and is certainly not willing to surrender authority to any level of organization.

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The rise in the number of elderly in India has invited the attention of medical professional towards the medical and health need of elderly. With genetic, social, environmental, dietary and disease profile differences from their western contemporaries, Indian elderly demand a slightly different approach to their medical and health problems.