Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), including HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) mainly affects sexually active young people. Young adults aged 15-29 years, account for 32% of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) cases reported in India and the number of young women living with HIV/AIDS is twice that of young men. The aim of the study was to evaluate adolescent school girls' knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards STIs/HIV and safer sex practice and sex education and to explore their current sexual behaviour in India.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD), a complication of hypertension, is one of the most important and common causes of morbidity, hospitalisation, and mortality among hypertensive population. In recent decades, increased urbanisation and changes to lifestyle, diet and physical activity in developing countries have led to a major increase in the population incidence of chronic diseases including CHD. Poor medication adherence is one of the leading causes of failure to achieve hypertension control. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the prevalence of non-adherence to antihypertensive medications among hypertensive population in developing countries and identify factors associated with it. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the following scholarly electronic databases: Proquest, PubMed, JSTOR and Science Direct. The online search engine, Google Scholar was also used to search for and identify relevant papers. Peer-reviewed fulltext articles published in English on hypertensive adults in developing countries that measured adherence to antihypertensive medications and their associations with different factors were eligible for inclusion. The review followed the PRISMA reporting and analytical guidelines for systematic reviews. Results: In all, 42 studies conducted across 19 developing countries were selected for the review. The mean prevalence of medication non-adherence (MNA) among the select hypertensive population was 47.34%. Very few studies were conducted in community settings and except for one, no study examined gender differences in MNA factors. The analysis revealed a range of factors that can influence MNA including low household income and socioeconomic status; knowledge and beliefs of hypertension and its management; avoiding side effects of medications; cost of medication; use of herbal preparations; absence of symptoms; irregular follow-up; and dissatisfaction with the treatment and health services provided. There was a general lack of consideration of role of health system in health care delivery, self-efficacy, cultural barriers, per- There was also a lack of gender-specific research which is necessary at community settings given the social and economic vulnerabilities faced by women in developing countries that may affect adherence to antihypertensive medications. Conclusions: Future research in developing countries should consider individual risk perceptions, cultural barriers, gender and the role of local health system in health care delivery when assessing MNA among hypertensive population at community settings.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the top cause of mortality and morbidity in India. People in slums are generally at a higher risk for CHD than Indians living in more affluent areas mostly because of the higher prevalence of major CHD risk factors such as uncontrolled hypertension and tobacco use amongst them. Knowing their CHD risk perceptions and bringing them into line with the actual CHD risk is a prerequisite for effective CHD risk management. Consequently, there is need to develop tailored interventions focusing medication management and tobacco cessation to reduce growing CHD epidemic among slum dwellers and long-term CHD burden in India.