Hospital-based perinatal outcomes and complications in teenage pregnancy in India.

Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide problem bearing serious social and medical implications relating to maternal and child health. A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken to compare the different sociodemographic characteristics and perinatal outcomes of teenage primigravida mothers with those of adult primigravida mothers in a tertiary-care hospital in eastern India. A sample of 350 each in cases and comparison group comprised the study subjects. Data were collected through interviews and by observations using a pretested and predesigned schedule. Results revealed that the teenage mothers had a higher proportion (27.7%) of preterm deliveries compared to 13.1% in the adult mothers and had low-birthweight babies (38.9% vs 30.4% respectively). Stillbirth rate was also significantly higher in teenage deliveries (5.1% vs 0.9% respectively). The teenage mothers developed more adverse perinatal complications, such as preterm births, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and delivered low-birthweight babies, when compared with those of the adult primigravida mothers. Teenage pregnancy is still a rampant and important public-health problem in India with unfavourable perinatal outcomes and needs to be tackled on a priority basis.

A study on catch up growth among low birth weight infants in an urban slum of Kolkata.

OBJECTIVES: To study the catch up growth among low birth weight infants in relation to the normal birth weight counterparts in first six months of age. METHODS: A longitudinal community based study was done in 2004 -05 in an urban slum of Chetla, Kolkata among 126 singleton live born babies. Growth pattern of these babies was followed up at 15+/-5 days interval by house visit till six months of age. RESULTS: The incidence of low birth weight babies was 28.6%. 86.1% LBW infants caught up in length at 3rd month, 63.9% in chest circumference at 4th month, 66.7% in head circumference at 5th month, while 72.2% in weight at 6th month. Regular growth monitoring is essential for LBW babies to detect signs of growth faltering at the earliest.

An epidemiological study of low birth weight newborns in the district of Puruliya, West Bengal.

BACKGROUND: A community-based epidemiological study on birth weight of newborns was undertaken in the rural domain of a backward district of West Bengal. OBJECTIVES: To find out the magnitude of low birth weight (< 2.5 kg.) newborns and to highlight association, if any, of the socio-demographic, maternal and obstetric factors with birth weight of newborns. METHODS: The study was undertaken in 30 sub-centre areas (cluster), selected by '30 clusters sampling technique', in the rural area of Puruliya district. An adequate sample of 512 newborns (466 plus 10% extra allowance) delivered in those selected clusters (17 consecutive deliveries in each cluster) were to be studied. But, due to inability to record birth weight within 48 hours (in home deliveries) and other reasons, 487 newborns were included in assessing magnitude of the LBW problem. In-depth information on several variables was obtained from 439 mothers of the newborns. Health Workers (F), Anganwadi Workers, Trained dais and Health Supervisors -(F), specially trained for the survey, collected information by using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: The incidence of LBW was 31.3%. Among different variables studied, statistically significant association was found in case of educational level of mothers and also place of delivery of newborns. More such community-based studies should be conducted

Gender inequality in nutritional status among under five children in a village in Hooghly district, West Bengal.

A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mollasimla village of Hooghly district of West Bengal, to examine the differences in nutritional status of under-five males and females and to determine the different bio-social factors associated with such differences. It was found that 55.9%, 51.4% and 42.3% of the girls were underweight, stunted and wasted respectively compared to 46.6%, 40.5% and 35.3% of the boys and a significantly higher proportion of malnutrition was found to be present among female children of higher birth order and those belonging to families with lower per capita income compared to the males.

A study on the delivery practices in riverine & non-riverine blocks of the district of South 24-Parganas, West Bengal.

A cross sectional study was undertaken in three riverine and two non-riverine blocks of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal to study the delivery practices and compare between two locality. During the reference period of one year, of 3073 total deliveries, 89.36% were home deliveries. Home deliveries were higher in the riverine blocks (95.07%) compared to non-riverine blocks (81.64%). 'Dai' conducted 58.36% and 90.62% of home deliveries in riverine and non-riverine blocks respectively. Only 18.4% of the 'Dai' were trained.

Occupational health problems among agricultural and plantation workers.

Agricultural and plantation works are associated with a variety of unique occupational health hazards in the form of physical factors like extreme weather conditions, sunrays, etc; chemicaVtoxicological hazards in the form of pesticides/fertilisers, etc, including different forms of biological and mechanical hazards. As most of our rural people are engaged in varied types of agricultural activities, they are highly susceptible for suffering from numerous work related health disorders. There are very few data regarding the epidemiology of occupational health disorders among agricultural and plantation workers. Clinically well recognised group of occupationally acquired health problems may be respiratory, dermatological, traumatic, poisoning and neoplastic in nature. Prevalence of some specific zoonotic diseases and behavioural health problems are also found to be more among them. There is lack of attention for prevention and control of these occupational health problems. An adequately developed comprehensive occupational health care programme having all the components of preventive, curative and rehabilitative aspects can only promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being in all types of agricultural and plantation workers of rural India.

Risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases among bank employees--a biochemical approach.

In different epidemiological studies, an association between sedentary life style and incidence of cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. This study was carried out among 50 sedentary bank employees working at different nationalized banks within Calcutta City, India and 50 individuals with non-sedentary jobs matched for age group and sex for the control group. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), plasma level of glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglycerides (Tgs) were found to be significantly higher whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) and reduced glutathione were found to be significantly lower among the bank employees as compared with the control subjects. Further, significant alteration in the activity of different enzymes (e.g., glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) involved in glutathione-mediated antioxidant scavenging systems and increases in lipid peroxidation were also observed in the bank employees. From the study, it appears that the relative risk for cardiovascular disease is increased among bank employees due to the sedentary nature of their jobs.

Influence of cigarette smoking on Vitamin C, glutathione and lipid peroxidation status.

There has been a growing interest during recent years in the role of free radicals and lipid-peroxidation at tissue-level for the causation of cancer and other age-related diseases like atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cataract etc. Free radicals and increased lipid peroxidation play a significant role for causation of human diseases by oxidative damage and functional degeneration of the tissues. Vitamin C, a well-known dietary antioxidant, and other enzymatic antioxidants like glutathione can protect the lipids of lipoproteins and other biomembranes against peroxidative damage by intercepting oxidants before they can attack the tissues. But cigarette smoking was found to affect the antioxidant protective action of Vitamin C, glutathione etc. A group of adult male smokers in this study were found to have lowered Vitamin 'C' & glutathione levels, but increased lipid-peroxide levels in their blood. Thus the increased pathogenicity of the smoking may also be due to indirect biochemical effect of enhanced oxidative stress by increased lipid-peroxidation and lowered Vitamin C & other antioxidants at tissue-level.

Drug consumption pattern in low socio-economic group in an urban community.

117 families, having a total population of 558 were studied regarding drug consumption pattern. It was found that the average no. of episodes per person was 0.99 of which drugs were consumed for 72% of episodes. Significant difference was observed in consumption of drugs between males and females. Allopathic medicines were consumed for 93.3% of the episodes and the major source (53.8%) of medical care was from private practitioners. It was seen that the number of drugs consumed per episode of sickness rose as the per capita income increased. Vitamins and Minerals (22.3%) were the main group of drugs consumed. Drugs acting on the alimentary system (17.5%), Respiratory System (14.7%), Antimicrobials (14.6%) and Analgesics (10.8%) contributed to 80% of drug intake.

Diet intake patterns of non-Bengali Muslim mothers during pregnancy and lactation.

PIP: An explorative study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diet patterns during pregnancy and lactation among Non-Bengali Muslim mothers. 100 consecutive mothers admitted for delivery in the Obstetric Ward of Islamia Hospital, Calcutta, were selected as index cases. Retrospective data from these mothers were collected about their diet patterns during pregnancy. At least 3 home visits were made for each mother after her discharge from the hospital: the 1st visit within 7 days after discharge, the 2nd visit when the infant was 4-6 months old during the weaning period, and the 3rd visit when the infant was 8-12 months old. 60% of mothers were illiterate and 34% had up to primary level education, while only 4% and 2% of mothers had up to secondary and higher than secondary level education, respectively. None of the mothers was working. Only 13% of the families' daily diet was nonvegetarian. There was a wide gap between the mothers' attitude towards various nutritious food categories and the actual practice of consuming them because of the inability to buy those food items owing to poverty. When pregnant, they avoided leafy vegetables (96%) as well as brinjal, cauliflower, and cabbage (42%) for fear of gastric upset. 75% of mothers avoided pineapple and papaya; and 50% avoided fish since it was believed to cause scaly patches on the child's face and body. 76% of mothers, irrespective of their level of education or economic status, were consuming sago, barley, garlic, and turmeric in the erroneous belief of augmenting breast milk secretion. Garlic and turmeric were also believed to improve the baby's complexion and protect the baby and mother from cough and cold. Common food items avoided by mothers during lactation were vegetables (93%), fruits (81%), pulses (59%), and roots and tubers (54%).^ieng