<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Overweight and obesity are recognized as an “escalating epidemic” affecting both developed and developing countries. Obesity is associated with a large number of debilitating and life- threatening disorders such as cardiovascular, metabolic and other non-communicable diseases. The childhood roots of adult obesity are widely recognized which calls for health promotion targeted at youth. Objectives: 1) To study the prevalence of obesity among medical students 2) To assess their knowledge, attitude and practices about obesity.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross sectional study was conducted among 300 medical students from all batches of MBBS course i.e. Ist, IInd, IIIrd and final MBBS in Feb 2009 to March 2009 in Grant medical college Mumbai. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used as data collection tool and height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Majority (52%) were in the age group of 18-20. 61% were males and 39% were female. 25% (75) were day scholars and 75% were hostellers. When assessed about knowledge about obesity, 100% students scored 50% and above. Majority of them had positive attitude but lack of appropriate behaviour and practices. Prevalence of overweight and obesity according to WHO classification was 14.7% and 3% respectively and according to<strong> </strong>Asia-Pacific guidelines it was 9.3% and 18.4% respectively.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Promotion of daily physical activity in the form of outdoor games, Yoga, walking are recommended. Nutritional education on dietary practices and life style change should be built in as supporting educational activity during student years. </p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Obesity, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Medical students</p>

Background: Treatment delays increase adverse treatment outcome of tuberculosis (TB). It is necessary to identify reasons behind such delays in different phases of anti-TB treatment (ATT). Objective: To study treatment seeking behavior (TSB) and risk factors for treatment delays among TB patients. Materials and Methods: New smear positive (NSP) pulmonary TB patients initiated on category one regimen of directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) at 24 DOTS centers (N = 156) in E-ward of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) were interviewed using pre-tested semi-structured schedule, which was designed to elicit the TSB and factors associated with treatment delays. Results: Median duration of cough with expectoration before consulting a provider was 8 weeks (min = 1, max = 96 weeks). Risk factors for patient delay were age <45 years, living without family. Mean provider delay was 17.91 (SD = 18.026, range = 7-99 days). First approach to the private sector for the treatment was associated with provider delay. Mean delay to start continuation phase (CP) was 18.46 days (SD = 16.292) (min = 4 days, max = 67 days). Delay to go for sputum microscopy, to collect reports, delay in reporting, supposed that treatment is completed as felt better were the reasons to delay to start CP. It was associated with migration, smoking, alcoholism, living away from family, social stigma involving hiding the disease from spouse and relatives. Conclusion: Risk factors identifi ed for treatment delays were age <45 years, lack of family support, fi rst approach to the private sector, migration, addictions and social stigma. Strengthening Revised National TB Control Program by operational research to involve the private sector, improving transfer procedures for migrants, creating public awareness to remove stigma and transport of patients and/or their sputum samples from DOTS centers to microscopy centers may be considered to decrease treatment delays. Abstract Access this article onlineWebsite: www.ijmedph.org

Context:Malnutrition in children is common globally and may result in both short- and long-term irreversible negative health outcomes. It is not a simple disease with single causative factor but it is a disease with multifactorial causation.Aims:1) To estimate prevalence of malnutrition in underfive children using “Z” score. 2) To evaluate the role of epidemiological and maternal factors on the nutritional status of children.Settings and Design:Community-based cross-sectional study.Methods and Materials:Randomly 10 slums were selected and under five-year-old children and their mothers from urban slums were examined and interviewed.Statistical Analysis:Data was analyzed with SPSS ver 20 and appropriate tests were applied.Results:Four-hundred children were examined. According to Z score classification, 39.8%, 36.5%, and 24.8% of children are underweight, stunted, and wasted, respectively. Family size (P = 0.02, χ2 = 7.7), initiation of breastfeeding (P = 0.009, χ2 = 6.8), maternal education (P = 0.001, χ2 = 13.9), underweight mothers (P = 0.05, χ2 = 4.8), and maternal dietary intake (P = 0.03, χ2 = 6.5) are significantly associated with underweight children. Similarly, stunted children show strong association with increasing age of child (P = 0.001, χ2 = 18.1), birth weight (P = 0.006, χ2 = 7.6), and not seeking medical opinion (P = 0.03, χ2 = 7.0). Primary immunization (P = 0.05, χ2 = 3.5), maternal education (P = 0.002, χ2 = 12.4), employed mothers (P = 0.02, χ2 = 4.9), and underweight mothers (P = 0.05, χ2 = 5.3) are associated with wasting in children.Conclusions:This study reveals very high prevalence of malnutrition status among underfive children of urban slums of commercial capital of India. Various maternal and epidemiological factors affect child nutritional status.

Background: Treatment non-adherence is a major challenge before tuberculosis (TB) control activities. Treatment adherence is affected by various factors that can be patient related, provider related or system related. Objective: To study patient provider interaction and its effect on treatment adherence among new sputum smear pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated at Directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) centres run by government. Materials and Methods: New smear positive pulmonary TB patients initiated on category I regimen of DOTS in first two quarters of a calendar year at 24 DOTS centres and completed at least intensive phase (N = 118) in E-ward of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) were interviewed using pretested semi-structured schedule, which was designed to elicit socio-demographic factors and patient provider interaction. Treatment cards were screened for treatment adherence after any final outcome as per RNTCP guidelines. Results: Treatment adherent patients were 61% (72/118) and 39% (46/118) were treatment non-adherent. Amomg 18.6% (22/118) patients PPI was satisfactory to full extent, while among 28.8% (34/118) PPI was unsatisfactory. Satisfactory PPI was associated with treatment adherence (p

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