Background: Maternal mortality is on an average 18 times higher in developing countries as compared to developed countries. Despite the existence of many national programs for improving maternal and child health, maternal mortality and morbidity continue to be at higher side, at an unacceptable level. Objective: (1) To know the extent of maternal health care utilization; (2) To study the factors affecting utilization of maternal care services. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban slum during September and October 2014. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. All married women in the age group of 15-45 years who were either pregnant at time of interview or had delivered within last 1 year were included. A total of 100 such women identified by door-to-door survey participated in the study after getting informed oral consent. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and was analyzed in Epi Info 7. "P" < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Around 80% respondents received antenatal care (ANC) and 20% did not seek ANC. Overall, ANC registration was quite good (92%) but within first trimester it was only 58%. Immunization for tetanus was 79% but consumption of iron and folic acid tablets was 76%. Reason for inadequate utilization was mainly due to either unawareness or financial constraints. Conclusion: The utilization of ANC services and deliveries at health centers were significantly associated with education of the women, education of their spouses, and socioeconomic status of the family.

Background: Globally, among the leading preventable causes of premature deaths tobacco stands on the top. The consumption patterns of tobacco in various forms of chewing and smoking vary across different regions and socioeconomic levels. Objectives: To study tobacco consumption pattern in two districts of Gujarat and compare among them. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out on 504 participants during January 2015 to September 2016 among 15-64 years age group. A pre designed and pre tested Questionnaire was used to collect data on tobacco consumption pattern. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used for the data analysis. Results: Smoking was reported among 11.51% and 18.25% in Gandhinagar and Mehsana district respectively. Out of which around 90% of them in both district were smoking daily. 34.52% of the studied population in Mehsana district was using smokeless tobacco as compared to Gandhinagar district (26.19%). Initiation of smoking was in later age as compared to smokeless tobacco. Conclusion: Present study concludes that large number of people including younger population was using smokeless tobacco in both districts. Early initiation of use of smokeless tobacco suggests an urgent need for action.

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Background: In India, policymakers are in an opined that expansion of public-funded health insurance is the key to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Despite untapped potential to be part of such government-run public-funded health scheme, many private service providers are reluctant to join in such scheme due to various reasons. This paper aims to evaluate facilitators, barriers and perception to participation of the private sector health facilities in Health Insurance & government-led schemes. Methods: Present study was conducted in 83 private hospitals of Vadodara city. Sampling frame was formed & with the use of random number table, 83 hospitals were selected randomly. Data collection was done in pre tested, pre formed questionnaire & respondents were the medical superintendent or the person in-charge of the hospital.Results: In the present study 30% & 26% of hospitals were enrolled for cashless private health insurance facility & government health schemes respectively. Social service, competition and increase clientele were the common reason sought for enrolment in government health schemes. Low & delayed reimbursement, bribe to clear payment, limited services covered, administrative issues were the common problems identified for nonenrolment. There was an association between a number of beds in the hospital & enrolment to government health scheme (p < 0.05). Availability of cashless private health insurance facility (p < 0.01) and satisfied with the current TPA model of health insurance (p < 0.05) were also found statistically significant. Conclusion: Timely & rational increase in remuneration, expanding the scope of services and use of appropriate technology for ease in administration is the need of an hour to engage vast service providers under the ambit of public-funded health insurance.

Background: The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a modern pandemic affecting industrialized and developing countries. Around half of the new cases of HIV occur in individuals beneath 25 years of age. Present study was carried out to assess the knowledge and sensitization levels of 1st year college- students about basics of HIV/AIDS, prevention, support, treatment, their perceptions of programmatic services and stigma/discrimination pertaining to HIV/ AIDS.Methods: One hundred medical students of SBKS MIRC, Sumandeep Vidhyapeeth and one hundred non-medical students of Sanskar education trust were interviewed with the help of pre-designed questionnaire to know and compare the awareness of HIV/AIDS among students.Results: Correct knowledge of treatment, curability and vaccine of HIV was only with 85%, 40% and 55% among medical students and 66%, 24% and 48% among non-medical students respectively. Correct knowledge about route of transmission of HIV was higher in medical students compare to non-medical students and this Knowledge difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: The outcomes underline that there is a need of education programs in the school and adolescent period in the nation so that risk groups will be appropriately educated about this deadly disease.