Research questions: What are the factors, which determine preference for institutional and non-institutional deliveries in slum area of Delhi? Objective: To study the factors determining preference for institutional or non-institutional deliveries in slum areas of Delhi. Study design: Cross-sectional. Settings: Slum areas of Delhi. Sampling: Ten slum colonies were randomly selected from Delhi by dividing it into five zones and taking two colonies from each zone. Four Hundred households were covered from each colony and information on delivery related aspects were collected from mothers of children up to 2 years of age. Statistical analysis: PC based factor analysis technique was applied to identify factors had also simple tables were generated. Results: Non-institutional deliveries were found to be about 46%. Factor such as ‘Economic Status’ was identified as determining one for preference of non-institutional deliveries. Conclusion: Improvement in economic conditions of people may promote institutional deliveries.

Research questions: What is the prevalence of HIV among truck drivers? Objective: To study the seroprevalence of HIV among truck drivers. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Truck Union of Patiala City and National Highway No. 1. Participants: One thousand truck drivers working along the National Highways. Study variables: Age, educational status, marital status, and sexual behaviour. Statistical analysis: Proportions. Results: One thousand truck drivers from 14 states of India and Nepal were interviewed and tested for HIV. Forty-three (4.3%) truck drivers were detected positive for HIV, All the HIV positive truck drivers were below 45 years of age. Lower educational status was associated with higher HIV seropositivity. More of the married truck drivers were HIV positive than the unmarried. HIV seropositivity was also been associated with relatively shorter and more frequent out station visits. Sex with commercial sex workers and irregular use of condom were associated with a higher HIV seropositivity.

Research questions: Is there a need to bring about reforms in the hospital visitors policy in tertiary care public sector hospitals? Objectives: 1. To study the problems faced by the Hospital Management due to over-crowding of visitors. 2. To study the problems of the visitors during their visit to the hospital. 3. To elicit the opinion of visitors regarding hospital visitors policy. 4. To suggest remedial measures for this problem. Study design: Cross-sectional; interviews based on semistructured questionnaire. Settings: Large superspeciality tertiary care hospital in Delhi. Participants: Attendants of admitted patients age more than 15 years. Sample size: 100 attendants (80 males and 20 females). Study variables: Age, sex, occupational status, family income, visiting hours, passes, visitor’s policy etc. Statistical analysis: Simple proportions and percentages. Results: Majority of the attendants were males (80%), literate and government servants belonging to the middle or lower middle class. About 70% had valid entry passes, but were not satisfied with the functioning of Medical Social Service Unit and Central Admission and Enquiry Office. 96% attendants were aware of increased infection in patients due to more visitors and 80% wanted two passes per patient. More than 50% were aware of visiting hours and wanted a clear-cut visitors policy in public hospitals.

Research questions: 1. What is the level of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS amongst school children in East Delhi? 2. What is the impact of IEC intervention on the level of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS in these children? Objective: To find out the impact of IEC intervention on awareness regarding HIV/AIDS amongst senior secondary boys and girls in schools of East Delhi. Study design: Pre and post IEC interventional study. Settings: In four randomly selected senior secondary schools in East Delhi. Participants: 294 boys and 333 girls of class XI and XII in pre IEC group and 239 boys and 203 girls in post IEC group. Intervention: An IEC package of exhibition of posters, videotapes and intra group open discussion. Outcome variables: Proportion (prevalence) of school children having correct knowledge of various aspects of HIV/AIDS after IEC intervention. Statistical analysis: Chi-square test. Results: IEC intervention significantly generated an enhancing effect on most aspects of their awareness towards HIV/AIDS among both boys and girls. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to impart health education for dispelling misconceptions regarding this disease.

Research questions: What different strategies should be used to effectively control problem of malaria? Objectives: 1) To study the problem of malaria. 2) To study different strategies for effective control of malaria. Study design: Observational and record based. The problem of malaria was studied for three years from 1996-1998 Participants: Individuals having fever. Setting: Community based in Mangalore City. Study variables: Fever cases, blood slides prepared, slides found positive, agency-wise, species-wise and year-wise positivity. Statistical methods: Simple proportions. Results: The yield of cases has been shown to highest in passive surveillance, as reflected in high slide positivity rates. A total of 95,898 slides were prepared, out of which 19,169 were positive for malaria parasite. Thus, the overall side positivity was 20%. The SPR in passive surveillance was 34.5%. Month-wise distribution of positive cases showed high SPR and low Pv/Pf ratios during non-malaria seasons. It is suggested to improve passive surveillance to achieve high SPR thereby leading to substantial saving on slides, laboratory services and transport expenditure.

Research questions: To what extent the knowledge of preventive practices on HIV/AIDS can be enhanced through intensive interactive and interpersonal communication in rural areas through primary health care infrastructure. Objectives: 1. To scale up the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS amongst persons aged 15-45 years in rural areas. 2. To screen the cases of RTI/STI at the village level for prompt treatment at Primary Health Centres. Study design: Cross-sectional, population based action research study in rural settings. Sample size: 1261 Households, 1632 men and women in reproductive age group and 92 clients followed up to evaluate the outcome of treatment. Methodolog: Information was collected by interview technique as also from reports of target population and screening activities submitted by workers. Outcome variables: Awareness of preventive practices of HIV/AIDS, condom use, early treatment of RTI, coverage of households and individuals. Results: One third of the dwellings were found locked. Close to 68% of the households received the “contact card� and 59% of individuals in target age group received the cards and of them 23% read messages on HIV/AIDS and RTI, Prevalence of RTI in women and men was observed to be 25.6% and 0.74% respectively. Over 70% of individuals were aware of HIV/AIDS, men were better informed as compared to women. The primary source of information being T.V. and Radio (91.85%). Health workers were mentioned as Primary source of information by 27.47% of individuals. Effective knowledge of preventive practices (staying with one faithful partner and safe sex by use of condom) was endorsed by one third of individuals only. Condom use rate was distressingly low at 3.2 percent.

Research questions: How well a post survey sample check of NFHS correlates with the findings of NFHS? Objective: Post survey check of National Family Health Survey carried out in 1992-93. Study design: Multistage sampling method with 5 percent sample of original NFHS sample. Setting: Study covered 5 percent sample of original NFHS sample. Subjects: Five percent household sample (1093 members) of original NFHS sample was studied and compared with NFHS data. Method: Information from five percent house-holds of NFHS in which either there likely to be no change was likely to be only in one direction such as age group, sex-ratio, literacy, family planning knowledge and adoption etc. were collected in a predesigned questionnaire and compared with NFHS data. Results: The demographic characteristics were similar to those of NFHS. TFR and number of children ever borne were also found to be same. The awareness of FP methods and its uses were within acceptable margin of error. Thus on comparison of data of post survey check and NFHS sample error was within acceptable margin.