abstract:Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and risky sexual behaviour among adolescents, and to evaluate the socioeconomic factors potentially influencing these behaviours. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2011 among 376 adolescents (15-19 years old) studying in different schools and colleges in Udupi, India. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire and guidelines were followed for data collection. Participants' alcohol consumption, smoking habits and sexual behaviour patterns were explored. Univariate analysis followed by multivariate logistic regression was done. Results: The prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and sexual activity was found to occur in 5.7%, 7.2% and 5.5% of participants, respectively. The mean age of the participants' first sexual activity, consumption of alcohol and tobacco use was reported to be approximately 16.8 years. Multivariate analysis showed that males were more likely to have used alcohol and tobacco. Other factors, such as religion and tobacco use among family members, were found to be influential. Conclusion: The potential coexistence of multiple risk behaviours in a student demands an integrated approach. Emphasis should be placed on health education in schools and an increased awareness among parents in order to prevent adolescents' behaviours from becoming a risk to their health. Keywords

There is a need to identify students at risk and for intervention addressing the risk factors. Further qualitative studies could provide more insight.

Background: Morbidities have emerged as major threats to livelihoods of the poor. An estimated 150 million have been reported as spending more than 40% of their income on their health needs. Aim: To identify the determinants of enrolment and experiences of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) benefi ciaries in Udupi district, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Udupi district between March and August 2012. A mixed method approach using qualitative and quantitative methods was used. The study included all households who were eligible under the RSBY scheme recognized by the Planning Commission of India as below poverty line (BPL) households and participants recruited above 18 years of age. The sample included in the study was 316 households and took into account 95% confi dence interval and 20% precision. Results: Education of the household head, marital status, household size and awareness of the cost of enrollment to RSBY were seen to be signifi cantly associated with enrollment to RSBY (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis of four variables which showed statistical signifi cance including household size, marital status, education, and prior awareness about the cost of enrollment into RSBY showed that prior knowledge of the cost of enrollment into the scheme and household size of less than fi ve were major determinants to enrolling for RSBY. On qualitative analysis, the majority of the scheme users reported that the enrolment under RSBY had benefi tted them and they are willing to renew the scheme again in the next round of enrollment. Conclusions: The awareness on scheme details among those included in the present study was found to be low. Information and education campaigns could improve involvement of both the insurers as well as the local institutions offering care and possibly increase utilization rate of RSBY.

The study aimed to find out the functioning of two community-based health insurance schemes through patients enrolled in them, at a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka, South India. Methodology: It was a cross sectional study, total of 384 patients was randomly selected from the whole lot of patients who were enrolled in the two selected community-based health insurance schemes. The study was carried out using a pretested semi structured questionnaire. About. 98% of the respondents said that they availed services 1–3 times from the scheme in 1 year; 89% of the respondents said that discount provided by the scheme was useful. Satisfaction levels of the card users were analyzed and out of 384 patients, 54.9% patients said that their scheme was good and 51.8 felt that admission and claim process was good. About 49.2% said that quality of treatment was good. It can be concluded that many users are satisfied with the health insurance they have opted and utilisation rate of the card is high.