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Introduction: Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) is an important intervention included by WHO as essential elements of antenatal care package. It is often delivered to pregnant women through their active participation by health care provider during antenatal care or initiated/followed up through visits to the homes of pregnant women by community health workers. Objectives: To determine the knowledge and practice regarding BPCR and to identify factors associated with it among rural pregnant women. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of Community Medicine Department of a medical teaching institutes. A total of 210 pregnant women who were in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were selected by simple random sampling and interviewed for data collection. Results: Mean age of study subjects was 24.14 + 3.88 years.The highest number of women was in the age group of 20-29 years (84.8%). More than half (57.6%) mothers had observed at least two or more components of BPCR. Maximum number of females had identified facility for delivery (63.8%) followed by transportation (60.9%). Identification of potential blood donor by mothers was low (14.3%). Bleeding was most commonly identified danger symptom in all three phases of child bearing. Knowledge regarding danger signs was significantly associated with birth preparedness. Conclusion: In the present study, practice of all components of BPCR by mothers was very low. Bleeding was the most commonly identified danger symptom during all three phases i.e., pregnancy, child birth and after birth.Knowledge regarding other danger signs was highly inadequate.

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Background: Use of psychoactive substances by truckers is a common occurrence globally. Truckers have been the objects of a great deal of attention for their high-risk behaviour. Intake of drugs and alcohol by truckers is closely interlinked with high risk sex behaviour. Thus, the present study was pursued to know drug and alcohol consumption pattern.Methods: Cross-sectional study among truckers for more than a year in occupation, aged 18 years and above having residence/operating base in Haryana. Sample of 4000 truckers, 1000 from each from four administrative divisions of Haryana, was taken.Results: About three fourth truckers (77%) were less than 40 years. More than half of truckers (53.2%) consumed alcohol. Only 0.4% truckers confessed of using injectable drugs during last 12 months. 14.9% of truckers confessed of using non-injectable drugs. Ganja, Bhurki and Affim were some of the commonly consumed drugs.Conclusions: Majority truckers (53.2%) consumed alcohol. Drug intake was comparatively less common (14.9%). Injectables were used the least. Directly proportional association of alcohol and drug intake with age, duration of job, non-veg diet among truckers primarily indicated as consequences of long, lonely and harsh occupational conditions. Hence, comprehensive interventions including, improvement in road conditions, entertainment and health facility at halt places, stringent driving license terms and conditions to ensure professional competency and better wages to make truckers life worth living. This will also make them amenable to health education promoting healthy and risk-free behavior among them.

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