Introduction: Antepartum anxiety and depression are two of the most common risk factors for the development of postpartum depression. Women are at a higher risk of developing depression and suffering from mental disorders during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Psychopathological symptoms during pregnancy have physiological consequences for the fetus, such as impaired blood flow leading to low birth weight, as well as cognitive delay and behavioral problems. Objectives: To screen antenatal women for common mental health disorders and to determine the factors associated with mental health disorders during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 208 pregnant mothers in the third trimester attending the antenatal clinic at a Government Maternity Home in a low-income urban area of Bengaluru was conducted using clinical interview schedule-revised (CIS-R) questionnaire as a screening tool for detecting the presence of mental morbidity. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: In the study population, 12 (5.8%) screened positive for antepartum mental morbidities, of which depression was the most common. 3.8% of all women screened positive for depression, with 15.4% demonstrating depressive symptoms. Overall, 82 (39.4%) had the presence of one or more psychological symptoms, including fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and problems with sleep and concentration but scored less than the CIS-R cutoff score of 12. Factors associated with the presence of antepartum mental morbidities included poor relationships with their spouse, poor/satisfactory relationship with siblings or in-laws, as well as the desire to have a male child. Conclusion: In the study population, 12 (5.8%) screened positive for antepartum mental morbidities. Considering the effects on quality of life for these women as well as poor fetal outcomes associated with maternal mental morbidity, it is important to include screening and treatment of mental morbidity as a part of routine antenatal care.

Context:Adolescence is the time which is crucial for the overall development of a person both mentally and physically. In this period, along with academic intelligence, emotional intelligence (EI) also plays an equal or strong role in student life.Aims:This study was to assess EI, parental bonding, and their association among adolescents in high schools under Sarjapur PHC area.Subjects and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted among high school students under Sarjapur PHC area. The EI was assessed using EI scale which measured self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The parental bonding instrument was utilized to determine the parental styles of both the parents and was interpreted in terms of care and protection as neglectful parenting, affectionless control, optimal parenting, and affectionate control.Results:A total of 300 adolescents were interviewed. It was seen that most of them had low EI in self-awareness, i.e., 92 (30.7%), motivation 99 (33%), and social skills 101 (33.7%). It was also observed that most of them had high EI in self-regulation, i.e., 98 (32.7%) and moderately high EI in empathy 117 (39%). The study group perceived that 147 (49%) of the fathers and 109 (36.3%) of the mothers had affectionless control.Conclusion:Along with poor parenting, most of the respondents also have low EI in self-awareness, motivation, and social skills which has to be addressed for the future of the country.

Objective: The present study was aimed at establishing the antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidative and antimicrobial properties of the plant Pyrrosia heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE. Methods:Standard protocols were used to estimate the antioxidant potential of the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of the plant. Radical scavenging ability of the extracts was assayed for 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonicacid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals. Total antioxidant activity assay was done following the phospho-molybdenum method. The reductive potential was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Lipid peroxidation assay was done in vitro. Total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antimicrobial activity was identified by well diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by serial dilution method. Results:Results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract (PHE) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity followed by the methanolic extract (PHM) whereas the hexane extract (PHH) had the lowest activity. The percentage radical scavenging by PHE was found to be 86.63±0.85, 89.48±2.08 and 70.89±1.46 for DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radicals respectively, at a concentration of 800μg/ml. The total antioxidant activity of PHE, PHM and PHH was found to be 538.33±3.51, 283.33±7.57and 13.76±3.95 ascorbic acid equivalents/g of extract respectively. Phenolic content of PHE was the highest (207.22±1.95 gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of extract), followed by PHM and PHH (197.92±2.00 and 37.50±2.18 GAE/g respectively). Total reducing power was also found to be the highest in PHE followed by PHM and PHH as per the FRAP assay. All the extracts were found to possess inhibitory activity against the tested microorganisms. MIC50 value of all the extracts was below 40 µg/ml. Conclusion:The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-lipid peroxidation potentials of the plant P. heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE.

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Background: A food handler is anyone who works in a food business and handles food, or surfaces that are likely to come into contact with food. The chance of food becoming contaminated depends largely on the health status and knowledge and practices of food safety of food handlers. Current statistics on food borne illnesses in various industrialized countries show that up to 30% of cases may be caused by poor food handling techniques, and by contaminated food served in food service establishments.Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken among 150 food handlers working in eateries in Anekal town, Bangalore Urban district, to determine their health profile and assess their knowledge and practices regarding food hygiene. A pre-validated, structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and practices among food handlers. Knowledge and practice scores were categorized to find associations between levels of score and demographic variables.Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 33.68±12.86 years. Fever and dizziness was reported by 39 (26.6%) of food handlers. Poor knowledge was found in 80 (53.3%) and poor practice in 83 (55.3%) regarding safe food hygiene. An increase in age and education levels showed a positive association with knowledge and practice of safe food hygiene.Conclusions: Given high levels of poor knowledge and practice regarding safe food hygiene among these food handlers, there is an urgent need to address this issue that may translate into increased morbidity and suffering among populations served by these food handlers.