Background: In India, a large number of pregnancies are unplanned resulting in unsafe and illegal abortion. For every legal abortion, 10 to 11 illegal abortions are occurring which endangers the health and survival of the women. In recent years, there is an increase in unwanted and unintended pregnancy at the early age group. Usage of emergency contraception (EC) can decrease the unwanted pregnancy and provide a healthier life. Aim: The aim of study is to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding EC among college students in Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the college students of Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 758 students were selected by convenient sampling technique. Data was collected by administering a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Out of 758 students, 183(24%) heard about EC. The commonest source of information was the internet 91 (49.7%). The majority 116 (63.4%) knew that it does not prevent STDs. Of those who were aware, 42% were aware of 42.6% are aware of the time limit to use EC. The knowledge level of about the EC was moderate (60.1%), and it was significantly (p < 0.05) more among students > 25 years old, married participants, students in private institution, of lower socioeconomic status, Muslim students and days' scholars. The negative attitude towards EC was 59%. Nearly 38.8% believed that the EC will affect the next menstrual period, and 35.5% informed it will increase high risk behaviour among adults. The attitude level was significantly associated with the same factors associated with the awareness level with the factors Christian religion replacing Muslim and higher socioeconomic class replacing lower class participants. Conclusion: The knowledge level of the studied college students was moderate, and they mostly had negative attitude towards the EC. Reproductive health education should be given in educational institutions to promote awareness and to remove misconceptions about EC.

Aim This study explored the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of higher education students towards COVID-19. In addition, this study analysed the association of socio-demographic variables with KAP apart from finding the relationship between KAP. Subject and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in India. Study participants were selected using a convenient sampling method from various higher educational institutions across 22 states in India. Data was collected using selfadministered close-ended questionnaires via Google forms. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentage for descriptive purposes. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between groups, and correlation analysis was used to illustrate the significant relationship between KAP. Results The majority, that is, 65.5% of students possess a high level of knowledge about the disease. It was noteworthy that 71.0% of them had a positive attitude towards COVID-19 and 66.7% of them exhibited desirable practices to mitigate COVID-19. Furthermore, the results showed a significant association between KAP and some of the socio-demographic variables studied. Social media emerged as a vital source of information regarding COVID-19 for the majority (81.0%) of students. Also, a strong significant positive correlation was observed between KAP variables. Conclusion One-fourth of the students demonstrated only low and moderate levels of knowledge, negative attitude and undesirable practices in preventing COVID-19. The implications suggesting various approaches to enhance KAP to moderate the spread of COVID-19 among the students were recommended to aid the higher educational institutions.

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We determined whether a single injection of slow-release estradiol-17beta (SRE2) would induce pseudopregnancy in gilts and whether PGF2alpha would regress the corpora lutea (CL) of pseudopregnancy. Crossbred gilts (n = 40) were induced to ovulate by treatment with 400 IU of hCG + 200 IU of eCG (PG600, Intervet, Millsboro, DE) given at 180 d of age (d = 0). On d 14, gilts were injected i.m. with one of five doses (n = 8 gilts/dose) of SRE2 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg). Blood samples were collected before SRE2 and twice weekly until d 73 to monitor serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2). On d 59, gilts received (i.m.) 10 mg of PGF2alpha (Lutalyse, Pharmacia Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI) and were checked for estrus for 7 d. On d 62, mammary development was scored (0 = no development; 1 = some development; 2 = teat and gland development) by a neutral observer. Treatment with SRE2 increased (P < .05) peak E2 concentrations, duration of luteal function, and mammary gland score. There were no differences (chi-square, P > .05) among doses of SRE2 in the percentage of pseudopregnant gilts that showed luteolysis after PGF2alpha. We conclude that a single injection of SRE2 can induce pseudopregnancy and that the CL can be regressed with PGF2alpha, providing a simple method for controlling estrus in gilts.