Breastfeeding is a crucial and unrivalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants."

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Introduction:Workers represent half the world's population and are major contributors to economic and social development. Tobacco consumption in construction site workers has been considered a big challenge.Objectives:(1) To assess the prevalence of nicotine dependence among tobacco users. (2) To study the correlates of nicotine dependence among the construction site workers.Methodology:A cross sectional study was conducted using a predesigned and pretested structured proforma. The study was conducted among all construction site workers aged 18yrs and above in campus of Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and associated HAH centenary hospital, New Delhi. Karl Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire was used to assess dependence on nicotine.Results:The mean age of construction site workers was 32.04±11.6 years. Among the workers, majority (91%) were tobacco user. Among the users, 60% found it difficult to refrain from smoking/chewing in places where use of tobacco is not allowed (e.g. hospitals, government offices, cinemas, Libraries etc). 55% of the users smoked or chewed tobacco during the first hours after waking than during the rest of the day. On multivariate analysis, the factors which were found to be significantly associated with nicotine dependence were lower income group (OR 2.57, CI:1.66-3.99), smokeless tobacco use (OR 2.36, CI:1.30-4.27) and lower education (OR = 2.86 (95% CI 1.97-4.16) for illiterate).Discussion:The prevalence of tobacco use (91%) among construction workers is very high compared to that in the general population. Recognition of construction sites as work places and proper implementation of law is needed.

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Background:Information on predictors of quitting behavior among construction site tobacco users is scarce in India. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the intention of tobacco users toward quitting and its predictors with reference to sociodemographic profile.Methodology:A community-based, observational study was conducted on adult 172 construction site workers in a university campus of Delhi. Data were collected by an interview using the WHO-adopted, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify the predictors.Results:Of the 172 users, 73% had intention to quit. More than half of smokers (56.5%) and 81% of smokeless tobacco users intended to quit. Majority of the tobacco users who intended to quit were literate (75.0%), started tobacco use >15 years of age (75.4%), occasional tobacco users (78.9%), and less dependent on nicotine (74.4%).Conclusions:Suitable plan for quitting keeping in mind this vulnerable group of workers should be developed depending on the literacy, type of tobacco used, and nicotine dependency.

Background:Ragpickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage on daily basis. They work in vulnerable conditions and awareness regarding occupational and environmental hazard is essential for them.Objective:To study the effectiveness of awareness program on various occupational health hazards among the ragpickers.Materials and Methods:This interventional study was conducted from May through October 2016 among the ragpickers living near field practice area of Department of Community Medicine and those living in slum areas around HAHC Hospital, New Delhi, India. The awareness regarding occupational and environmental health hazards was assessed using a pretested and predesigned pro forma. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the ragpickers from the various areas. Health awareness and education package was designed for the ragpickers. The package was delivered by medical officers and health workers. A posttest assessment was done 2 weeks after the awareness activity.Result:Among 150 ragpickers, there was significant improvement in knowledge immediate post training on knowledge of occupational hazard and hygiene.Conclusion:Efforts should be put to develop training materials on occupation and environmental health and injury issue relating to waste management.

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