Background: Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by body fluids, such as blood and serum. Sexual transmission, vertical transmission, and unsafe injections, including intravenous drug use, are the most common routes of infection for Hepatitis B infection. Medical students have a very important role in preventing the disease by improving the disease knowledge among themselves and the patients they will eventually treat.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the KAP among medical students of the first three academic years regarding hepatitis B virus infection. The sample size was 222 students. Data were collected from 230 students using a semi structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS v20.Results: Among 230 medical students, 79.1% students had good knowledge about hepatitis B whereas 84.3% of the respondents had the right attitude towards hepatitis B. The practice component was low with only 44.8% of the respondents having correct practice regarding hepatitis B infection.Conclusions: Although the knowledge and attitude regarding hepatitis B infection is high, the practice levels are low indicating the need to encourage proper practices among the medical students.

Anaemia has significant negative impact on the health of school children including poor scholastic performance and cognitive impairment. The present study was done with the objective to estimate the prevalence of anemia among school going children in Ernakulam district, Kerala and to determine a few factors associated with anemia. Hemoglobin of 880 students of 6th to 9th standard in 11 randomly selected schools of Ernakulam district was estimated using HemoCue 201 photometer. Prevalence of anaemia was expressed using frequencies and percentages. Univariate analysis for factors associated with anemia was done. Selected variables were entered into a logistic regression model. The prevalence of anemia was estimated to be 44% (95% CI 40.67-47.33). Among them 0.8% had severe anemia, 3.5% had moderate anemia and 39.7% had mild anemia. Among them 21.3% and 52.6% reported not in the habit of consuming green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits respectively, at least three times on a usual week. Anemia among children was associated with female gender (adjusted OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.16-2.04), higher age group (adjusted OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.69-2.91) and regular intake of tea/coffee along with major meals (adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.20-2.04). Anemia among school going children in Ernakulam remains a public health problem and was more among females, higher age groups (12-15 years) and those reported regular intake of tea/coffee along with major meals. The consumption of iron rich foods among the students was poor. Behavior change communication for dietary modification and universal supplementation of iron is warranted.

No abstract

Context:Gender differences in the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCD) are a matter of debate. The susceptibility of a woman to NCD should be evaluated taking into consideration the social factors that limit the physical activity among women. It will be interesting to note what will happen if women are allowed to take part in physical exercise to the extent of men.Aims:To find out the gender difference in the pattern of the clinical and biochemical indices related to NCD in young adults with comparable daily physical activity.Settings and Design:This is an institution-based cross-sectional study and the setting was Lekshmibhai National College for Physical Education (LNCPE), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.Materials and Methods:The study participants were students who were regularly involved in more than three hours of physical exercise daily at least for the previous one year. The information on socio-demography, anthropometry, and blood pressure was recorded. Blood samples were taken for laboratory examination.Results:Out of 150 students registered, 126 (84%) in the age group of 17 to 25 years who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were studied. Fifty-five (43.7%) of them were women. Systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and low-density lipoprotein were found significantly lower in women. No significant difference was noted in the case of diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol.Conclusion:Gender differences exist for NCD risk factors among young adults with comparable physical activity and physical exertion seems to be more protective for females.