Background: Suicide is one of the most serious social and public health problems in the world. Around 800,000 people expire owing to suicide every year. Yet, these deaths are preventable. In India, suicide is one among the top 10 major causes of death, with a rate of 9.74 per one lakh population. Objective: To study the sociodemographic characteristics of persons admitted with suicidal attempts and to find out the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out at Adichunchanagiri Hospital and Research Center, a rural tertiary-care hospital, Mandya, Karnataka during the period between July 2014 and January 2015. All persons, both male and female subjects, admitted to emergency wards were owing to suicidal attempts during the study period. A total of 196 patients were included in the study. Data were collected by using semistructured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version, 20.0. Results were presented using percentages and proportions. The c 2-test was applied to find the association between different parameters. Result: There were totally 196 suicidal attempts common among male subjects (54.6%) and in the second decade (46.4%). Most of them were married (55.1%) and from lower socioeconomic class (68.9%). The most common mode of attempting suicide was by organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) ingestion (46.4%), and the common factors were family problems (50.5%), followed by financial problems (19.4%). A significant association was found between male alcoholic attempters and ingestion of OPCs (p < 0.02). Conclusion: The factors associated with suicidal attempts were family problems, low socioeconomic status, and alcoholism. Most of them are preventable and controllable.

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Background: Menstrual Hygiene is an issue that every girl and woman has to deal with once she enters adolescence. Adolescence in girls signifies the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Menstruation is a biological event imbued with social, cultural and personal significance. Hence this study was done with the objective to assess the menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in rural Mandya district. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls in schools coming under Bellur field practice area. A total of 257 adolescent girls formed the sample size. A pre tested semi structured questionnaire was used for collection of data. Data was entered in MS EXCEL and was analyzed, using percentages and chi square test. Results: Among 257 adolescent girls, Government school children constituted 44.4% and private school children of 55.6%. 85.6% of them had heard about menstrual hygiene. 72.8 % were using sanitary pads during menstruation. 36.2% were following burial method to dispose sanitary pads. 48.5% of them had good practice scores, 44.5% had fair scores and 7.0 % poor scores. Conclusion: Menstrual hygiene practices among participants were not satisfactory even though knowledge was good. Private school children were performing well when compared to government school children.