Background: Worldwide, approximately 830 women died every single day due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth in 2015. Most maternal deaths are preventable as the necessary medical interventions are well known. So the present study was conducted to find the knowledge and practices regarding antenatal care among the mothers of infants.Methods: The mothers having less than one year child according to the annual report of year 2017 were included in the study. A pre-designed questionnaire, which was pre tested was used to collect the information. Out of 332 mothers 327 were willing to participate in the study. House to house survey was done to collect the information. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 20.0.Results: Regarding the knowledge about the antenatal care 22.0% mothers had poor knowledge while 45.6% and 32.4% had average and good knowledge respectively. Age and education status of the mother had significant relation with the knowledge regarding ANC (p=0.00). 96% of mothers started ANC in first trimester. 79.5% of mothers had regular ANC visits during pregnancy. Regarding post natal visits 86.5% of the mothers visited for the same.Conclusions: Considerable gaps were found in the knowledge and practices regarding ANC. Health care workers play an important role in motivating the woman and her family to utilize the ANC services. The health workers should be trained adequately about the available ANC services. Community IEC activities should be increased to create awareness about the ANC services which are available free of cost in our country.

Background:In India, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched on 2nd October, 1975. The aim was to provide pre-school non-formal education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality among mothers and children on the other hand. An anganwadi is the focal point for the delivery of services to the community. Hence, the current study was planned to assess the basic infrastructure in AWCs of Punjab.Methods:A total of 400 anganwadi workers (AWWs), 200 each from rural and urban areas were randomly selected for the study. A pre-designed, pre-tested proforma was administered to selected AWWs. The purpose of the study was explained to them. The data was compiled and analysed by using SPSS 20.0 version.Results:It was observed that out of 400 anganwadis, only 24% of anganwadis had their own allotted building. Only 42% anganwadis had functional Salter weighing machine with them. Weighing machine for adults and children in working condition was available in only 38.2% anganwadis. Nearly half of the anganwadis (50.8%) do not have electricity connection. Water supply was found to be available in 53% anganwadis only. 77.5% anganwadis got regular supply of ration. But utensils for distributing ration were present with only 65.2% anganwadis and 69.3% anganwadis had helper to assist anganwadi worker.Conclusions:Adequate infrastructure along with regular supply of ration need to be ensured for proper functioning of anganwadis.

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burden of poverty and undernutrition among both adults and children. [2] TB has been called "phthisis" owing to profound wasting. In a book published in 1949, which reviewed the epidemiological risk factors for TB at a global level, Dr. JB McDougall of the WHO stated: "The nutrition of the individual using the term in its widest sense, is the most vital factor in the prevention of tuberculous disease." [3] Malnutrition can predispose pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Conversely, PTB can result in malnutrition. Undernutrition selectively compromises cell-mediated immunity, which is the principal defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, thereby, increases the risk of reactivation of latent infection to disease. [4] Moreover, poor nutritional status is associated with risk of TB relapse and mortality. [5] Background: The association between tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition has been recognized for a long time. A body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 increases the risk of TB by 2-3 times. Conversely, an increase in body weight lowers the risk. Objective: To assess the nutritional status and change of patients' bodyweight over time depending on TB treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on newly identified smear-positive patients registered under DOTS in two treatment units present in Amritsar city, Punjab, India. BMI of every patient was calculated from the weight and height measurements at the time of registration and again on completion of treatment. Nutritional requirement of the subjects was calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation. Data management and analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS software, version 17.00. Results: Of 250 patients, 149 (59.6%) were men and 101 (40.4%) women. Male preponderance, with male to female ratio of 1.5:1 was seen; 97.3% of the total men and all of the women were taking diet deficient in calories. It was observed that, in the beginning, 69.2% patients were underweight among which 34% are severely underweight having BMI < 16 kg/m 2 ; 29.6% cases were having normal BMI, while only 1.2% cases were preobese. At the end of treatment, it was evident that 62.8% of the cases were still underweight, 34.9% of the cases showed normal BMI, and 2.3% were in the preobese category. Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that that mean BMI in cured cases at the end of treatment was higher when compared with cases with outcome as failure. The results were found to be statistically significant. So, it was concluded that poor nutritional status is associated with unfavorable outcome in TB.