BACKGROUNDThe Integrated Child Development Services Scheme represents one of world's largest and unique programme for early childhood development. Preschool children call for focused attention in India because India has the highest percentage of undernourished children in the world.The objective of this study was to identify the extent of utilisation of Anganwadi services in Kannur district, North Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional study was done during July 2013-June 2014 in 44 Anganwadi centres of Kannur district. The Anganwadis were selected using multistage random sampling. The information regarding Anganwadi service utilisation was collected by interviewing mothers. Data was entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analysis done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTSThe total number of preschool children studied was 456. The average number of days of supplementary nutrition in the previous month was 20.34 ± 2.107. Of the total three health education classes conducted in last three months, 37.9% of mothers have attended all the three classes. Vitamin A was taken at six-month intervals by 54% of children and 8.99% children had taken albendazole at six-month intervals. CONCLUSIONThe supplementary nutrition from Anganwadi is properly utilised by the beneficiaries, whereas services like health education and antihelminthics are poorly utilised. There is shortage of vitamin A supply. Measures have to be taken to improve these services.

Background: Adolescents face a range of health challenges, numerous information and guidance regarding adolescent health remaining ignored due to constraints at different levels of health system.One of the main problems among adolescent girls are irregular menstruation, excessive bleeding and dysmenorrhoea. Menstrual irregularities during adolescent period have association with reproductive morbidities in adulthood.Targeting this age group with awareness and early correction of matters and misconceptions related to adolescent sexual reproductive health issues would enable us to yield a healthy society and empowered youth. Objective: To study the prevalence and pattern of menstrual disorders and its associated factors among IX to XII class adolescent girls in Kannur district. Methods: Cross-sectional study among school going adolescent Girls from class IX to XII in Kannur District. Results: Among the 1722 study participants, 48.8% had menstrual disorders, in which dysmenorrhoea is the most common menstrual disorder reported 71.5%. The risk factors like rural residence, lower socioeconomic status, mixed diet, non-consumption of egg, not physically active both during routine life and also during menstruation, increased BMI showed a significant association with menstrual disorder among the study participants. Conclusion: Use of services by adolescents is limited may be due to lack of adequate privacy and confidentiality and judgemental attitudes of service providers, who often lack counselling skills. Therefore, effective services like assurance of confidentiality, psychological support, counselling is necessary.