Aim:To assess the knowledge and attitude toward palliative care among people residing in urban and rural areas.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 185 urban and 165 rural households. Senior-most member of the household present was interviewed using a questionnaire. Only those people who have heard about palliative care were included in the study.Results:Out of 350 people, 47 (13.4%) have heard about palliative care. Of these 38 (20.5%) belonged to urban and 9 (5.4%) belonged to rural areas (P < 0.0001).Twenty-nine (15.7%) participants in urban and 7 (4.2%) in rural areas had some knowledge about palliative care (P = 0.0002). Source of information for 25 (53.2%) participants was newspapers followed by television 17 (36.2%). Thirty-three (86.8%) participants in urban and 7 (77.8%) in rural areas felt that palliative care helps in improving quality of life. Twenty (52.6%) participants in urban and 4 (44.4%) participants in rural areas felt that palliative care can be better provided at homes than hospitals. Thirty (78.9%) urban participants felt that bad news about the patient's condition needs to be told to the patient first and then to their family members. In case of rural participants majority 7 (77.8%) said vice versa (P = 0.0039).Conclusion:Overall awareness of palliative care was poor. This calls for large-scale awareness campaigns. As home-based palliative care was preferred by many, home visits by care providers and training of family members of patient's needing palliative care needs to be practiced widely.

Research Question:What are the socio-demographic profile and risk behavior pattern of seropositive attendees in the voluntary counseling and testing center (VCTC)?Study Design:Retrospective study.Setting:VCTC in the outpatient complex of Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka.Subjects:Records pertaining to all the 539 and 330 seropositive attendees during the years 2005 and 2006, respectively, were included in the study besides data from 2001 onwards in order to assess the time trend of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Study Variables:Age, sex, marital status, religion, educational status, occupation, place of residence and pattern of risk behavior in relation to HIV/AIDS.Statistical Analysis:Analysis was done with SPSS version 11. Statistical test and Chi-square was done, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The time trend of VCTC attendees reveals a gradual increase except in 2006 showing a sharp decline. Seropositives were around 20% between 2001 and April 2007 with a sharp increase in 2006, i.e., 33.64%. Male seropositivity constituted 60-63%; 81-91% of seropositive attendees belonged to the age group of 15-50 years; 58-70% were married. Only about 3% were illiterates and 20-25% constituted 6th-12th pass-outs. With regard to occupational profile, about 17-27% were housewives, 19-21% were laborers/hotel workers and 7% were entrepreneurs. About 45% were from urban area and nearly one-third hailing from other districts in the border of Karnataka. About 25% were exposed to commercial sex workers; another 21-23% were involved in premarital sex and nearly 38% were indulging in heterosexual activities.

INTRODUCTIONColostrum, the early breast milk plays a vital role in boosting the immunity of a newborn.1,2 It also helps in building the precious bond between the mother and the child. Apart from the duration of breast feeding and the time at which a child is weaned, the time of initiation of breast feeding also plays a crucial role in determining the health of child. 3In many countries across the world, the practice of giving new born babies substances other than breast milk is a common cultural practice. 4 When the babies are given such fluids, even before lactation has been initiated, it is called pre-lacteal feeding, and the fluids are called prelacteal feeds. 5 Studies have shown that the effects of prelacteal feeding in babies range from lactation failure, shortening of the duration of breast feeding due to the incidence of diarrhoea. 6 ABSTRACT Background: In many countries across the world, the practice of giving new born babies other substances (pre lacteal feeding) even before lactation is a common cultural practice. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of pre lacteal feeding practice among mothers and to identify the factors leading to pre lacteal feeding. Methods: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted among 206 mothers of infants and children younger than 24 months, residing in a rural area of Karnataka. Data regarding pre lacteal feeding practice, type of pre lacteal feed given, reasons for giving pre lacteal feed was collected using a predesigned questionnaire prepared in local language. Institutional ethical committee approval, informed consent from the study participants was taken and anonymity, confidentiality was ensured. Results: Out of 206 study participants, 66 (32.03%) had given pre lacteal feeds to their newborn, while 140 (67.97%) had not given pre lacteal feeds to their newborn. Pre lacteal feeding practice was more among mothers who were illiterates, who belonged to lower socio economic status. This difference in prevalence of pre lacteal feeding practice was found to be statistically significant. Honey, sugar water, religious water, coconut water, jaggery are the different types of pre lacteal feeds given. Customs, insisted by relatives, development of speech, helps in digestion, cleanses digestive system were the reported reasons for giving pre lacteal feeds. Conclusions: Socio demographic factors like education, socio economic status influence pre lacteal feeding practice. Through IEC (Information, education communication) activities awareness regarding ill effects of pre lacteal feeding practice should be created among mothers.

Background: Diabetes has emerged not only as a major public health problem, but also as a global societal catastrophe. Governments worldwide are struggling to meet the cost of the diabetic care. The proportion of people with diabetes is rapidly increasing in many countries, with the documented increase in low and middle income countries. With this background a study was planned with the objective of assessing the risk of diabetes among adults in a rural area using a simple diagnostic tool. Methods: A community based, cross-sectional study was done among 485 adults aged 20 years and above residing in a rural area of Karnataka. Data collection was done by household survey by direct interview using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The questionnaire had 2 parts with part one of socio-demographic variables and part two made up of Indian diabetes risk score (IDRS) questionnaire. IDRS was developed by Mohan et al and its parameters comprise of 2 modifiable (waist circumference, physical activity) and 2 non-modifiable risk factors (age, family history) for diabetes. Analysis was done with open Epi and Microsoft excel. Results: In the present study, according to IDRS, 14.84% of the study subjects had high risk of diabetes, 73.19% had moderate risk and 11.95% had no/low risk of diabetes. Conclusions: The risk of diabetes among adults is on rise in rural areas. Physical activity likes regular exercises, diet and lifestyle modification are some of the interventions that can reduce the risk of diabetes.