Background: Wood workers are predisposed to many occupational diseases. Studying work place environment and its association with the morbidities would provide practical insights to promote the health and prevent disease in wood workers. Present study intends to study the epidemiological determinants of health and morbidity in wood workers.Methods: Quantitative method of research is used. All One hundred and five wood workers in the study area were recruited after taking informed consent. A semi-structured, pre-validated, questionnaire consisting of questions on sociodemographic profile, working pattern, morbidities experienced and working environment was prepared. Data was collected using one to one interview at their workplace. Environmental factors like iIllumination (In LUX) and noise level (in db) at the work place was measured using a Lux meter and sound level meter respectively. Association between different variables were analysed using Chi-square test or t-test wherever applicable.Results: Participants were all male belonging to economically productive age group. They were predominantly Muslims, belonging to lower socioeconomic status. Morbidities experienced by the wood workers were musculoskeletal pain (52%), skin problems (57%), eye problems (57.14%) and ear problems (32.38%). Inadequate illumination (<100 LUX) and noise levels more than 90 db were significantly associated with increased accidents and ear morbidities respectively.Conclusions: Poor working environment and non-compliance with the working standards prescribed by ILO (Indian Labour Organisation) are associated with morbidities among the workers. Environmental modification, use of protective devices, availability of basic minimum facilities for working and continuous monitoring of the workplaces by competent authority would help in decreasing the prevalence of morbidities among woodworkers.

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Skin diseases are amongst the most frequent disease of school going-children in many developing as well as developed countries. The pattern and prevalence of these dermatoses depend on various epidemiological factors. The pattern and prevalence of these dermatoses can reflect the health, hygiene, socioeconomic status and the environmental condition prevailing in a certain community. In our country 100-150 million children are of school going age. The prevalence of paediatric dermatoses in various parts of India has ranged from 8.7% to 35% in school based surveys. So an effort has been made here to bring forth the pattern, prevalence and socio-demographic determinants of skin diseases among school going children in a town of South India. This study was conducted in students of class 1 to class x of the government schools in Amalapuram town of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Health education programme with emphasis on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation together with providing knowledge of the aetiology and spread of the disease and various treatments available would go a long way in controlling these diseases.

The present study attempted to determine health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). COMOT-15 and COMQ-12 questionnaires were administered to 100 individuals with CSOM of South India. The study also attempted to determine the possible predictors (demographic and audiological results) of HRQOL based on demographic details (gender, onset and nature of hearing loss) and pure-tone average. The results of study showed that individuals with CSOM in South India exhibit poor health-related quality of life. The ear-related symptoms and emotional difficulties because of CSOM affect their HRQOL. The study also showed that scores were poorer in individuals with higher degree of loss and longer onset of CSOM. It was also found that gender and nature of hearing loss were poor predictors of HRQOL measures. Thus, it is essential to determine HRQOL measures to understand the problems from the patient’s perspective and provide appropriate management.