National Family Health Survey. [2] Efficiency of weekly iron supplementation in the control of nutritional anemia has been demonstrated in various research settings of India [3-7] and abroad. [8-11] A study done by Deshmukh et al. found better compliance to Iron folic acid (IFA) tablet consumption in rural areas as compared to urban areas and another study from rural Wardha reported perceived benefits to adolescent girls such as an increase in appetite and reduction in scanty menses, tiredness, and weakness, acted as positive factors for better compliance with weekly iron supplementation. [3,4] The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has launched the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program for school-going adolescent girls and boys and for out-of-school adolescent girls. The Government of Background: Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program is a newly initiated program in Pondicherry. It was con sidered crucial to explore the compliance and "for and against" forces for it so as to facilitate its future implementation in a community setting. Objectives: To evaluate the recently initiated WIFS program for government school children. Materials and Methods: It was a mixed-methods study design, where quantitative (survey of students) and qualitative (key informant interviews of teacher in charge of WIFS, health assistants, and auxiliary nurse midwife) methods were used. Results: Out of the 345 participants of quantitative survey, there were 110 boys and 235 girls. Majority (85.8%) of the students reported to consume four tablets of Iron folic acid (IFA) in the past 4 weeks. The major reasons for noncompliance reported were absenteeism (55.1%), powdery tablet (22.4%), and side effects (22.5%). Most motivating role in taking IFA tablet regularly was played by the teacher. The percentage of students who correctly reported at least three iron-rich food was 40%. Significantly girls had better knowledge about symptoms of anemia and iron-rich diet than boys. Major positive factors for the program reported by the students and key informants were benefits such as an improved sense of well-being, motivation by parents, teachers, and friends, heath education by the local medical officer and health staff, regular supply of tablets, and demand from private schools for IFA tablets. Major negative factors for the program reported were fear of adverse effects such as nausea, attribution of abdominal pain due to other causes of IFA tablets, and extra workload on teachers. Conclusion: We found a good compliance to IFA tablet consumption. In order to improve the program further, awareness about side effects on IFA tablet consumption and health education about iron-rich diet should be strengthened.

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain disorder throughout the world. [1,2] A large cross-sectional study conducted in Kerala found the prevalence of epilepsy as 4.9/1000 population. [3] Although 70% of people with epilepsy can live normal lives with proper treatment, more than 80% people with epilepsy, living in developing

Background: Professionalism has been recognized as an important competency of a doctor by various regulatory bodies. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of medical undergraduate students and to assess their attitude on professionalism. Materials and Methods: It was a qualitative study in which four focus group discussions were conducted, one for each year of course. Results: A total of seven themes emerged after the qualitative analysis of the data, namely qualities of a good doctor, need of teaching professionalism, ways of learning professionalism by medical students, ways of teaching professionalism, assessment of professionalism, factors promoting professionalism, and factors hindering professionalism. The students perceived that a good doctor should be committed to excellence, responsive and accountable to patients, profession and community, selfless, healthy, good communicator, ethical and law abiding, practice integrity, and social justice. The students preferred to learn professionalism by role modeling by faculties and case-based scenario discussions. Conclusion: Medical undergraduate students should be briefed about the need and importance of professionalism through small-group discussions involving narratives, case scenarios, and role modeling by faculty. Professionalism of both students and faculties should be assessed and appropriate action taken.

No abstract

No abstract