Research question: What is the role of different risk factors in causation of CHD. Objective: To identify the risk factors contributing to the outcome of CHD. Design: Pair matched case-control study. Setting: Government Medical college, Nagpur, India, a tertiary care hospital. Participants: The study included 294 incident cases of CHD diagnosed by standard criteria. Each case was pair matched with one control for age and sex. Controls were selected from subjects attending the hospital for conditions other than CHD. Main Outcome Measure: CHD. Study variable: Socio-economic status (SES), physical inactivity (PI), family history of CHD, type A personality (TAP), cigarette smoking (CS), alcohol consumption (AC), obesity, oral contraceptive use (OC use), diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT) and total serum cholesterol TSC). Results: On univariate analysis all the 11 risk factors were significantly associated with CHD. Conditional multiple logistic regression identified significant association of SES (OR 2.92, 95% CI 2.28-3.73), PI (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.56-2.62), OC use (OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.11-14.02), obesity (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.15-2.27), DM (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.13-4.13), HT (OR 4.23, 95% CI 2.56-6399), TSC (OR 3.84, 95% CI 2.58-5.72) and CHD. Estimates of attributable risk proportion and population attributable risk proportion for the significant factors confirmed their etiological role and impact of these factors on the development of CHD in this population. Conclusion: This study identified significance of SES, PI, OC use, obesity, DM, HT and TSC in multivariate environment in the outcome of CHD.

Research Question: What is the coverage level of immunization and other maternal services by a modified technique developed by IRMS (ICMR) Delhi in comparison to standard WHO technique. Objectives: To study the –Coverage level for immunization, antenatal care and IFA tablets –Relationship of caste and education with the coverage levels. –Place and persons conducting deliveries. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Both in rural and urban areas of Bihar. Participants: 375 mothers having children up to one year of age selected by a stratified random sampling technique developed by IRMS Delhi. Study variables: Immunisation status, antenatal care, Use of IFA tabs, Education of the female, Education of husband, place and person conducting the delivery. Statistical analysis: Proportions. Results: Overall immunization coverage was 42% for pregnant females. Coverage was high (60%) in urban areas compared to rural areas (40%). Coverage was low among females from SC/ST category, also when females and their husbands were illiterates. Similar trend was observed for antenatal care and IFA tabs. 90% deliveries took place at home and were mainly attended by village dais. Majority of mothers received immunization from some. Govt. agency lack of, awareness and lack of motivation were more commonly found as reasons for non-immunisation among SC/ST as compared to others. Lack of awareness was also found as a common reason for non-immunisation among illiterate females.

Research Question: What are the outcomes of pregnancy in hospital setting and their relationship with some maternal factors. Objectives: To Assess – 1. Pregnancy outcome in the form of live births, pregnancy wastage, birth weight and complications. 2. Type of delivery in hospital setting and its indications. 3. Impact of maternal factors like age, birth order, gestation period and morbidity on above pregnancy outcomes. Study design: Hospital based longitudinal study. Participants: Antenatal mothers admitted in labour room of S.N. Hospital, Agra for delivery. Sample size: 1000 pregnant mothers. Study variables: Gestation period, birth order, morbidity, type of delivery, maternal complications, birth weight, pregnancy wastage. Statistical analysis: Proportions, Z test, Chi-square test. Results: After studying the 1000 hospital termination of pregnancies, it was found that pre-term and post-term deliveries were 19.1 and 15.2%, respectively. Pregnancy wastage was 11.6%, being minimum in term deliveries. 27% of mothers were primigravida while one fourth were with birth order 4 or more. 18% mothers had some complications which were 69% in mothers with birth order 4 and above, 17% had severe anemia. The instrumental/caesarean deliveries were 38%, commonest indication being non-progress of labour. The average birth weight was 2.8kg+0.42 being highest in term deliveries and healthy mothers, lowest was in anemic mothers.

Research Question: What are the factors responsible for pregnancy induced hypertension. Objectives: To determine whether maternal, demographic, clinical and socio-economic characteristics are predictive of hypertension associated with pregnancy. Study design: Cross – Sectional. Participants: 728 hypertensive pregnant mothers attending the ante-natal clinic and admitted to the inpatient department of obstetric unit. Study Variables: Maternal, demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Outcome variable: Hypertension associated with pregnancy. Statistical analysis: Percentages and proportions. Results: The relative incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension was 71.29%. The critical evaluation of social and demographic characteristics of 519 cases of pregnancy induced hypertension revealed that nulliparous, young women (15-25 years) belonging to low socio-economic group with lower literacy status and higher house hold work load are more vulnerable to develop pregnancy induced hypertension. Inadequate diet having low protein, rich carbohydrate and extra salt intake played a crucial role in the development of pregnancy induced hypertension. Conclusions: i) since the nulliparous and younger women are vulnerable to develop pregnancy induced hypertension, the age at first pregnancy be reasonably delayed. ii) Balanced diet is to be ensured through appropriate nutrition education and within t he resources of the family. iii) The heavy household work is to be avoided and adequate rest and sleep be ensured in those who are at risk of developing pregnancy induced hypertension.

Research question: What is extent of relation between full/new moon and outcome of pregnancy. Objectives: To investigate the extent of truth of the folklore that full or new moon has effect on sex and weight of baby, maturity and gravida of pregnancy and the normal delivery. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Urban teaching institute. Participants: Deliveries conducted in the hospital in five calendar years. Sample size: A cohort of 7961 deliveries which occurred between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1992 in a teaching hospital at Pune. Study variables: Gravida, sex, gestational age, birth weight, caesarean section, full moon days, new moon days. Statistical analysis: Simple proportions and chi square test. Results: Full moon or new moon has no effect on sex or birth weight of the baby, gravida or maturity of pregnancy or on incidence of caesarean section. Association of moon phases with outcome of pregnancy is a mere folklore.

Research Question: 1. What is the noise level in residential and industrial areas of Patiala and Ludhiana? 2. What are the various measures to reduce noise levels? 3. What are the exceed the permissible limit? Objectives: 1. To compare the noise levels (residential and industrial areas) in the city of Patiala and Ludhiana. 2. To suggest ways and measures to prevent and reduce noise levels exceed the permissible level for further study to know the harmful effect of noise on health. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Urban areas (residential and industrial areas) in the city of Ludhiana and Patiala. Study variables: Various parameters like Leq, L10, L90 maximum and minimum. Statistical analysis: Unpaired ‘t’ test.

Research Question: What is the health and nutritional status of Shompens – the primitive mongoloid tribe of Great Nicobar. Objectives: i) To study the health & nutritional status of the Shompens. ii) To identify their common health problems. Study design: Cross-sectional Setting: Bands of Shompens – the primitive mongoloid tribe of Great Nicobar. Study variables: Age, sex, marital status, height, weight, mid arm circumference, fat fold thickness, nutritional status, health problems, health problems. Statistical analysis: Proportions

Research question: What are the epidemiological and risk factors associated with asthma in children. Objective: To determine epidemiological and risk factors in childhood bronchial asthma. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting Hospital based. Participants: Children suffering from bronchial asthma and their parents/ attendants. Sample size: 235 children. Study variables: Age, sex place of residence, socio-economic status, age of onset of asthma, no of siblings, fuel used for cooking, smoking, asthma in the family seasonal variation etc. Statistical analysis: percentages