Research question : What are the common myths and misconceptions in the management of animal bite cases among patients attending antirabies clinic, Rajindra Hospital Patiala. Objectives: 1. To find out beliefs and misconceptions among patients attending Antirabies clinic. 2. To study distribution of bites in relation to different variables. Setting: Antirabies clinic, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala (Deptt. of Community Medicine). Study design: Retrospective study. Sample size: 4.585 patients who attended the Antirabies clinic in a period of 3 years and 9 months. Statistical analysis: Simple proportions. Study variables : Age, sex, place, literacy, class of bite, myths. Results: Out of 4.585 patients, 71.4% were males and 61.8% reported from urban area. Majority of the patients were in age group 15-30 years and 59.2% were literate. Majority (95%) of cases were of dog bite followed by monkey bite (1.8%) buffalo bite(1.6%) and cat bit (1.3%). 38.6% patients presented with class III bites. Common practices prevalent in the management of wounds were washing with soap and water (21.02%), with only water (9.53%), application of chilies (14.18%), dettol and antiseptic (5.45%), cowdung (0.46%) and carbon (0.89%).

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Research question: What is the prevalence of the established risk factors associated with cancer cervix? Objective: To assess the presence of some determinants of cancer cervix among married, rural women of reproductive age group. Study design: Community based, cross – sectional, observational study. Setting: Rural: Village East Gobindopur is Singur block in Hooghly district of West Bengal. Study population : All the married women of reproductive age group (103) of the village were included in the study. Results: More than two – third (72.8%) of the study population belonged to the vulnerable age group (25-45 years) for this disease while 59.3% were married before they attained 18 years of age. Again 50% (approx) of the married women gave birth to their first child before they were 18 years of age. One – third of the study population had parity higher than three. Two – third of the women studied were using one or more methods of family planning and one – third of the same population were permanently sterilized, 20% were using oral contraceptive pills and only 7.7% were using barrier methods of contraception. Only 31% of the women had satisfactory genital hygiene practice and 36.9% had symptoms of reproductive tract infection. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of some important risk factors associated with cancer cervix like age, age of marriage, age of first child birth, parity ,family planning practices, genital hygiene and reproductive tract infections in the study population. Therefore screening and early detection efforts can be directed specifically to the group at risk.

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Research question : 1. What is the level of awareness regarding various aspects of HIV/AIDS amongst adults aged 15-45 years in Kargil district of J&K. 2. What are the implications of the results for the health provides. Objectives: To find out deficiencies in the awareness status of a very conservative remotely located Muslim community inhabiting the most backward district of the J& K state. Study design: Cross- sectional. Settings: In the randomly selected 955 households covering 20% of rural and 10% urban population of the 3 most populous health blocks of the district. Participants : 15- 45 years old family members, generally males. Outcome variables : Proportion of the surveyed population having correct knowledge about various aspects of HIV/AIDS in the absence of any organized IEC intervention. Results: Revealed a low overall awareness about HIV/AIDS with majority of respondents having no or false perceptions. Conclusion: Study highlights an urgent need for IEC campaigns to sensitize different sections of population on various aspects of HIV/AIDS appropriate to an orthodox Muslim society.

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Research question : What is the prevalence of hypertension in the employees of a mega industry? Objective : To find out the prevalence of hypertension and the impact of various risk factors on it and suggest the remedial measures. Study design: Population based cross – sectional study during 1994-95. Settings: A mega industry located in South Gujarat. Participants: 1300 employees of the industry. Results : Coverage rate of study population was only 76%. The prevalence of hypertension was high (24%). Hypertension was more in general shift workers and in certain sections (transport, finance and accounts, fire brigade, security etc). Prevalence was also high in persons who were overweight consuming alcohol and / or tobacco. Treatment compliance amongst 204 “aware� patients was only 17%.

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Research question: Is there any association between smoking behaviour and respiratory morbidity among workers exposed to dust and fumes in terms of pulmonary functions. Objectives: 1. To study the prevalence of smoking and types of respiratory disorders among workers exposed to dust and fumes. 2. To assess lung functions of these workers in relation to their smoking behaviour. Study design: Cross- sectional study. Setting: Out patient departments of a large hospital in Mumbai. Participants : 115 workers occupationally exposed to dust and fumes, irrespective of their present complaints. Outcome variables : FVC, FEVI, FEVI/FVC ratio,FEF25-75 (Values as percentage predicted), restrictive, obstructive and mixed (restrictive + ventilatory) disorders. Statistical analysis: Chi square test, Z test. Results: Prevalence of smoking was 50.4% among workers. Respiratory disorders were significantly higher in smokers and were related to their smoking behaviour. Smokers had more restrictive and ventilatory disorders as compared to those who had never smoked suggesting combined effect of smoke and dust or fumes.

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Research question : What is the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in healthy blood donors? Objective: To screen the blood donors for HCV antibodies routinely. Study design: Cross- sectional. Setting: Deptt. of Transfusion Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana. Participants: Healthy blood donors. Statistical analysis: Prevalence rate. Results: Prevalence of anti HCV was found to be 1.5%, which is quite high.

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Research question : What are the various areas and burden a family experiences due to presence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patient. Objectives: 1. To identify the family burden like financial burden, disruption of routine activities and family leisure etc. 2. To study the severity of family burden experienced by the families of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Study design: Case- control. Setting: Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (G.C.R.I), Ahmedabad. Participants: 100 cases belonging to the diagnostic categories no. 140-46 of ICD –9 and 100 controls belonging to the diagnostic categories other than no. 140-46 of ICD-9 Statistical analysis: Proportions, Chi-square test and Z test. Results: Financial burden was observed in 36% of cases and 43% of controls had burden on the family. Out of 43% respondents reporting any burden, 36(83.72%) were identified with severe burden.

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