Background: Newborn mortality is one of the world's most neglected health problems. It is estimated that globally four million newborns die before they reach 1 month of age and another four million are stillborn every year. Aims & Objectives:(1) To study the maternal care in terms of Antenatal, Intranatal and Postnatal care practices; (2) To assess newborn care practices in rural areas. Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study in rural areas of Navsari district, Gujarat, included 243 women who had one child aged 12 to 23 months preceding data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical software Epi Info 6. Results: All the mothers under study had adequate ANC check-ups. All the mothers had received Iron supplements during ANC but 72.8% of them completed it for 3 months. Majority (99.2%) had institutional delivery. Regarding thermal care practices, half of the women reported that the baby was dried and wrapped within 15 minutes of birth. More than one third (37.8%) of babies were bathed in less than 24 hours of birth. Most of the mothers (93.4%) had put substances on the umbilical cord. About 32% of the infants had received pre-lacteals feeds. The colostrum was fed by 90.9% of mothers. Only 56.4% mothers initiated breast-feeding within 1 hour of birth. Conclusion: In majority of cases, correct practices regarding newborn care were observed among mothers and this should be promoted through improved coverage with existing health services.

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Background: Infant feeding practices have a major role in determining the nutritional status of children and are associated with household socioeconomic and demographic factors. Aims & Objectives: (1) To study the socio-demographic profile of mothers; (2) To assess impact of feeding practices on nutritional status of children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study in rural areas of Navsari district, Gujarat, included 243 women, who had one child aged 12 to 23 months preceding data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical software Epi Info 6. Anthropometric analysis was done by using WHO Anthro software (version 3.2.2). Results: Breastfeeding was universal in the study area. Only 56.4 % of mothers initiated breastfeeding within one hour. Only 36.2 % of infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and 97.5 % had received complementary feeding at 6-9 months of age. There was 11.5% prevalence of underweight, 15.6% prevalence of stunting and 8.6% prevalence of wasting. There was significant association between underweight with the birth order of the child, birth weight of the child and time of initiation of the breast-feeding to the child. There was significant association between stunting with the sex of the child. There was significant association between time of initiation of breast-feeding with the birth order of the child and type of delivery. Conclusion: Malnutrition was associated with perinatal care practices and infant feeding practices. Efforts are needed to promote early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and age-appropriate complementary feeding among infants.

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Introduction: The study investigates the cost incurred by leptospirosis patients as either out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) or opportunity cost (OC) and recommends accordingly for the national program on leptospirosis in India. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine leptospirosis-related OOPE and OC at a government tertiary care hospital and to disaggregate the total OOPE into contributing cost domains. Materials and Methods: The OOPE data were collected by the personal interview of confirmed leptospirosis cases who took complete treatment at the hospital in year 2009 using a prestructured questionnaire. The patients were interviewed daily until discharge to know daily OOPE. Results: The mean OOPE per patient was Rs. 2157/-, Median: Rs. 1880/-, 25 th –75 th percentile: Rs. 1446 – Rs 2587.5). The lowest quintile for OOPE was Rs. 1330/- and the highest quintile was Rs. 2874/-. Loss of daily wages was 68% (Rs. 1458.9/-) of the total OOPE. Other major expenditure included cost of drugs Rs. 308.8/- (14%), expenditure on food Rs. 173/- (8%), and travelling expenses Rs. 204.4/- (9%). Conclusions: Rs. 2157/- is significant OOPE, and hence, important factor in understanding health-seeking behavior and compliance of leptospirosis patients. The OC (loss of daily wages) amounts to 68% of total OOPE which has to addressed by the government to realize universal health coverage.