About one-third of the total disease burden among women aged 15-44 years in the developing countries is linked to pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, and reproductive tract infections (RTI). [3] RTI is a common yet neglected health problem affecting health and social well-being of women in their most productive age. [4] The annual incidence of RTI and sexually transmitted infection (STI) in India is estimated at 5% or approximately 40 million every year. [5] Although early detection and treatment of RTIs can prevent complications and minimize the severity of longterm sequel, still RTIs remain undiagnosed and untreated. Background: Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present a huge burden of disease and adversely impact reproductive health of people. They are more common in developing countries than developed. Objective: (1) To study the awareness, prevalence, and factors associated with RTIs among women aged 15-49 years residing in two slum areas of Bangalore city. (2) To assess the treatment seeking behavior for symptoms suggestive of RTIs in the past 1 year. Materials and Methods: Using systematic random sampling, 470 women of age group 15-49 years were studied from June 2010 to September 2011. Data were collected using a structured pretested questionnaire at their houses. Result: A total of 29.15% women had symptom suggestive of RTIs. White discharge was reported by 17.45%, genital skin infections by 14.47%, lower abdominal pain by 9.15%, complain of genital ulcer reported in 0.21%, and none complained of inguinal bubo. Symptoms of RTI were higher in young, Muslim women, those with higher education and poor menstrual hygiene. Only 62 (45.25%) symptomatic women had sought some form of treatment. Private doctors were preferred by 87% of women who sought treatment and only 6.7% went to government doctors. None had adequate knowledge regarding RTIs and 324 (68.93%) women had some knowledge. Conclusion: About one-third of the women had experienced at least one symptom of RTI in the past 1 year. Women in reproductive age group showed very poor awareness regarding RTI and poor treatment seeking behavior for the same.

Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health interventions available, saving millions of children from illness, disability and death each year. Childhood immunisation represents the gateway to provision of comprehensive health care to which all children ought to be entitled. According to Global immunisation data 2012, ABSTRACT Background: Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective and safest public health interventions in reducing the childhood mortality and morbidity. National Family Health Survey-3 reports that only 43.5% of children in India received all of the primary vaccines and the situation was worse among urban poor where the coverage was 39.9%. An earlier study in an underprivileged area of Bangalore found that only 53% of children aged 12-23 months had received full primary immunisation. This study aimed at understanding the barriers to immunisation among women residing in the same area. Methods: This was a community based qualitative study, in an urban underprivileged area of Bangalore city. Data was obtained from three focus group discussions with mothers of children less than five years of age and ten key informant interviews with mothers, mother-in law and other stakeholders like link worker, ANM and anganwadi worker of the area. Results: Barriers in knowledge among mothers included poor awareness of immunisation schedule and vaccine preventable diseases. Immunisation was delayed due to common childhood illness. Lack of family support, negative attitude of the elderly at home, poor male participation, gender bias, apprehension of giving many vaccines at one time and adverse rumours were the commonly mentioned attitudinal barriers to immunisation. Barriers to utilization of immunisation services included economic constraints, long distance to health facility, and loss of daily wages while attending immunisation clinic, inconvenient timings and lack of effective communication with health personnel. Conclusion: This study has identified barriers in knowledge, attitude and utilization of immunisation services in an urban underprivileged area which should be addressed while planning immunisation strategies at health system level.

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Background: Neonatal near miss is defined as, a neonate who has suffered a life-threatening condition but survived the first 28 days of life. As neonatal near miss is a predictor for early neonatal death, the lessons learned from near misses will be useful to help prevent early neonatal mortality. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to estimate the incidence of neonatal near miss and its associated factors in the early neonatal period in a tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal study where all the cases of early neonatal near miss and early neonatal mortality were documented over a 1-year period. A face-validated structured questionnaire was used to collect information from mothers. The data were described using proportions, mean, and standard deviation. Regression analysis and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) were used to identify the determinants of early neonatal near miss. Results: The study was conducted among 210 neonates born to 197 mothers. The neonatal near miss rate in our study was found to be 75.43/1000 live births. The total live births during the study period were 2784. The most common cause of near miss was identified as birth weight of <1750 g. The absence of antenatal ultrasound scans (aOR 6.124), anemia (aOR 3.945), preterm premature rupture of the membranes (aOR 3.136), presence of oligohydramnios (aOR 3.624), and malpresentation (aOR 5.581) was independent determinants of early neonatal near miss. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the importance of better antenatal care including prevention of anemia, screening and management of high-risk cases, and antenatal complications to avoid the incidence of near miss.

Introduction: With the wide availability and use of Ultrasonography (USG), the expectation of pregnant women towards USG or "scan" has dramatically increased but the actual knowledge regarding its use and its applications are lacking in them. Objective: To assess perceptions and practices of antenatal women about USG in pregnancy in a rural maternity hospital, South Karnataka. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at a rural maternity hospital in Solur taluk of Ramnagara District, Karnataka. Antenatal women attending the outpatient services were selected by convenience sampling and administered a face-validated interview schedule. Results: Mean age of the 280 antenatal women interviewed was 23.66±3.39 years. 73.9% women had heard about USG prior to their pregnancy. All women felt that USG is important in pregnancy and 78.9% felt that a second trimester USG was the most important. Only 33.6% of women could name any three benefits of USG in pregnancy. Most women (97.5%) felt that USG is safe for the fetus. 98.5% women had done a scan in current pregnancy. The doctor had explained the need for scan and explained the results to 58.2% antenatal women. The number of scans per woman ranged from 1 to 7 in the current pregnancy and among them, majority (34%) had three scans. Only 0.7% of women felt that unnecessary USGs were being done. Conclusion: The perceptions and practices among the antenatal women were positive, but the women lacked awareness regarding the benefits of USG. The study identified a need for communication between the doctor and the antenatal women regarding the purpose of USG and discussion of the findings of USG with the mother.