Background and Aims:Mass Drug Administration (MDA) coverage remains an important indicator in elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), especially in context of recent changes in programme strategies in India, such as incorporation of Ivermectin and involvement of urban Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). This study aimed at assessing the coverage and compliance with MDA of Filariasis as well as exploring perspective of beneficiaries for non-consumption in selected slum area of Nagpur city.Methods:Mixed-method study design comprising of quantitative assessment of MDA coverage, followed by qualitative method to explore the reasons of non-compliance was used in selected slum areas of Nagpur city. Using cluster sampling, 240 households were selected and house-to-house visits were made to interview the eligible participants. In-depth interviews were conducted among selected non-compliant participants.Statistical Analysis:Multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with non-consumption. Thematic analysis was done to obtain the reasons of non-consumption as perceived by the beneficiaries.Results:Among the 1096 individuals studied, distribution and consumption coverage were 55.2% and 48.5%, respectively. Effective supervised consumption was further low (28.9%). Coverage compliance gap (CCG) was 12.1%. Male sex and younger age (2-5 years) were significant socio-demographic determinants of non-consumption. No repeat visit to houses left in first round, fear of side effects, pill burden, poor understanding about the need were important reasons as revealed by qualitative inquiry.Conclusion:Effective pre-campaign awareness, incorporation of context specific drug delivery strategies and strengthening monitoring system are essential for successful MDA implementation.

Early detection of hypertension and its risk factors are considered the best possible intervention to avoid complications later in life. Our study was conducted to assess the prevalence of hypertension and its determinants among adolescents of selected schools in slums of Nagpur city, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 910 school students of Class-VI to IX studying at selected government schools of Nandanvan area, Nagpur city, Central India. A questionnaire for diet, behaviour and mental health was adapted from the Global School Health Survey Questionnaire. Children were considered hypertensive if the systolic or diastolic BP or both were ≥95th centile considering height, age and sex. Results: We found 10.6% and 12.9% were pre-hypertensive and hypertensive respectively. Inadequate physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle were reported in 62.3% and 22.7%. In adjusted analysis, father's occupation, family history of Hypertension, mental health symptoms and overweight had significantly increased odds of developing hypertension. Conclusion: As prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors are high amongst the school students, the need to develop school based focused intervention is paramount.

Background: Family planning (FP) programme has been integrated since long with MCH programme in order to reduce maternal and child mortality. The period of pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal period is very crucial to sensitize the women to adopt contraceptive practice because during this time they are in constant contact with health provider and more receptive to advice. The present study is designed in this context to see whether the utilization of maternal health services have any impact on adoption of modern contraceptives in extended postpartum period. Materials and Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was done in urban slum of Jamnagar, Gujarat, for 1 year in 2016. Two-stage sampling methodology was used; in first stage, 30 Anganwadi centres (AWC) was chosen by systemic random sampling and in second stage from each AWC, 8 women in extended postpartum period were included. Study included total 240 women. Sampling was done at household level. Descriptive statistics for sociodemographic factors and reproductive characteristics were done. Chi-square test was used to find association between different variables. Result: Prevalence of using modern contraceptive was only 24.6%. The most preferred choice was barrier method (35.5%), followed by sterilization (27.1%), Intrauterine device (IUD) (25.04%), and OCP (12%). Around 57% women had taken ≥4 health center visit during their last pregnancy and 7.5% had never visited or consulted. 12% women were delivered at home. Majority of the participants (63.5%) were not paid visit by health worker, only 15% were provided with adequate postnatal visit and 21% had inadequate visit during their immediate postpartum period. A statistical association was found between usage of contraceptive with health center visit during ANC, postnatal visit by HW, parity and age of women in extended postpartum period. Conclusion: There is need to improve the quality of maternal health services to increase the utilization of FP services.

Purpose: Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable time when rapid physical growth increases nutrient demand. Addressing the nutrition needs of adolescents could be an important step toward breaking the vicious cycle of intergenerational malnutrition. Under the healthy school initiative, a baseline assessment was carried out to assess the nutritional status, dietary habits, and personal hygiene of school-going adolescents to plan the future interventions at school level. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two government-aided schools for 6 months among 814 students of Class VI–IX to assess their dietary habits and personal hygiene by using the GSHS (Global School based student Health Survey) -2007(Indian version) tool. Anthropometric measurement was taken by standard technique. Results: The study found the proportion of thinness, stunting, and overweight/obesity as 40%, 20%, and 4.2%, respectively. Male students were found more thin (61.1% vs. 38.8%) and stunted (55.6% vs. 44.4%) as compared to female students. Less than one-fourth (13.7%) of the students reported <5 servings of fruits and vegetables. In multivariable analysis, male students, children of homemaker mother, skipping breakfast on all days of week, consumption of fast food ≥3 times/week, consumption of high sugary ready to use food, and infrequent handwashing after toilet were found to be predictors of thinness. Conclusion: Dietary habits and personnel hygiene were found to be important factors of undernutrition; promoting health behavior through school health policy with involvement of teachers, students, and parents is highly recommended to reduce the problem of undernutrition among adolescents.

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