Delivery in a medical institution promotes child survival and reduces the risk of maternal mortality. Manyinitiatives under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) focus on increasing the institutional deliveries. This study describes the trends in choosing place of delivery in Nanded district at the end of the first phase of the mission. Key informants were interviewed to document the initiatives under NRHM implemented in the district. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 30 villages selected using one stage cluster-sampling method. A house-to-house survey was conducted in June 2009. A set of structured open-ended questionnaire was used for interviewing all women who had delivered during January 2004–May 2009. The outcomes studied were place of delivery and assistance during delivery. Analysis was done by calculating chi-square test and odds ratio. Interventions to improve the quality of health services and healthcare-seeking behaviour were implemented successfully in the district. The proportion of institutional deliveries increased from 42% in 2004 to 69% in 2009. A significant increase was observed in the proportion of institutional deliveries [60% vs 45%; χ2=173.85, p<0.05, odds ratio (OR)=1.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65-1.97)] in the NRHM period compared to the pre-NRHM period. The deliveries in government institutions and in private institutions also showed a significant rise. The proportion of deliveries assisted by health personnel increased significantly during the NRHM period [62% vs 49%; χ2=149.39; p<0.05, OR=1.73, 95% CI 1.58-1.89] However, less than 10% of the deliveries in the home (range 2-9%) were assisted by health personnel throughout the study period. There was a wide geographic variation in place of delivery among the study villages. The results showed a significant increase in the proportion of institutional deliveries and deliveries assisted by health personnel in the NRHM period. Since a less proportion of deliveries in the home is conducted by health personnel, the focus should be on increasing the institutional deliveries. Special and innovative interventions should be implemented in the villages with a less proportion of institutional deliveries.

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Background: The traffic policemen are engaged in controlling vehicular traffic and exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution as well as noise pollution daily. Hence they are at a risk of developing various health problems due to their occupation. Methods: The aim of study was to study socio-demographic characteristics and morbidity profile of traffic policemen. A cross sectional study was carried out on 114 traffic policemen form the traffic control branch of the city from the police headquarter of the city. History regarding symptoms experienced at the workplace, history of present illness, past history, personal history and family history was obtained and clinical examination was done. Statistical analysis was done with the help of percentages, chi-square test. Results: Majority (89.47%) of the traffic policemen were married. Nuclear family type was seen in majority (64.91%) of traffic policemen. Annoyance to noise (51.75%) and eye irritation (32.46%) were most common symptoms experienced at work place by the traffic policemen. Obesity was a major health problem in the study subjects (63.16%). Respiratory morbidity like URTI (14.91%) and chronic rhinitis (14.04%) were found significantly more in the traffic policemen. Conclusions: Annoyance to noise and eye irritation were most common symptoms experienced at work place by the traffic policemen. Respiratory morbidity like URTI, chronic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis were most common.

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