Background: Prevalence and underlying reasons of psychoactive substance use vary across different age, gender and societal groups. It is an important concern among females as female physiology and psychology makes them more vulnerable to substance dependence. The primary objective of study was to find prevalence, pattern and factors affecting psychoactive substance use among female students (18-25 years).Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 250 female students were recruited from a university in Chandigarh using multistage cluster random sampling. Survey tool developed by World Health Organization was used in a self administrated format using paper based survey method. Associations among various factors leading to psychoactive substance use were tested using logistic regression model.Results: Lifetime prevalence of psychoactive substance use was 13.6% [95% CI 9.3-17.8, n=34]. Participants reported their use out of curiosity, for having fun, personal problems, easy availability, familial use, etc. 52.9% (18/250) students reported their use within last 3 months; out of them health problems were faced by two. Association of psychoactive substance use was significant for age, socioeconomic status and family history of psychoactive substance use.Conclusions: Due to sensitive nature of reporting substance use, the lifetime prevalence of 13.6% among female young students may be an underestimation. Familial psychoactive substance use exposes their wards to its use, especially under psychological stress. Qualitative research should be performed to understand why some female students use psychoactive substances while others abstain themselves from using these at all or abstain from their use for a long time after first exposure.

Malnutrition is a global concern in developing countries. About one third of the world's malnourished children live in India. To study the prevalence of malnutrition and its associations with socio demographic factors among under 5 children in rural areas. A community based cross sectional study was conducted in district Fatehgarh Sahib. A census based technique was used with 573 under 5 children from nine villages of Fatehgarh Sahib District. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. 573 children, ages 5 years and below, were enrolled for this study with 58.2% participants in upper middle and upper class, and 5.9% in lower and lower middle class. It was found that 14.14%, 15.71% and 18.85 % of the children were malnourished with respect to Weight for age (WHZ) and Height for age (HAZ) z-scores and disturbet body weight. Multivariate regression analyses of all indicators of malnutrition reflect parental education, socioeconomic status, an increase in number of children in household and children born in second or third order were some of the socio-demographic factors, which had an impact on the nutritional status of the under-five children. Significantly for stunting ( a marker of malnutrition of great concern), children from a lower caste had a 2.2 fold higher odds (OR 2.24), second or higher birth order was associated with 26% higher odds (OR 1.262), and children born to parents with lower literacy ( primary and below) had 52% and 33% higher odds for mother’s and father’s education respectively (OR 1.52 and 1.32). The burden of under-nutrition among under-5 children has not changed significantly even after several intervention programs. Therefore, policy makers must focus on simultaneous socioeconomic development also. Additional qualitative research is needed on identifying and designing new programs or modifying existing programs with services which can be easily understood and afforded equitably by the intended beneficiaries

Every year, out of an estimated 120 million pregnancies that occur World Wide, about half million women die because of complication of pregnancy and child birth. So there is need of skilled assistance during labour is the very important and key service to reduce the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity rates. The partograph (sometimes known as partogram) is usually a pre-printed paper form on which labour observation are recorded. The aim of partograph is to provide a pictorial overview of labour, to alert midwives and obstetricians to deviations in maternal or fetal wellbeing and labour progress. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge regarding partograph among staff nurses. Material & Methods:The study was conducted in tertiary care Medical institute of Amritsar. Total 40 Staff Nurses were selected by convenience sampling technique those were working in obstetric & gynaecological ward of SGRD hospital, vallah, Amritsar. A self structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding Partograph. The data was gathered and analysed by calculating the frequency, percentage, mean, mean percentage, standard deviation and chi square. Results:The study concluded that 57.5% of staff nurses having average knowledge, 25% staff nurses having good knowledge and remaining, 17.5 % staff nurses having poor knowledge regarding partograph. Conclusion:The partograph is considered a valuable tool in the improvement of maternity service by allowing midwives and obstetrician to display intrapartum details in a pictorial manner.

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BackgroundQuitting tobacco smoking is a complex process, and the transtheoretical model describes the various stages of behaviour change that smokers experience to stop smoking. Predictors of intention to quit and stage of behavioural change could assist policy-makers in establishing tailor-made strategies to offer support.ObjectiveIn the current study, we analysed the determinants of cessation among 9499 current smokers of India recorded during the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2016–2017).MethodsBivariate analysis, multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression was performed for past quit attempts and intention to quit smoking in the future; multinomial logistic regression to understand predictors of various stages of change determining cessation behaviour of current smokers) was undertaken.ResultsThe majority of the smokers was men (91.0%), in 25–44 years age group, (42.3%), daily wagers (37.4%) and resided in the rural area (73.3%), with bidi being the most commonly smoked product (72%). Nearly 72% tried to quit without any assistance with 36.6% (precontemplation), 27% (contemplation), 28% (preparation (or action)) and 8.1% in (relapse) stage. Men ((1.049); 95% CI 1.047 to 1.051), the primary (1.192; 95% CI 1.190 to 1.193) as well as higher education, being married (1.231; 95% CI 1.229 to 1.234) and urban residence (1.167; 95% CI 1.1.65 to 1.168) were found to be associated with higher prevalence of previous quit attempts. The regression modelling found out that intent to quit reduced with increasing age and was similarly prevalent with any level of education.ConclusionUnderstanding stages of behavioural change could assist the stakeholders in developing individualised interventions along with the development of intensive cessation protocols in clinical and public health settings.