Background: Many parents have poor understanding of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) and many believe in false propagations about the contents, side effects and effectiveness of vaccines. Lack of good knowledge and positive attitude about childhood immunization was believed to be the root cause for resurgence of VPDs. Aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding childhood immunization among mothers of under five children.Methods: A cross sectional study was done among mothers with at least one child in the under-five age group residing in the rural field practice area of a teaching institution. Assuming 61% mothers have good knowledge (Mangalore study) the sample size was calculated to be 235 with 20% error and 1.5 design effect. Data was collected with the help of pretested semi structured questionnaire by interviewing 15 eligible mothers from each of 16 wards. Descriptive analysis was done.Results: The average age of the participants was 27.30±5.42 years with many of them educated up to 10th grade (40.3%) and most being housewife (74.5%). Knowledge of mothers regarding the diseases that can be prevented by immunization was fairly good. But the knowledge regarding individual vaccines, their dosages and schedule were found to be low. Majority of mothers had good attitude about immunization. Immunization coverage of the locality was relatively good (87.7%). Significant relation was established between attitude and practice. Sick at the time of vaccination was the most common cause of being partially immunised (68.96%).Conclusions: Intensify the awareness classes for mothers and religious leaders on immunisation.

Background: Domestic violence has substantial public health consequences. More than one-third of women globally suffer from physical and sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner with a lifetime prevalence of 10%–69%. In India, 28.8% of the ever-married women in the reproductive age group, reported domestic violence. Although Kerala, in southern India, performs better than other Indian states on a host of human development indicators for women, 15.8% among the women in this group have ever experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months, the most common perpetrator being the husband. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the ever-married women, residing in a selected area of northern Kerala, who have been married for at least 1 year. One to one structured interview was conducted with a pretested structured questionnaire by the investigator. Spousal violence was defined as proportion of ever-married women with a lifetime experience of violence perpetrated by their spouse, manifested through acts of physical, sexual, and/or emotional violence, even threat. Results: A total of 290 women were interviewed. The age of the participants ranged from 18 years to 64 years; majority were Muslims. Only 16.5% were college-educated and over 90% were homemakers. 29% reported having experienced spousal violence; with the most common being emotional violence (19%) closely followed by sexual violence (18.6%) and physical violence (14.8%). A little over one-third (39.7%) reported controlling behaviour of their husband. Age of the participant ( P = 0.019), absence of social support ( P = 0.034), employment status of husband ( P = 0.026), controlling behaviour of husband ( P < 0.001), alcohol abuse by husband ( P = 0.004) and extra-marital relationship of spouse ( P < 0.001) were found to have significant influence on spousal violence experience. Conclusion: More than a quarter of the married women in this rural setting have experienced one or the other form of violence. Recommendation: A multifaceted approach needs to be employed which takes into consideration legal measures, social sciences, women empowerment, mental health systems and educate the men to curb this menace.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract