Globally, an estimated 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths has been reported due to cervical cancer in 2018 and it is the fourth most common cancer in women. The Incidence and mortality rank second behind breast cancer in lower human development index (HDI) settings. Eight out of 10 women diagnosed and nine of 10 women who die from cervical cancer live in a low-or middle-income countries (Bray et al., 2018) " Cervical cancer continues to be a major public health problem affecting middle-aged women, particularly in less-resourced countries" (Arbyn et al., 2020). India had the burden of 97,000 new cases of cervical cancer with 60,000 deaths accounting nearly one third of global cervical cancer deaths during the year 2018 ("Globocan 2018," 2018). Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in India which accounts for 17% of all cancer deaths among women aged 30 to 69 years.(Bobdey et al., 2016, "The Challenge Ahead," 2014) One third of cervical cancer cases was reported among women aged 50-59 years (27.4%) (Bobdey et al., 2016). The higher mortality and morbidity due to cancer is because most patients seek/get treatment at advanced

Background Health benefits of physical activity measured in terms of metabolic equivalent minutes (MET-minutes per week) have been established. However, factors affecting physical activity, like age, gender, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, particularly in rural communities have not been documented on a large sample. Methods Baseline physical activity data of more than 4000 subjects over 30 years of age, who were enrolled in a randomised community-based study on non-communicable diseases, were analysed. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used and anthropometric measurements were classified according to the MONICA study manual. Three domains of physical activity were measured as MET-minutes per week - activity at work, travel to and from places and recreational activities. Association of MET-minutes with sociodemographic variables and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases was studied. Results Mean MET-minutes per week of females were found to be significantly lower than that of males and decreased with advancing age and higher BMI in both genders. Married persons, normal BMI, normal waist-hip ratio, lower leisure time activity had demonstrated higher MET values (P = 0.000). In our study, the prevalence of inactivity (<600 MET-minutes) was 3.2% which was similar in both males and females. As high as 96.2% of the subjects had MET-minutes of > 1200. Nearly 50% of the subjects had leisure time ranging from 121 to 240 minutes per day. Conclusion A large majority of adults over 30 years of age in a rural community in Karnataka (96.2%) had very high MET-minutes per week of >1200 per day. Abnormal BMI, higher waist-hip ratio and more leisure time were associated with lower MET-minutes which are modifiable. About 50% had more than 2 hours of leisure time per day. It is recommended that health promotion for active lifestyle should be encouraged.

Background Mothers' knowledge of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) play a crucial role in the overall growth and development of a child, determined by their anthropometry. Malnutrition has been linked to the short- and long-term effects on child health and, ultimately, national development. This community-based cross-sectional study focuses on the nutritional parameters of infants and young children in an urban slum population. The primary objective was to study IYCF from birth up to two years of age. The secondary objective involved studying the association between feeding practices and anthropometric measurements among children of 12-23 months of age. Methods The mothers of 96 children who were between 12 and 23 months of age, living in the urban slum of B.K Nagar, Bangalore, India, were administered the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) IYCF questionnaire. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding information from these children from birth to 24 months were obtained. Anthropometric measurements were measured with appropriate calibrations. Results The population consisted of 57.3% females and 42.7% males. All children had mean anthropometric measurements below the World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study (WHO-MGRS) standard (weight for age in males, P=0.009, and females P=0.005). A delay in the initiation of breastfeeding was observed in female children (54.5%), showing a significant reduction in their weight (P=0.020) as compared to those initiated early. There was also a declining trend of continuation of breastfeeding from age 12 months to 23 months. The study revealed a high consumption of gripe water (68.8%) and bottle feeding (40.4%). A significant difference was found in children who consumed nutritious food, especially meat, with height (P=0.018) and weight (P=0.011), along with other foods. Conclusion IYCF and anthropometry have a direct association, evidence of which is reflected by the mother’s knowledge of feeding practices along with other socioeconomic parameters.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most important causes of cancer death in women in developing countries such as India. One of the prime reasons for the increased incidence of cervical cancer is the lack of awareness. Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice about cervical cancer among rural Indian women Material and Methods: Married women (n = 200) between 18 and 65 years, in a rural field practice area of the medical college in Kaiwara village, located in the Chintamani taluk of Chickaballapur district, Karnataka, India, who could communicate effectively in the local language were included in the study. Participants were randomly selected and instructed to complete validated semi-structured, field-tested survey questionnaire. Result: Majority (96.5%) of the respondents did not know what screening for cervical cancer meant. Awareness regarding preventive measures was found to be very poor with just 6% having heard of Pap smear testing and 8% about the availability of a preventive vaccine. Conclusion: Mass media campaigns can go a long way in spreading awareness of cervical cancer.