Background: Nutritional status of a Tuberculosis (TB) patient plays a role in disease manifestation.  Aims & Objective: To assess the nutritional status of adult tuberculosis patients under intensive phase of treatment. Settings and Design: A descriptive study with cross-sectional design was conducted at Burdwan Municipality of West Bengal. Methods and Material: In this study, TB patients aged 18 years and above receiving intensive phase of treatment, registered in the Tuberculosis units in the months of October-December, 2018 and residing in the municipality were approached. Nutritional status was evaluated through two approaches - dietary intake by twenty-four hours recall method and anthropometric status by measuring weight, height, BMI and MUAC. Data were analysed using SPSS v20. Results: Out of 113 study subjects, under-nutrition was present in 61.9% and inappropriate MUAC was observed in 68.1%. Interestingly, intake of Cereals and Millets among food groups was found to be deficient. The adjusted odds ratio for having under-nutrition among new cases compared to previously treated was 0.16 (0.33-0.82). Conclusions: For combating protein energy malnutrition in TB patients, emphasis should be given on balanced diet intake.

Background: Due to their occupation, health workers are always at-risk of developing life-threatening infections. “Standard precautions” acts as a protective barrier against this. There is a lack of information about awareness on standard precaution among auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), the frontline health personnel working at Sub-centres. The aim of the study was to assess the current awareness on Standard precautions among ANMs.Methods: This descriptive study with cross-sectional design was conducted at sub centre level of Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision, Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. In this study, conducted between September-November 2017, three blocks were chosen from the seven blocks in the subdivision through simple random sampling. All ANMs working in these blocks were approached and data were collected on background characteristics and knowledge on key elements of Standard precautions using a pre-tested and pre-designed self-administered questionnaire. Items assessing standard precaution were scored one (for correct response) and zero (for incorrect/missed response). Maximum possible score was fourteen and minimum was zero. Statistical analysis used association of acceptability of knowledge with background characteristics were assessed using bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression.Results: Median (IQR) of the score obtained was 10 (9, 12). Out of total 138 subjects, 64.5% had acceptable knowledge (score ≥10) regarding standard precautions. Participants’ age had a statistically significant association with acceptable knowledge in the bivariate analysis; however, in the final model, only training status of the participants remained significant [AOR-0.304 (0.098-0.938)].Conclusions: It emphasized the importance of regular training on Standard precautions for ANMs.