BackgroundInduced abortion has been legal in India on a broad range of medical and social grounds since 1980s. Often, induced abortion is resorted to as a means for contraception, and has a potential to be misused for sex selective feticide. We assessed the rates, trends, causes and determinants of induced abortions from 2008–12 in a rural community of northern India.MethodsPresent study is a secondary data analysis of pregnancy outcomes at Ballabgarh Health and Demographic Surveillance System from 2008–12. The data was retrieved from the Health and Management Information System maintained at Ballabgarh. Cause of abortion was self-reported by the women who underwent abortion.ResultsOf the 11,102 pregnancies, 1,226 (11 %) culminated as abortions of which 425 (3.8 %) were induced abortions. Spontaneous abortion rate (7.2 %) was twice that of induced abortion rate (3.8 %). Both abortion rates had an increasing trend during the course of the study period. Self-reported reasons for opting for induced abortions were bleeding per vaginum (23 %), unwanted pregnancy (16 %), and unviable fetus diagnosed by ultrasonography (11 %). Eight percent of the induced abortions were due to the female sex of the fetus. About 11 % of the abortions were performed beyond 20 weeks of gestation which was the upper legal permissible gestational age for performing induced abortions in India. About 10 % of the abortions were performed by unqualified practitioners. Caste, wealth index, birth order and size of the village population were the factors that were significantly associated with induced abortion.ConclusionsThough the abortion rate was low, the proportionate contribution of induced abortion was more than what could be expected. Unsafe and sex selective abortion, though illegal, was prevalent. Upper caste and higher socio-economic status families were more likely to opt for induced abortion.

Background:In India, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) was launched in the year 2011 to assure cashless institutional delivery to pregnant women, including free transport and diet.Objective:To assess the impact of JSSK on institutional delivery.Materials and Methods:A record review was done at the primary health care facility in Faridabad district of Haryana from August 2010 to March 2013. Focus group discussion/ informal interviews were carried out to get an insight about various factors determining use / non-use of health facilities for delivery.Results:Institutional delivery increased by almost 2.7 times (197 Vs 537) after launch of JSSK (p < 0.001). For institutional deliveries, the most important facilitator as well as barrier was identified as ambulance service under JSSK and pressure by elders in the family respectively.Conclusions:JSSK scheme had a positive impact on institutional deliveries. It should be supported with targeted intervention designed to facilitate appropriate decision-making at family level in order to address barriers to institutional delivery.

Background: Smart phones have become an integral part of youth. But at the same time addiction towards its use have become a serious concern among them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of smart phone usage among medical college students and their demographic characteristics.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 192 medical students. A self administered SAS scale has been used to assess the level of smart phone addiction. Subjects were classified into smart phone non-user group, a low smart phone user group and a high smart phone user group.Results: Out of 192 subjects who completed the questionnaires 85.40% (n=164) had smart phone addiction. Out of the total 192 students 28 students (14.60%) were low smart phone users, of which 9 were boys (14.30%) and 19 were girls (14.70%). Among 164 (85.40%) high smart phone users 54 students were boys (85.70%) and 110 were girls (85.30%) which was not statistically significant at 5% level (chi square=0.007, p=0.935).Conclusions: Medical college students in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are more vulnerable for smart phone addiction.

Background: Stunting or low height-for-age is failure to reach linear growth potential, and is a key indicator of chronic under nutrition. The objectives of the study were to assess the status of stunting among children attending outpatient department and to evaluate the demographic profile of such children.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study conducted over a period 6 months from August 2015 to January 2016 among children within age group of 2 to 12 years attending outpatient department of GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair. Height-for-age z-scores (HFAz) was generated using the WHO Anthro software (version 3.2.2).Results: Overall 444 students’ were included in the study which included 213 male children (48%) and 231 female children (52.0%). Out of this 21.70% children were stunted and 6.3% children were severely stunted. Among the socio demographic factors shunting and severe stunting is seen among lower/upper lower class (82.14%) followed by middle/lower middle class.Conclusions: Collective effort by government, non-government organizations is required to plan long term and short term strategies addressing the risk factors.