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Context: In Ashram schools, scheduled tribes (ST) children from age 6 to 17 years belonging to various ethnic groups stay under common living and dietary provisions. However, there are scant reports on ethnotribal height differences. Aims: The aims of the study are to (a) estimate height differences between schoolchildren of three major local STs, (b) compare heights and average skinfold thickness (SFT) of ST with non-ST and urban schoolchildren, and (c) compare median heights and weights of ST and non-ST schoolchildren with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics standards. Settings and Design: Four Ashram schools and one urban school in Northwest Maharashtra. Subjects and Methods: All children from age 6 to 17 years were included for height, weight, and mid-arm circumference (n = 2106). Data were processed with Excel and Epi info software for quantitative comparisons. Statistical Analysis Used: Quantitative methods including ANOVA were used for statistical comparison of heights. Results: There were no differences among heights between ST students (ANOVA P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences between heights of boys and girls between ST and non-ST students across age groups (ANOVA P < 0.0001). ST boys and girls were mostly below 3rd or 10th percentile of IAP height and weight charts while non-ST children were between 25th and 50th percentiles. The average SFT values for prepubertal age groups were significantly lower in ST schoolchildren. Conclusions: ST students showed a significant growth disadvantage against general and other backward classes categories, although no intertribal anthropometry differences were observed.

Context: Heavy schoolbags are reported worldwide including India. The prescribed safe upper limit was 10% of student bodyweight. Aims: This intervention study explored (a) impact of awareness measures among stakeholders and (b) any systemic constraints for reducing bag loads. Settings and Design: This is a two-stage intervention study following a 2016–2017 baseline study of schoolbag weights in two rural schools. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 175 students (male: 79 and female: 96) from 8th to 9th standards. The intervention consisted of sharing the baseline findings of schoolbag weight, guidelines, and necessary measures for the same. The first intervention involved creating awareness among teachers regarding the harmful effects and the second intervention involved students. Bag weights were recorded on digital luggage scale in prelunch sessions in the following weeks after the intervention. Statistical Analysis: The impact of interventions was tested with (a) Paired t-test for mean bag weights and (b) Chi-square test for the proportion of heavy schoolbags. Results: The mean baseline bag weight of 3.77 kg declined statistically significantly after successive interventions to 3.4 and 3.2 kg. The baseline proportion of 51% of heavy bags (>10% of body weight) declined to 38% and 29%. Despite interventions, 19% students in 8th carried heavier bags than the 3.4 kg cap set by Government guidelines. Subjects taught in 8th standard were above 6/day. Conclusions: Awareness programs for stakeholders only partially succeeded in reducing bag weights. Hence, reducing the daily subject load is necessary.

Background: Institutional birth and Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) are important strategies of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). While the Community Health Center (CHC) is expected to serve EmOC needs in NRHM, the CHCs are hamstrung due to chronic shortage of specialist doctors. Alternative strategies are therefore needed for ensuring EmOC. Objectives: This study aims to estimate the EmOC needs in a private rural hospital from case records and find some useful predictors for caesarian section (C-section) and to assess C-section needs in the context of on-call specialist support. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a two-decade series of 2587 obstetric cases in a private rural hospital for normal deliveries and EmOC including C-section. Results: About 80% of the obstetric cases were normal deliveries. Of the remaining 20% cases that required EmOC, nearly one-third required C-section. In the series, two maternal deaths occurred due to hemorrhage. About 13% case records showed past abortion, which adds to EmOC workload. Primipararous mothers with higher age had a greater incidence (23%) of C-section. The C-section rate shows a steady rise from 3% to above 10% in the series. Conclusions : This rural hospital required C-section in 6.4% cases. This C-section workload was managed with the help of on-call specialists. The local hospital team could manage 93.6% of the cases and abortions with only two maternal deaths. This strategy of an on-call specialist team can be an option for CHCs till resident specialists are adequately available.

Background: Low birth weight remains a major reason behind childhood malnutrition. The NFHS findings show no dent in this problem. Objective: This study was undertaken to explore change in birth weights in a period from 1989 to 2007 and any associations thereof. Materials and Methods: All birth records of a private rural hospital spanning two decades (1989-2007) were analyzed for birth weight, age of mother, gender, birth order of the baby, proportion of pre-term babies and low birth weight babies. Results: No change was observed in the average birth weights (average 2.71 kg) over the period. Although the birth weight shows some expected variance with the age of mother, it was found to have no relation with the baby's birth order and gender. The low birth weight proportion is about 24% and shows little difference before and after the series midpoint of year 1998. Conclusion: The birth weights have hardly changed in this population in the two decades.