Introduction: Breastfeeding benefits both the mother and infant. It contains all the essential nutrients in an adequate amount that fulfils the infant first six month’s needs. Early initiation of breastfeeding is necessary to ensure consumption of colostrum having multiple protective factors. Aim and Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of early initiation of breast feeding and to determine its associated factors among 0- 23 months children. Methodology: A community-based cross- sectional study was carried out among 339 children aged 0-23 months in field practice areas of Rural & Urban Health Training Centres (RHTC & UHTC), Department of Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Haldwani, District Nainital for a period of 6 months using simple random sampling. Questions related to Early initiation of breast feeding and its associated factors were asked through Epicollect software. Wald’s statistics, Chi- square test, Fisher’s exact test were applied. P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The prevalence of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding was 45.1% (95% CI= 39.9%-50.5%) which was significantly associated with place of delivery, mode of delivery, mother’s education & ANC care. Conclusion: Early Initiation of Breastfeeding practice was found in almost half of children which were significantly associated with various factors highlighting the importance of addressing these factors to improve Early Initiation of Breastfeeding practices.

Background: The foundation of any nation is children. Malnutrition in children is global issue that may have both short- and long-term irreversible negative health consequences and thus associated with morbidity and mortality. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of under-nutrition among under-five children in rural area of Haldwani. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted on Four hundred children residing in the rural field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Haldwani. Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 7.75%, 9.25%, and 4%, respectively among under five children. The risk factors found significantly associated with undernutrition and sociodemographic profile were family size, parent’s education, mother’s occupation, and the socioeconomic class. The maternal factors found significantly associated with undernutrition were intake of iron folic acid tablets during antenatal care and postnatal care period, duration of pregnancy, site of delivery. Prelacteal, colostrum given, exclusive breastfeeding, and age of introducing complementary feeding and occurrence of recurrent diarrhea, recurrent acute respiratory infection, and worm infestation were child characteristics and medical illness found significantly associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: In this study, 17.5% of children were found undernourished. Factors determining undernourishment were parents literacy, social class, type and size of family, iron folic acid taken during pregnancy, feeding practices, immunization status, history of recurrent diarrhea, and other infections in the past 1 year.

Background: Vaccines are among the most sensitive drugs; they are sensitive to heat and freezing; therefore, they must be stored at the recommended temperature. Thus, it is deemed necessary to study staff’s knowledge and skill level about the modified cold chain of electronic vaccine intelligence network (eVIN) period. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to assess the knowledge and skills of Cold Chain Handlers regarding cold chain, eVIN and vaccine management in district Nainital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at 34 Cold Chain Points in district Nainital, Uttarakhand. Pre-structured validated questionnaire was used for this study. Results: Cold chain handlers were deputed at all cold chain points of which about one-third was contributed by the Haldwani block. All 29 females and five males cold chain handlers were literate and mostly had received eVIN training. It was found that except for knowledge about adverse event following immunization, its primary management, hold over time, and keeping dropper in ice-lined refrigerator rest was correctly answered by all of them and skills about the identification and performing tasks were performed splendidly by all 34 (100°). Conclusion: Cold chain handlers need reinforcement in skills and keeping knowledge up to date to keep the cold chain healthy and properly functioning.