The term "psychoactive substances" encompasses tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs (e.g. opioids, cannabinoids and cocaine) as well as psychoactive prescription drugs and solvents. Today, there is no part of the world that is free from the curse of drug trafficking and drug addiction. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day. 1 According to the World health organization (WHO) substance abuse is persistent or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice. 2 As per the world health report 2002, tobacco and alcohol use were among the 10 leading risk factors for the global burden of disease measured in DALYs. Globally, tobacco and alcohol as a risk factors cause 4.1% and 4.0% of the total burden of disability respectively. 4.2% of the global population aged 15 and over used illicit drugs, causing 0.8% of the total burden of disability. 3 In India tobaccoattributable mortality is estimated to increase from 1% of total mortality in 1990 to 13% by 2020. 4 According to a UN report, One million heroin addicts are registered in India, and unofficially there are as many as five million. 1 Cannabis, heroin, and Indian-produced pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in India. Cannabis products, often called Charas, Bhang or Ganja are abused throughout the country because it has attained some amount of religious sanctity because of its association with some Hindu deities. 5 Numerous surveys have been conducted since the early 1970 at various levels and in various populations in India to assess the ABSTRACT Background: Tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use continue to result in substantial morbidity and mortality and significant societal economic costs despite considerable efforts to minimize use of illicit substances and prevent use of illicit substances. The objective is to estimate the prevalence of substance use and its association with sociodemographic variables. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out through house to house visits on 1341 randomly selected people of 10 years and above age group in urban area of Surendranagar city, Gujarat, India. Results: In present study, overall prevalence of substance abuse was 18.86%. The mean age of onset for drug use was 26.9 years. Proportion of substance abuse found to be greater among males (79.84%), those who were from class IV (68.37%), those who were belongs to joint families (61.67%) and who were literate (55.73%). The most common substance to be abused was tobacco (38%) followed by alcohol (34%). Females showed high prevalence for chhikni or bajjar (80.39%). Conclusions: Our study revealed that in spite of having strict legislation for prohibition of substance abuse, people are still addicted with alcohol, cannabis, drugs etc. So prohibition has done nothing more than drive liquor underground. There is a need to change either in law or in behavior of people at large.

Background: Despite tremendous economic progress made through liberalization and globalization, gender preference for children remains a major issue in any society throughout the globe. The aim of the study was to determine the gender preference for children and its impact on family among study population.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out between October-2013 to December-2013 in the urban (Ratanpar) and rural (Khodu village) field practice area of C U Shah Medical College Surendranagar, Gujarat. Total 377 study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using pre designed and pre tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS.Results: Out of total study population, about 78.8% were completed their family and 21.2% had desire for child in near future. Those who had completed their family, nearly two third of them were blessed with both male and female child (62%). Among those who had desire for child (n=80), about two fifth (41.2%) wished to have male child. At parity one, 52% had desire for only male child as next child and also strong preference for male child was observed at parity two and above among those having only female children.Conclusions: Study revealed that most of the couples wish to have at least one son in the family hence perception of parents towards desired gender of child to be born must be gravitated in favor of daughters.

Background: Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) vary widely depending on the region of the country, dietary habits, and socio-economic status. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of GDM and risk factors associated with it, in women attending an antenatal care (ANC) clinic at urban health training center in Rajkot city, Gujarat.Methods: This study enrolled women, with estimated gestational age between 24 and 28 week, attending UHC in Rajkot. After informing, women who consented to participate were given a standardized 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A proforma containing general information on demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, education level, parity, family history of diabetes and/or hypertension was filled up. Diabetes in pregnancy study group India (DIPSI) criteria for 75 g 2-h OGTT was used for diagnosing GDM.Results: Total of 366 women participated in the study and GDM was diagnosed in 36 (9.8%) women. Age, parity, BMI, family history of DM and hypertension were accessed and found to be not significant. History of hypertension in previous pregnancy was statistically significant with occurrence of GDM in present pregnancy.Conclusions: The prevalence of GDM was found to be 9.8 per cent in a UHC, Rajkot. Appropriate interventions are required for control of GDM and modifications of risk factors.

Introduction: Emergency contraception (EC) serves as a backup in case regular contraception fails, can remarkablybring down the risk of a consequent unintended pregnancy and further complications. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practice regarding EC among married women. To determine the association between knowledge regarding EC and socio demographic variables of married women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among urban slum areas of Jamnagar City with use of 30 cluster sampling techniquein the year 2012-13. From each cluster 15 women of reproductive age group(15-49years) were taken as study participants and total 450 married women were enrolled in the study. Statistical analysis was done by using appropriate statistical tests. Result: Out of total 450 study population,30.22% women ever heard of emergency contraception (EC) among them all were aware about E-pills, Majority considered EC safe(80.88%).very few women got knowledge from doctor (1.47%) and health workers (10.29%).only 31.23% women had ever used it. Women who were<30 years age old, well-educated and from upper socioeconomic status were more aware regarding EC. Nearly 50% women took E-pills because of timing was miscalculated (25.81%) or they were not using any contraceptives (22.58%).All the women who had practiced EC, revealed that it is 100% effective method for prevention of unwanted pregnancy in case of emergency. Conclusion: In this study, knowledge and usage rate of EC was found limited. Strategies to promote EC use should be focused on spreading accurate knowledge about it through information education and communication by health care providers and other audio-visual media.