BackgroundUnder India's Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), all household contacts of sputum smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients are screened for TB. In the absence of active TB disease, household contacts aged <6 years are eligible for Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) (5 milligrams/kilogram body weight/day) for 6 months.ObjectivesTo estimate the number of household contacts aged <6 years, of sputum smear positive PTB patients registered for treatment under RNTCP from April to June'2008 in Krishna District, to assess the extent to which they are screened for TB disease and in its absence initiated on IPT.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted. Households of all smear positive PTB cases (n = 848) registered for treatment from April to June'2008 were included. Data on the number of household contacts aged <6 years, the extent to which they were screened for TB disease, and the status of initiation of IPT, was collected.ResultsHouseholds of 825 (97%) patients were visited, and 172 household contacts aged <6 years were identified. Of them, 116 (67%) were evaluated for TB disease; none were found to be TB diseased and 97 (84%) contacts were initiated on IPT and 19 (16%) contacts were not initiated on IPT due to shortage of INH tablets in peripheral health centers. The reasons for non-evaluation of the remaining eligible children (n = 56, 33%) include no home visit by the health staff in 25 contacts, home visit done but not evaluated in 31 contacts. House-hold contacts in rural areas were less likely to be evaluated and initiated on IPT [risk ratio 6.65 (95% CI; 3.06–14.42)].ConclusionContact screening and IPT implementation under routine programmatic conditions is sub-optimal. There is an urgent need to sensitize all concerned programme staff on its importance and establishment of mechanisms for rigorous monitoring.

Multiple choice questions (MCQ’s) are a reliable and an efficient method of assessment. It is an objective type of assessment where, its efficiency depends on the item and the options given. A well framed MCQ is a very good tool for formative and summative assessment of the student. It is also been introduced in medical education, different entrance exams. The student can be assessed for the depth of the knowledge he/she has using MCQs. Also, the MCQs are less time consuming, cost effective and efficient and reliable. To compare the knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS in 1 and 2 MBBS students using MCQs as an assessment method The study comprised 100 1 MBBS and 100 2 MBBS students from KBNIMS, Gulbarga. Students were given 14 MCQs on HIV/AIDS and were asked to tick the correct answers. In our study we found that the performance of 2 MBBS students was better compared to 1 MBBS students in majority of the MCQs In this study we found that MCQs can be used as assessment tool to compare the knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS among UG medical students. We found that the knowledge and awareness of AIDS is better among 2 year students who have the topic as core competency to learn.