Research questions: 1. What is the magnitude of problem of hypertension in adult population of a rural area of J&K? 2. What is the role of socio- demographic factors? Objectives: To study the extent of problem of hypertension in terms of prevalence and distribution of cases. Study design: Case – control. Setting: Villages of R.S Pura block, Distt. Jammu. Participants: Adult population (20-60 years). Simple size: 4267 adults (20-60 years) from 17 villages. Study variables: Age, sex, caste, religion, marital status, literacy. Outcome variables: Prevalence. Statistical analysis: ANOVA, S.E of diff. of means and proportions, Chi- square test. Results: Prevalence of hypertension in adult population was observed to be 8.31%. It was higher in females (10.8%) in comparison to males (6.34%), which was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was a consistent rise in prevalence rate from 1.4% to 31.93% with the increase in age group from 20-25 years to 55-60 years in both sexes, which is highly significant (p<0.01). Marital status & literacy did not seem to contribute towards hypertension.

Research question: How to use hospital statistics in establishing epidemiology of burns amongst adults? Objectives: To identify epidemiological determinants for Ii) Various burn injuries and ii) their mortality experiences. Study design: Hospital based study carried out for a period of one year (1st January 1991 to 31st December 1991). Settings: Wards of department of Burn & Plastic Surgery, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad. Participants: 386 adults (20 years and above) admitted at the centre for burn injuries during 1991. Study variables: Epidemiological determinants (age, sex, temporal, place, etc.) for various burn injuries and the determinants of mortality (type of burn, extent of burn, referral time lag etc.) Outcome profile: Common profile of burn victims with relation to the epidemiological factors and other factors responsible for high mortality in burn cases. Statistical analysis: Chi- square and Z tests. Results:Burns occured more in females specially in the age group of 20-24 years. Eighty five percent were flame burns. Flame burns were more in females, while electric burns were more in males. Burns were less during monsoon (27.7%) than winter (32.6%) and summer (39.6%), but electric burns were twice more common during monsoon. Maximum burns (81.9%) were domestic, occurring mainly either in kitchen or living room. They were seen more in late evening. Sixty two percent cases were severe as total burn surface area (TBSA) was >40%. Case fatality correlated positively with TBSA and death was almost universal with TBSA >60%. Early referral reduced fatality significantly in less severe burns (TBSA<40%) but failed to influence it in severe burns. Appraisal of alleged suicide cases (2.6%) and of stove bursting (4.4%) revealed that young females carry additional risk of burn injuries.

Research question: What is the level of knowledge , attitude, belief and practices of senior secondary students about AIDS? Objective: To document the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices about AIDS among senior secondary students. Study design: Cross- sectional. Setting: Four senior secondary schools including two boys and two girls schools of Rural Delhi. Participants: Students of senior secondary schools. Study variables: Knowledge, attitude, belief and practices regarding AIDS. Statistical analysis: Proportions. Results: A large majority (83.0%) of students though had heard about AIDS, yet majority of them did not know the possible method of prevention of AIDS. Only 27.1 % girls knew about regular condom usage. Half of them had permissible attitude for pre- marital sex while sexual activity was observed in one- fourth students. Students were less reluctant to discuss about AIDS than sex and teachers were preferred as compared to parents in this regard. Conclusion: School is an ideal setting for adolescents for educating them regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and safer sex behaviour.

Research question: Is there an association between common socio – cultural variables and congenital malformation? Objectives: To determine the rate of congenital malformation at birth in hospital deliveries and its association with socio- cultural factors. Study design : Cross- sectional. Setting: J.N. Medical College Hospital and Mohanlal Gautam Rajkiya Hahila Chikitsalaya (District hospital), Aligarh. Participants: All newborn babies (including still births) delivered in the two hospitals and their mothers. Study variables: Social class, religion, consanguinity of marriage, age of mother, parity, urban rural status, history of viral illness, drug intake and tobacco use during pregnancy. Outcome variables: Congenital malformations at birth. Statistical analysis: Chi- square test. Results: The overall prevalence of congenital malformations was 2.8%, being 1.6% in live births and 15.6% in stillbirths. Social class, consanguinity of marriage, parity, urban or rural status and history of viral illness during pregnancy were significantly associated with the date of congenital malformation. Conclusion: Certain socio- cultural factors are associated with congenital malformations and can be used in screening during ante- natal period.