Background: Indian markets are flooded with more than 100,000 formulations, compared to approximately 350 formulations listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list. To promote rational drug use in developing countries, assessment of drug use patterns with the WHO drug use indicators is becoming increasingly necessary. This study was conducted to study the prescribing patterns using WHO prescribing indicators in government healthcare facilities in a district of Assam.Methods: This was a cross sectional study carried out from July to September 2017. Out of total 4 blocks in Tinsukia district one (Ketetong) was randomly selected. All the primary and secondary level government health facilities were included and visited one by one. All the prescriptions on that day of visit were digitally photographed at the pharmacy of the health institution after taking written informed consent from the patient. A total of 353 prescriptions were scrutinized and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.Results: Out of total 353 prescriptions collected, 11 were illegible and excluded from the analysis. The average number of drugs per encounter was 3.8. In 62.3% of encounters antibiotics were prescribed and injections were prescribed in 30.1% encounters. 71.8% drugs were prescribed by generic name and 56.2% drugs were prescribed from the essential drug list (EDL).Conclusions: The average number of drugs, percentage of injections and antibiotics per encounter was higher than recommended whereas prescription by generic name and from EDL or formulary was lower than recommended. Training of healthcare workers on rational drug use is need of the hour.

BACKGROUND Tobacco epidemic is a matter of concern across the globe. Use of smokeless tobacco products pose a major challenge, as they are used in a variety of forms. Preventing smokeless tobacco use at adolescent age would provide an opportunity in prevention of noncommunicable diseases, particularly cancer. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among adolescents living in tea gardens of Dibrugarh district, Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS A community-based, cross-sectional study conducted from June 2016 to May 2017. Multistage sampling method was used to select 4 out of 144 tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of Assam. Data was collected by house-to-house survey using a pre-tested, predesigned proforma, interviewing 400 adolescents (both boys and girls). Bivariate and multivariate regression analysis of factors associated with smokeless tobacco use was done. RESULTS Gutka and khaini were the two smokeless tobacco forms used. Prevalence of current use of gutkha and khaini were 26.2% and 6.2% respectively. Male sex, late adolescent age, school dropouts, tobacco use by friends and ignorance about health hazards of tobacco were associated factors. CONCLUSION Smokeless tobacco use among adolescents of tea gardens of Assam is an area of concern and needs appropriate preventive measures to bring down the future morbidities and mortalities.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and morbidity throughout the world. Unhealthy diet is a risk factor for NCDs. There is a lack of studies on the prevalence of dietary risk factors among the industrial population in India particularly in North East India.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among industrial workers of a major industry in Assam. The sample size was 330 considering a prevalence of 50% and 95% confidence interval, and a design effect of 1.5. Data was collected using methods described in WHO STEPS instrument v3.1.Results: A total of 318 subjects consented to participate in the study. Consumption of less than 5 servings of fruit and/or vegetables on average per day was observed in majority 98.4% of the study participants. In a typical week, fruits and vegetables were consumed on 2.99 and 6.89 days respectively. Mean number of servings of fruit consumed on average per day was 0.5 and for vegetables were 2.33.46 (14.5%) of the study participants added extra salt always or often to their food before eating or while eating. 132 (41.5%) of the study participants always or often ate processed foods high in salt.Conclusions: Inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables was observed in 98.4% of industrial workers included in the study. Increasing awareness among this population about adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables to prevent NCDs is necessary.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the largest single contributor to global morbidity and mortality in the adult population and will continue to dominate the trends in the future. The aim of the study is to find out the association of Body Mass Index (BMI) with some of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums of Dibrugarh, to find the association of BMI with some of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in the adult population of 45 years and above living in the urban slums of Dibrugarh. This study was conducted among 208 subjects from May 2015-October 2015. Each study subject was interviewed on sociodemographic variables with the help of a pretested questionnaire. The blood pressure of participants was measured following the standard operation procedures as laid down by the WHO. Height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. Data were analysed by use of percentage and Chi-square tests. RESULTS The overall prevalence of hypertension and diabetes from history and medical records was 46.63% and 14.90%, respectively. Hypertension was predominant in females 50 (46.3%) than males 43 (43%), while diabetes was predominant among males 18% (18) than females 12.04% (13). A 33.17% of the study participants had a BMI of 18.5-22.9. Abnormal waist-hip ratio (>0.9 cm in males) was observed in 76% and (>0.85 cm in females) was observed in 75.93%, respectively. A statistical significance exists between WHR and BMI in both males (p <0.0172) and females (p <0.0129). Among the female participants, association between diastolic hypertension and BMI (p <0.0131) was found to be significant. CONCLUSION The risk factors of cardiovascular diseases are highly prevalent among urban slum population also which needs measures to control them.

BACKGROUNDAdolescence is the important period of life when 35% of adult weight and 11-18% of adult height is acquired. But Adolescent girls (AGs) are particularly at high risk of malnutrition because of gender discrimination in distribution of, and access to, food within the family. Objective-To assess the prevalence of stunting and thinness among AGs in slums of Dibrugarh district of Assam and the factors influencing. MATERIALS AND METHODSA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in slums of Dibrugarh town of Assam among AGs between 10-19 years. Sample size was calculated to be 135. Two stage sampling was carried out. Firstly, out of 10 registered slums, 5 were selected randomly. Sample was divided proportionately between the 5 slums based on population. In second stage, AGs from each slum were selected by consecutive sampling. Nutritional status was determined using BMI and Height for age using WHO standard. RESULTSPrevalence of thinness among AGs was 28.89% and stunting 42.2%. Thinness was found to be significantly associated with educational qualification of father (p=0.045) and educational qualification of mother of AG (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONThinness and stunting among AGs in slums of Dibrugarh town was 28.89% and 42.2% respectively.