The characteristics of 93 couples opting for vasectomy or tubectomy in an industrial hospital after an initial period of intensive health education activities are analysed and compared. The results indicate that the husbands in the vasectomy group were more educated, placed in better job categories and were earning more in comparison to those in the tubectomy group. The wives in the vasectomy group were also more educated. It was also observed that the couples opting for vasectomy belonged to older age groups but were having fewer number of living children in comparison to the couples opting for tubectomy. The hypothesis that couples from higher socio-economic strata might be tending to accept vasectomy as the method of choice in preference to tubectomy and its subsequent policy implications are discussed.

The relationship between early neonatal mortality (ENM) and birth weight and gestation was studied in an urban birth cohort, on 6443 newborns of known birth weight and gestation. In any weight range, ENM decreased with advancing gestational age till excessive gestation was reached, and for any gestational age the mortality improved with increasing weight. ENM in the urban birth cohort was age the least followed by urban and rural hospitals, respectively.

The mortality risk of early childhood period has been studied in ICDS Blocks of State of Haryana. The components and causes of early childhood mortality in one block have been viewed. The existing monitoring system of vital events under the scheme is building up. The infant mortality rate of 107 per thousand, 1 to 3years mortality rate of 16.26 per thousand 3 to 6 years mortality rate of 8.08 per thousand is amenable to sample, effective and affordable and affordable technologies and interventions.

The present study deals with the profile of 189 sterilized couples out of 865 ever women in the age group of 15 years and above who were interviewed for their fertility pattern in two villages of Mehrauli block in Delhi during 1982-83. Of the total sterilized couples 75% were tubectomies and 25% were vasectomies, showing that in rural area of Delhi tubectomie are preferred over vasectomies. Almost 50% of the eligible couples in 35-44 years were sterilized. The average age of women at tubectomies was 31.23 years and for vasectomies 32.12 years. About one third of the couples had 4 living children and 25% had 6 and more living children. The average number of living children at the time of sterilization was 4.65. A large number of couples got sterilized with more number of male children. Opposition by the male partner and the mother –in-law was high. Post-operative were not significant.

Total and fractional protein analysis of serum and breast milk in hundred lactating mothers was done after them into two groups according to their nutritional status. Apparently there was no correlation between maternal nutrition and total breast milk proteins. In comparison with Western norms, reversal of albumin globulin ratio both in serum and milk was seen.

Undergraduate medical education in this country still emulates the pattern that has been evolved in the West. Timely, fundamental reorientation in health services and health manpower education is now mandatory if improvement in health parameters are to be achieved by the end of this century. India with its rural located population has its task identified for itself. Primary Health Care provides an excellent edifice around which health manpower and service developments can be planned. Medical Education is no longer a departmental function and needs to be directed towards task oriented, competency based education using delivery of primary health care as the goal. This calls for a discipline of Primary Care within Medical Colleges. This approach can be introduced on experimental scale in the first instance. Preparation of Model training manuals should be undertaken.