Background: Chronic cardiovascular morbidities are major public health concern. The objective was to assess awareness and practice of selfcare activities among patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity in Burdwan Medical College (BMC) and to explore constraints in selfcare practice. Materials & Methods: A facility-based, explanatory sequential, mixed-method study was conducted in Cardiology super-specialty outpatient department of BMC, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 185 patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity were selected randomly; interviewed with predesigned, pretested schedule (adapted from H-SCALE) for quantitative component. For qualitative component, eight study participants, selected purposively, were interviewed with In-depth-interview guide. Multivariable logistic regression was done to find out predictors of selfcare practice. Thematic inductive analysis was done to explore constraints. Results: 73% study participants were aware about overall selfcare practices; 43.8% performed satisfactory overall selfcare practice. Below secondary level educational status [AOR:0.412, 95% CI (0.178-0.956)] and lower & lower-middle socioeconomic status [AOR:0.063, 95% CI (0.017-0.230)] were found to create negative influence on favourable self-care practice. Thematic analysis revealed false belief, lack of motivation, lack of proper knowledge, emotional disturbances and Covid-19 pandemic impact as major constraints in selfcare practice. Conclusion: Selfcare awareness & practice both are low. Interventions are needed to ensure healthy lifestyle of patients.

Background: Elderly depression is major public health concern. It causes significant morbidity and mortality burden worldwide. The study aimed to estimate prevalence of elderly depression in a rural area of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal and to ascertain their level of perceived social support. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Bhatar community development block of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal, during period of August 2022 to January 2023. A calculated sample of 238 elderly people were selected by simple random sampling and interviewed with a predesigned, pretested schedule containing geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for assessing depression, Katz index for independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and multidimensional scale for perceived social support (MSPSS) to assess level of perceived social support. Multivariable logistic regression was done to find out predictors of elderly depression. Results: Out of 238 study participants, 160 (67.2%) were suffering from depression. Prevalence of mild, moderate and severe depression was 49.2%, 14.6% and 3.4% respectively. Low, medium and high level of perceived social support was found in 36.6%, 44.1% and 19.3% study participants, respectively. Impairment in ADL [AOR: 5.045 (2.145-11.868)], presence of financial dependence [AOR: 2.977 (1.330-6.665)], pre-existing one or more co-morbidities [AOR: 2.044 (1.114-3.749)] and educational status below secondary level [AOR: 0.379 (0.199-0.720) were found to be significant predictors of elderly-depression. Conclusions: Prevalence of depression is high among elderly, along with low perceived social support. Health promotion, awareness generation about social security schemes and family support are crucial to prevent elderly depression.

INTRODUCTIONRoad traffic accidents (RTA), the global epidemic in most regions of the world, are increasing. 1 More than 1.25 million people die every year in the world from RTA while in addition for every death, 20-50 non-fatal injuries and 10-20 serious injuries occurs which requires long periods of treatment. 2,3 Unless immediate actions are taken, deaths due to RTA will raise to the fifth leading cause of deaths by 2030. 3 Almost 90% of world's RTA fatalities occur in low-and middle-income countries. 3 In India where population of motor vehicle is growing at a faster rate than the economic and population growth, a total of 1.46 lakh deaths were reported from RTA in 2015 which further translates into 57 accidents and 17 deaths on an average every hour. 2,4 The state of West Bengal ABSTRACT Background: Global epidemic of traffic injuries are increasing rapidly. Unless immediate measures are taken, deaths due to road traffic accidents will rise to the fifth leading cause of deaths by 2030. Recently E-Rickshaws (locally known as 'Toto') have gained immense popularity. However, the awareness and practice regarding road safety issues among e-rickshaws drivers is yet to be documented. The study was conducted to assess their knowledge and practices regarding traffic rules and road safety measures, and to find out association of their knowledge and practice with socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September-November 2017 at Burdwan Municipality. Assuming 50% prevalence of good knowledge, 10% relative-precision and 10% non-response; calculated sample size was 422. Convenient sampling technique was used due to uneven distribution of study subjects. Equal numbers of participants were included from seven prominent locations of municipality. Depending upon the responses the overall knowledge and practice were grouped into three categories (i.e. good/average/poor) and two categories (i.e. favourable/unfavourable) respectively. Results: 78.2% and 97.16% drivers were unaware about maximum permissible speed limit of e-rickshaws and the 'cross-road ahead' signal respectively. 86.73% had unfavourable practice regarding carrying recommended maximum number of passengers. Overall 16.6% drivers had good road safety knowledge and 21.8% had favourable practice. Significant association was found between knowledge and practice with age and educational status of the participants. Practice was also significantly associated with their income status. Conclusions: Overall knowledge and practice regarding road safety was low among the e-rickshaw drivers. Targeted interventions are recommended for improvement.

Introduction: One of the goals of the National Population Policy 2000 was to stabilize the population at a level consistent with the requirement of national economy. Spacing methods are reversible methods of contraception. Vision FP2020 will build on policy of increasing focus on spacing services through voluntary adoption of family planning. With this background, the study was conducted to explore the spacing contraception behaviour among married women of reproductive age group. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2018 at a rural block of West Bengal. Four subcentres from a list of total 38 subcentres in the Bhatar block were selected by Simple random sampling (SRS). A list of currently married women of reproductive age group fulfilling the inclusion criteria was prepared and 10 women of each SC were chosen randomly. In-depth interviews were conducted among selected women and a focused group discussion was conducted involving the auxiliary nurse midwife (ANMs) to elicit reasons and barriers for contraceptive use from service providers’ perspective. Results: The reasons for their current contraceptive choice were change in behaviour and, according to gender of the first baby, poor information, education, communication (IEC), personal preference, motivation by family members and health workers, religion and caste factors, fear and side effect for other methods, easy availability etc., Conclusion: The findings reinforce the need for targeted spacing contraception promotion that includes delivery of localized contraceptive services, increase of knowledge on safety and utility of spacing methods among eligible clients, their family members and local health workers.