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The harmful impacts of having too many children need not be overemphasised. Many factors influence the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). An important one of them is male-child preference, which is still seen in the South-East Asia Region including India. Based on the latest National Family Health Survey-4 Report, Ministry of Health and FW, Govt. of India, the state of Manipur was still having a quite high TFR of 2.6. The current study was taken up to make an estimate of the total fertility rate to explore presence of son preference and also to study the other prevailing factors, which might influence the fertility in the Imphal East District of Manipur. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was taken up in Imphal East District of Manipur during March-May 2016 among a representative sample of 403 women of reproductive age group. Trained female interviewers collected data by using an interview schedule, which had sections on socio-demographic profile, fertility pattern and preferences, male-child preference, and decision taking on fertility after obtaining informed verbal consent. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from IEC, JNIMS. Data analysis was done using SPSSv22. RESULTSCompleted data sets were collected from 384 study subjects from the three major communities residing in the study area . The estimated total fertility rate of the study area was 2.0, the highest being among the Muslim community (2.2). The proportion of Muslim women having ≥3 children was higher than the other two remaining communities (p=0.001). Educational status and occupation of the study subjects were closely associated with the number of children. Higher proportion of the Muslim women desired to have ≥3 children compared to Hindu and Tribal communities (p=0.001). Educational status and occupation of the women had significant relation with this. There was no male-child preference detected. DISCUSSIONThe total fertility rate of Imphal East District of Manipur was found to be lower (2.0) than the State figure of 2.6 as reported in NFHS-4 Report. TFR being highest among the Muslim community was against findings made earlier in 2009 by other researchers. Education and occupation of the mothers being significant factors influencing the number of children were comparable to other study findings. The presence of male-child preference could not be detected in the study area. CONCLUSIONMuslims were found to be having more children compared to the Hindus or the tribal community. Education and occupation were significant factors influencing the fertility. Male-child preference was not distinctly seen in the study area.

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Alopecia areata is a non-scarring auto-immune hair loss on the scalp and/or body. Both males and females are equally affected. The disease can occur at any age. Data regarding the magnitude and profile of this disease is almost non-existent for the NorthEastern part of the country. OBJECTIVEThe current study was taken up to make an estimate of the prevalence of alopecia areata in the state of Manipur and also to explore the profile of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODSData maintained in the OPD, Department of Dermatology, Manipur for the last 10 years (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) were retrospectively analysed for new cases of alopecia areata. RESULTSThe prevalence of alopecia areata out of all the patients who attended the OPD was 2.17%. The mean age (SD) of the patients was 24.45 (±13.74) years. Children below 14 years constituted 21% of all the cases. Majority of the patients (46%) belonged to the agegroup of 15-30 years. On the average, there was male preponderance (M:F = 1.43:1). In the age group of 15-30 years, this ratio went up to 2.08:1. More than two-thirds of the patients (68.2%) were from the rural areas of the state. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONThe prevalence of alopecia areata in the state of Manipur was found to be 2.17% of all the OPD cases in the Department of Dermatology. There was male preponderance for the cases. A community-based study is recommended so that an accurate community-based prevalence maybe estimated.

Background: For the state of Manipur, the evaluated coverage among children as per NFHS-2, NFHS-3 and NFHS-4 were 42.3%, 46.8% and 65.9% respectively. But with the introduction of Mission Indradhanush in December 2014 which aimed in achieving the full immunization coverage to all eligible children over the next five years through special catch-up drives might have helped in improving the coverage. Hence, some improvement is expected by now. To ascertain the current status, the study was taken up. The current study was conducted to evaluate the primary vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months. The study also aimed to determine any association between important background characteristics with the vaccination status.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Imphal East District, Manipur during May 2017 to April 2020 among mothers having 12-23 months old children. 1,309 eligible study-women were selected by using multi-stage sampling technique. Data on their background characteristics, immunization status of the children and vaccination-related details were collected by using a pre-tested interview schedule.Results: The full immunization rate among children was found to be 93%. There was significant association between the immunization status and important background characteristics like place of delivery, order of birth, family income and mother’s educational status.Conclusions: Present study indicated that the full immunization coverage of the district was higher than the national and regional coverage findings. Place of delivery, order of birth, family income and mothers’ low educational status were found to be significantly associated with full immunization coverage.