F amily planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods.[1] Family planning offers a positive view of reproductive life and enables people to make informed choices about their reproduction and well-being. Family planning is one of the important measures to contain overgrowing population. Though the Government of India launched a National Family Welfare Program way back in 1950s to accelerate the economic and social development by reducing the population growth, the program could not achieve the expected success with an obvious reason -multi-linguistic, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic nature of the Indian population. Antenatal period is an important aspect for family planning awareness as a pregnant woman is likely to be most receptive for contraception usage in the postpartum period. So, we designed a questionnaire-based study to assess the awareness and practice patterns of family planning among the antenatal women in North India. METHODS Study designA cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted from May to December 2012. SettingHospital-based survey in the antenatal clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital in North India Sample sizeSample size was calculated using the formula given below. Considering 50% awareness of the respondents about family planning methods (p = 0.5), the sample size was calculated to be 384 with 95% confidence level and 5% precision of estimate (d = 0.05): Brief CommunicationA questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken to assess the awareness and practice patterns of family planning among the antenatal women in North India. The study included 400 respondents. Three-fourths of the respondents (74.2%, n = 297) were aware of family planning methods. Condoms were the most commonly used family planning method (78.2%), while intrauterine devices and oral contraceptive pills were used by 25.5% and 16.7% respondents, respectively. The main reasons cited for not using contraception were inadequate knowledge and fear of side-effects. Post counseling, 90.5% (n = 362) of the respondents clearly conveyed their desire to use one of the family planning methods in the postpartum period. Awareness and acceptance of family planning methods in the Indian community needs strengthening. Family planning counseling during antenatal check-up is likely to increase the acceptance of family planning methods in the postpartum period. (Biomed J 2015;38:356-358)

Cavernous haemangioma of uterine cervix is very rare benign vascular tumor. Less than 50 cases have been reported till date, amongst them only few cases are associated with pregnancy.Although it is rare but may cause gynaecological and obstetrical complications.Cavernous haemangioma of cervix mainly managed by surgical excision.A multiparous lady at 37weeks pregnancy presented with complaints of something coming out through introitus and bleeding per vaginum following trauma.On examination a mass of 8x4x4cm in size, reddish blue in color arising from anterior lip of cervix having laceration on its surface which was bleeding.Caesarian section has been done in view of excessive bleeding per vaginum followed by removal of cervical mass done vaginaly. Histopathological report shows cavernous haemangioma of cervix. Antepartum hemorrhage is very unusual presentation of cervical haemangioma, never reported in literature till now. Although cavernous haemangioma of the uterine cervix in pregnancy is very rare,it should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis by clinicians as it may cause severe fetomaternal complications.

Background: We are living in a second most populated country in the world where many social, cultural and ecological processes and events occur regularly every year. These seasonal processes influence many vital rates including birth rates. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of seasonal variation on the delivery rate in tertiary care centre.Methods: A retrospective descriptive study carried out in Government Doon Medical College Dehradun. We extracted total number of delivery over five years period from hospital records (2012-2016) and analyzed the figures for monthly variation in delivery rates. This was repeated for a standardized 30-day month and the findings compared.Results: The total number of deliveries during the study period were 43,892 with an average of 3,657 deliveries per month. The highest rate of delivery was in the August month and lowest one was in the month of April. The monthly distribution of delivery rate also showed sinusoidal pattern.Conclusions: There is significant seasonal variation in monthly distribution of delivery rate. There are maximum conception rates are in winter season and minimum conception is in summer season. These findings will prove valuable in health system planning and in the interpretation of seasonal variations in other reproductive parameters.

Background: Menstruation and menstrual practices are still associated with   socio-cultural restriction and taboos which results lack of knowledge and awareness in adolescent girls and remain ignore of scientific facts and hygienic practices during menstruation leads to severe reproductive health problems. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and menstrual hygiene practices among urban adolescent girls.Methods: A cross sectional observational study conducted. Total 120 adolescent girls enrolled in this study who were attended in gynaecological OPD. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was collected regarding menstrual cycle, knowledge about menstruation, practices during menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Data entry and analysis was carried out in Microsoft excel and analysis done by using frequency.Results: All participants were doing schooling, most of them they have done their high school study (47.5%) and 52.5% of adolescent girls were attended menarche between 10-13 yrs of age. Majority of participants were knowing about the menstruation before menarche (62.5%). Friends followed by mothers were the major sources of knowledge i.e.35% and 27.5% respectively. 22.5% of adolescent girls still using cloth as menstrual absorbent.Conclusions: All adolescent girls should be educated about the menstruation, physiological implications, its significance and proper hygienic practices during menstruation. Incorrect restrictions, myths and beliefs associated with menstruation can be removed by the help of parents, teachers, trained school nurses/ health personnel.

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