Background: Anemia is very common worldwide among adolescent girls. WHO Regional office for SouthEast Asia sketched that "Iron deficiency anemia is the most glaring nutritional deficiency, with no less than 25-40% of adolescent girls as victims of moderate and sometimes severe anemia. In countries of this region, at least 40-50% of adolescent pregnant girls are anemic". According to study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research adolescent girls from 16 districts of 11 states of India showed that, the prevalence of anemia was 90.1% and 7.1% having severe anemia (Hb < 70 g/L). Adolescence being a rapid transition phase with high requirement of additional nutrition. Anemia among adolescent girls develops due to accelerated increase in the requirements for iron, coupled with poor dietary intake, menstrual loss high rate of infection and worm infestation. Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and health seeking behavior change regarding anemia after weekly iron folic acid supplementation and intensive health education among adolescent school girls of Delhi. Materials and Methods: This was an intervention study conducted among adolescent school girls of Delhi. The study was conducted among 106 adolescent school girls of XI class by administering a pre-tested questionnaire based on the following four domains-knowledge, attitude, practices and health seeking behavior regarding anemia. Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) and intensive health education was given for six months as an intervention. Health education package included power point presentation, pamphlets and visual display of iron rich foods like green leafy vegetables, germinated pulses (sprouts), citrus fruits and jaggery. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS software version 17. Results: Only 34.9 percent girls had heard about anemia and 38.9 percent felt that anemia is a health problem. When asked for the reasons for anemia, around 8 (7.5%) could answer correctly. There was change in knowledge, practices and health seeking behavior after the intervention and was statistically significant. Conclusion: WIFS and intensive health education intervention has an impact on improving knowledge, attitude, practices and health seeking behavior of adolescent school girls. Additional nutritional interventional research is needed to reinforce good practices to prevent anemia.

Background:Influenza viruses cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics that have claimed the lives of millions. Understanding the role of specific perceptions in motivating people to engage in precautionary behavior may help health communicators to improve their messages about outbreaks of new infectious disease generally and swine flu specifically.Objectives:To study the knowledge and practices of health care providers regarding swine flu and to study the attitudes and practices of health care providers toward the prevention of the swine flu epidemic.Materials and Methods:The present study was a cross-sectional (descriptive) study and was conducted in the month of September, 2009, among doctors and nurses. A maximum of 40% of the total health care providers of GTB Hospital were covered because of feasibility and logistics, and, therefore, the sample size was 334.Results:Around 75% of the health care providers were aware about the symptoms of swine flu. Mostly, all study subjects were aware that it is transmitted through droplet infection. Correct knowledge of the incubation period of swine flu was known to 80% of the doctors and 69% of the nurses. Knowledge about high-risk groups (contacts, travelers, health care providers) was observed among 88% of the doctors and 78.8% of the nurses. Practice of wearing mask during duty hours was observed among 82.6% of doctors and 85% of nurses, whereas of the total study population, only 40% were correctly using mask during duty hours.Conclusions:Significant gaps observed between knowledge and actual practice of the Health Care Provider regarding swine flu need to be filled by appropriate training. Data indicate that the health care providers are very intellectual, but they do not themselves practice what they preach.

CONTEXT: Currently, self-directed learning (SDL) is emphasized in medical institutions all over the world. The skills of SDL enable one to be a lifelong learner, a necessity to cope up with fast-expanding medical knowledge. AIMS: This study aims to develop and implement an “SDL” module for medical undergraduates and find out their perception about the same. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a mixed-method design (having both qualitative and quantitative components) was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine, UCMS, Delhi, India. METHODS: A module was developed following an extensive literature review and focus group discussions with the teaching staff of the institute. First-semester undergraduate students were invited to participate in the study and asked for feedback using a semi-structured questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Quantitative data were expressed in mean, range, and frequency. For qualitative data, thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: The module was implemented with 160 students, in November for 10 hour distributed over 5 weeks. Feedback could be obtained from 130 students. Sixty-seven percent of students were satisfied and 66% reported as motivated to study the allotted topic further. Qualitative analysis showed that though the students liked the learning process based on this module, they also felt facilitators could have been more active in imparting knowledge and skills. CONCLUSIONS: To make learners equipped with the ability to learn throughout a professional learning course, SDL as a learning tool should be introduced in the medical undergraduate curriculum.

Background:Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon for females indicating her capability for procreation. Menstrual problems are common in adolescent girls, which may affect their life and outdoor activities. Adolescent girls with abnormal body mass index (BMI) suffer even more often.Objectives:To assess the relationship between menstrual patterns and problems with BMI among adolescent school girls of Delhi.Materials and Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 210 adolescent school girls of Delhi. Permission was obtained from principal of the school and written informed consent was taken from the parents of the school girls before taking part in the study. All the data were collected, entered, and analyzed in SPSS 17.0. The data were analyzed using percentages and proportions through tables.Results:Out of 210 adolescent girls, 114 (54.3%) were having BMI <18.5, which implies that >50% of the girls were undernourished. Only 13 (6.2%) of adolescent girls were overweight. Adolescent girls who had BMI <18.5 experienced more symptoms and problems associated with menstrual cycles. This difference was statistically significant.Conclusion:Menstrual problems especially dysmenorrhea are frequent among adolescent girls. BMI play a very vital role for menstrual cycle regularity. Consequently, adolescent girls have to be given healthy and balance nutrition, which leads to maintenance of their normal BMI and regulate their menstrual cycle.

Background: Adolescence is the period of rapid physical growth, psychological and social changes. This period is marked by the onset of menarche in the girls. Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by all adolescent girls and women in reproductive age. The menstrual cycle is characterized by variability in volume, pattern and regularity. Conversely, variability in menstrual cycle characteristics and menstrual disorders are common among adolescent girls. The objectives of the study were to determine patterns of menstruation, prevalence of menstrual disorders and hygienic practices during menstruation in the adolescent school girls.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 adolescent school girls of Delhi.Results: The mean age at menarche in the study subjects was 13.47±0.87 years. Average menstrual interval was days. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 76.1% of the girls, body ache was experienced by 64 (30.4%). Majority of girls 174 (82.8%) used sanitary pads as absorbent during cycle.Conclusions: Menstrual problems are frequent among adolescent girls. Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest problem among the adolescents. Adolescent girls withstand their pain and think it as a normal phenomenon. Educating students about menstrual health by health professionals and teachers can help in reducing their psychological and physical stress.