Research Question: Whether use of census enumeration block instead of ‘Ward’ or ‘Census Charges’ as a unit for cluster sampling in urban area has any advantages? Objective: To Study the feasibility of starting survey from the 1st household in sample clusters by using census enumeration block as a unit for cluster sampling in urban areas. Study design: Cross Sectional Study setting: National Capital Territory Of Delhi. Participants: House holds with children 12-23 months of age. Sample size: 15 clusters and 20 children (12-23 month) in each cluster. Results: To cover 20 children 12-23 months of age each an average 98.6 households (70.4-82.2% of total householders per cluster were surveyed. Population-wise census enumeration block are small units and are usually homogeneous and since majority of the households in a block were covered to complete the required sample size, error introduced by starting with first householder instead of a random starting point can be assumed to be very small. Alternatively systemic pattern can be used, starting with I st and last household in alternate blocks. The method has an added advantage that underserved areas amongst the surveyed clusters can be identify.

Research Question: What is the cost of diarrhoea treatment in the infectious diseases Hospital in Pune City? Objectives: To determine the cost of diarrhoea treatment borne by the hospital & the cost borne by the patients. Study design: Cross sectional study. Participants: Patients admitted to infections diseases hospital for diarrhoea treatment Sample Size: 112 Patients admitted to infectious diseases hospital for diarrhoea treatment Study variables: Age, Sex, Place of residence treatment by private practitioners, duration of stay in the hospital. Out come variables: Cost borne by the hospital and cost borne by the patient. Results: The average cost borne by the hospital for treatment of an episode of diarrhoea was Rs.164.87. When average duration of stay was 2.01 days and the average cost borne by the patient was Rs.111.36. The total cost was Rs.276.23.

Research Question: Is the relative risk for the development of hypertension more among non vegetarians than lacto vegetarians? Objectives: To compare the arterial blood pressure between lacto vegetarian and non-vegetarian males of 30 years and above. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: In two different areas of walled city of Delhi. Study Variables: Blood pressure. Statistical analysis: Quetelet Index, t-test, z-test, x2-test, Relative risk

Research Question: What is the level of measles antibodies in 0-5 year children? Objectives: 1.To assess the pattern of decline of maternal antibodies in 0-9 months infants. 2. To estimate the seropositivity for measles antibodies in vaccinated 9 months infants. Study design: Cross- sectional. Setting: Rural areas of District Aligarh, U.P. Participants: 456 children in the age group of 0-5 years. Statistical analysis: Percentages, correlation coefficient. Results: 1. In all the study subjects below 9 months of age, the transplacentally acquired maternal measles antibodies showed a linear decline with increase in age. Out of 202 study subjects who had been immunized against measles 195(96.50%) were seropositive and 7(3.5%) were seronegative for measles antibodies.

Research Question: Is there any difference in immunization coverage in resettlement colonies of Delhi during past five years? Objectives: 1. To study the immunization coverage levels of children over a period of five years. 2. To observe changes in the coverage levels of different years, if any. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Khichripur, Kalyanpuri, Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Himmatpuri- four resettlement colonies of trans-Yamuna area of Delhi. Participants: 1500 children belonging to five age-groups i.e. birth-1 yr., 1-2 yrs., 2-3 yrs, and 4-5 yrs. Methods: Verification of child’s immunization from immunization card and interview of mother if immunization car was not available. Study period: May1997 to March1998 Results: Immunization with individual vaccines and immunization status of the children peaked in 1995-96 but started falling thereafter due to fall in ICE activities.

Research question: Whether consumption of commercially packed cow’s milk containing thiocyanate as a preservative, has any effect on thyroid function? Objective: To assess the effect of ingestion of thiocyanate through commercially packed cow’s milk on thyroid hormone homeostasis. Study Design: Cross sectional. Setting: Urban slum community of Calcutta. Participants: Randomly selected 30 teenage girls consuming commercially packed cow’s milk since childhood and ideally matched 30 control subjects consuming non-pack cow’s milk since childhood from an urban slum community of Calcutta. Results: Consumption of commercially packed cow’s milk was found to inhibit thyroxin synthesis.

Research question: What is the extent of low weight babies born in hospitals and its association with some maternal factors? Objectives: 1. To find an overall prevalence of low birth weight babies amongst hospital births in Meerut city. 2. To identify and quantify the effects of some risk factors for low birth weight. Setting: District women Hospital of Meerut city of western U.P. Study Design: Hospital based matched case-control study. Sample size: 491 low birth weight babies as ‘cases’ and an equal number of babies of normal birth weight in ‘control’ group matched for maternal age, sex of baby, birth order and institution of delivery. Study variables: Socio-economic Status: maternal biological factors including obstetric history: antenatal factors: nutritional factors: history of abortion: toxaemia of pregnancy etc. Results: Overall proportion of low birth weight babies was found to be 21.8% amongst hospital live births and 30.9% born to mothers aged below 30 years of age. Low maternal weight, under nutrition, lack of antenatal care, short inter-pregnancy interval, toxacmia of pregnancy were independent factors increasing the risk of low birth weight significantly. Conclusions: The study suggested that a substantial proportion of low birth weight babies can be averted by improving maternal nutritional status including anemic condition, birth spacing and proper antenatal care.

Research Question: Is there any correlation between climatic variables and pattern of respiratory illness in Pune city. Objective: To correlate the Key variables of climate with the pattern of respiratory illness in Pune City. Study design: Correlational study. Setting: Recorded date about cases of respiratory illness from CGHS dispensaries. Outcome measure: Respiratory illness. Study Variable: Air temperature, diurnal variation, humidity, Statistical analysis: Correlation. Results: It was observed that there is a negative correlational of temperature with the streptococcal sore throat (n = -0.35), asthma (r = -0.34) as well as with the non-specific respiratory illness(r = -0.34). Similarly numbers of streptococcal sore throat cases were maximum with the maximum diurnal variation (r = 0.3). There was no significant correlation observed between respiratory illness and the range of relative.