Abstract:The tremendous potential of sisal (Agave sp.)

The prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus is increasing globally particularly in developing countries. Previously, diabetes mellitus type-2 was disease of middle aged and elderly, but recently it is affecting younger age group including adolescents especially in the high risk population. OBJECTIVES 1. To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type-2 in a rural population of age 30 years and above, 2. To determine the prevalence of Impaired Glucose Tolerance in a rural population of age 30 year and above, and 3. To study the association of various risk factors with diabetes mellitus type-2 and Impaired Glucose Tolerance. METHODOLOGYA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in population 30 years and above at Chanpi village in the district of Katihar in Bihar during the study period of 1 st January to 31 st December 2014. This was a community-based study in which all persons aged 30 years or more living in this village were eligible for participation. After taking early morning fasting sample, the study subjects were given 75 gm of anhydrous glucose in 200 mL of water to drink in 5 minutes and blood samples were collected exactly after 2 hours to estimate oral glucose tolerance. Samples were tested in the laboratory on the same day. RESULTSTotal sample size in this study was 916 and out of this 31 were found to have type-2 diabetes mellitus and 75 were Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). Distribution of type 2 diabetes among non-vegetarians was found to be 77.42% and 85.33% in IGT. 54.84% males and 45.16% females were found to be type-2 diabetes mellitus and almost same percentage of males and females were found in IGT. Distribution of DM-2 according to literacy level was found to be 29.03%, 41.94%, 19.35%, 6.45%, 3.23% are illiterate, just literate, primary, secondary, higher secondary school person respectively. CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that the prevalence of diabetes and IGT is high in the subjects having sedentary lifestyle, non-vegetarians, and illiterates. Control of DM and IGT mandates lifestyle modification and control of risk factors.

BACKGROUNDAnaemia is a serious public health concern in most developing countries and the prevalence of anaemia is quite high among adolescent girls. Adolescence is also a phase where a rapid upsurge is seen in growth and development which leads to increase requirement of nutrition especially high micronutrients requirement. Adolescent girls are vulnerable to iron deficiency and anaemia due to accelerated increase in requirements for iron, poor dietary intake of iron, prolonged menstrual period, and worm infestation. A study was conducted with the objective to determine the associated risk factors of anaemia among adolescent girls. METHODSA cross-section study was conducted among 202 adolescent girls in rural area of Katihar. Information was collected on a predesigned and pretested proforma about contributory factors in relation to anaemia, by oral questionnaire method. Sahli's haemoglobinometer was used for the haemoglobin estimation. RESULTSPrevalence of anaemia and severity of anaemia was found to be high in the age group 17 to 19. Prevalence of anaemia was significantly high (80%) in the adolescent girls who already attained menarche. A statistically significant relation exists between family size and anaemia. Percentage of anaemia was high among labour class (85%) than business class (61.7%). Prevalence of anaemia was to be found high in vegetarian (78.13%) than non-vegetarian (75.29%). CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that the anaemia was to be found more prevalent in higher age group, vegetarian group, and girls who had already attained menarche. This may be because of repeated menstrual blood loss with each cycle and use of low bioavailability iron.

BACKGROUNDAccording to WHO, an adolescent is defined as an individual between 10-19 years of age. Adolescence is a period of rapid growth, weight gain and blood volume expansion. The overall iron requirement of the body is increased during this period. During adolescent period, the risk of iron deficiency anaemia among boys and girls appears to be more due to growth spurt. Anaemia in adolescents is a major public health problem in India.