Background: Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity & mortality in children. One of the most cost effective & easy methods for child survival is immunization. In May 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched a global immunization programme known as Expanded Programme of immunization (EPI) to protect all the children of the world against 6 Vaccine Preventable Diseases by the year 2000. It was later redesignated as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) since 1985. The objectives of this study were to assess the dropout rate and primary immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months in Surendranagar city and to know the various reasons for partially or not immunizing the child. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study. Thirty clusters were selected out of a total of 282 blocks of Surendranagar using the cluster sampling method. Cluster sampling method was used for sample selection and the proforma designed by UNICEF was used as a study tool. Sample size was 210 children (7 Children from each cluster) of aged 12-23 months. The obtained data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests like Z test and X2 test. Results: Out Of the 210 surveyed children, 121(57.62%) were males and 89(42.38%) were females. Immunization card was available for 69.52% of children and fully immunized were 70.47%. Coverage was highest for BCG (95.71%) followed by OPV3 (82.85%), DPT3 (79.52%) and lowest for measles (75.23%). As far as the dropout rate is concerned, it was 21.39%, 10.21%, and 9.37% for BCG to measles, DPT1 to DPT3, and OPV1 to OPV3, respectively. Amongst the various reasons main reasons for dropout or unimmunization of children were ignorance in about 64% and lack of information regarding time, place and schedule (21%). Conclusions: Improvement should focus on reducing the dropout rate from DPT2/OPV2 to DPT3/OPV3 and improving coverage of measles and also Vitamin A. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2013; 2(3.000): 286-289

Introduction: In older adults, excess weight is associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, several important cancers, and numerous other medical conditions. Several indices such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are used to classify general. Some studies also reported that WC and WHR is a better indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk than BMI and WHR. Aims and Objective: 1. To estimate the prevalence of obesity among the elderly using three scale viz. BMI, WHR, and WHtR 2. To compare the results of these three-scale used for assessment of obesity 3. To determine the presence of association between obesity and hypertension if any. Material and Methods: For selection of the area, in both the urban and rural areas, the sampling units were enumerated and samples were collected from them. The estimated geriatric population combined in both Urban and Rural areas amounted to 12,220 (7% of geriatric population as per Census 2001), out of which 5% was selected as sample. This came out to be 611 elderly subjects which were selected equally from both urban and rural areas. For assessment of obesity BMI, WHR, and WHtR were measured. Assessment of hypertension was as per JNC classification. Result: Prevalence of obesity as per BMI in the urban area was found to be 40%, whereas that in rural areas was found to be 47.4%. WHR and WHtR showed higher prevalence in rural areas (70%) and also in urban areas (60%). BMI and WHR were significantly associated with hypertensive status of elderly. Conclusion: Anthropometric assessments of obesity like WHR and WHTR are more sensitive indicators of obesity among the elderly. BMI is found to be significantly associated with hypertension as well in the present study. Logistic regression showed that the association of BMI with hypertension was higher than other obesity assessments.

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Background: H1N1 virus has caused a major pandemic worldwide creating a global havoc. The Infection till now has claimed over 14,000 lives. Even after the declaration of the end of pandemic there are still epidemics & sporadic cases reported from many parts of India, which shows that the lacunae left in the awareness among the people. Aims & Objective: (1) To find out the awareness regarding H1N1 influenza among urban population of Surendranagar. (2) To elucidate the correlation of the awareness with the socio demographic characteristics. Material and Methods: Sample selection was by simple random technique & size of the sample was 742. A cross sectional house to house survey was carried out. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS for windows. Results: Out of the 742 subjects, 272 were males and 470 females with mean age of 37.31 ± 17.58. Out of the total no. of subjects, only 430 (57.95%) had heard of swine flu. Majority of the families (70.88%) were from Social Class 1 (Modified Prasad's Classification). Out of those who had heard of swine flu, 43.48% of the individuals knew that the disease transmission was through Coughing, sneezing and airborne. About 42.99% of subjects knew about the major symptoms like fever, coryza and dyspnoea. Conclusion: There was a large no. of individuals in the population who had not heard of swine flu, indicating that in spite of the health education; there has been some loophole in conveying the knowledge regarding the disease to the people, showing an urgent need of more large scale IEC activities.

Background: The aging population is both medical & sociological problem for the country and they suffer with high rates of morbidity and mortality. So Social factors lay a significant impact on the health practices and this study will help us to understand and evaluate their health problems of elderly. Aims and Objective: 1. To assess the social status of elderly population. 2. To associate the findings with morbidities of elderly Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in urban and rural area of Surendranagar district among 611 elderly, using a predesigned and pre tested questionnaire by directly questioning the subjects with oral and written consent. For selection of the area, in both areas, the sampling units were enumerated and samples were collected by using simple random sampling, data was entered and analyzed using MS excel 2007. Result: Nearly 60 % of the subjects were currently unemployed and the predominant family system was 3 generation family. Majority of the families in the urban areas were from social class 4, whereas in the rural areas were from social class 5. Having poor social score had a statistically significant association with presence of morbidity in elderly both areas. Conclusions: Majority of elderly in both urban and rural areas had a poor social status. Role of the family and social structure on the health of the elderly can be clearly established. However, support structure must be developed in our social system in a way that the destitute and dependent elderly are taken care of by either government system or social organizations like NGOs and old age home.