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Context: Each year, about 21 million girls aged 15-19 in developing regions experience pregnancy, posing significant challenges for their health, well-being, and economic stability due to its vast impact., Aim: To identify the risk factors contributing to teenage pregnancy as compared to Pregnancy in pregnant women in the rural area of the Khordha district with the assessment of their knowledge and, health-seeking behaviour (Contraception and STDs) among teenage and adult pregnant women in the study area., Settings and Design: Hospital-based case-control study conducted at Bhubaneswar's Community Health Centre., Material and Methods: The study, conducted from April to July 2022, recruited 138 participants using consecutive sampling and interviewed them using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire., Statistical Analysis: Chi-square and logistic regression assessed association and strength., Results: Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy include education below high school (AOR = 2.46; 95%CI 0.89-6.79), SC and ST caste (AOR = 2.34; 95%CI 0.94-5.82), having more than three siblings (AOR = 4.45; 95%CI 1.53-12.96), and lack of communication about sexual issues (AOR = 2.84; 95%CI 1.25-6.39). Awareness of contraceptive methods was 34.8% among cases and 56.5% among controls ( p = 0.02). Regarding STD awareness and symptoms, 15.2% of cases and 42.4% of controls were knowledgeable and experienced symptoms ( p < 0.01)., Conclusions: This study suggests that factors such as lower education, minority caste, having more than three siblings, and lack of communication about sexual issues contribute to early pregnancy. These findings could enhance existing ARSH platforms by integrating regular engagement and sensitization efforts., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Objectives: To find the prevalence of COVID vaccine hesitancy amongst people of Odisha and reasons for the same., Design: Observational Study., Setting: Outpatients, inpatients, and attenders in tertiary health centers in Khorda, Tangi, and Mendhasal, Odisha, India; online data via google forms from people across the state., Duration of Study: April to June 2021., Participants: Convenience sampling of 450 adults aged between 18 and 60., Main Outcome Measure: Willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19., Results: Hesitancy rate stands at 12.7%, with 5.7% in the urban setting and 20.9% in rural (CI 95%, P = 0.000), 3.1% amongst males and 25.4% females (CI 95% P = 0.000), and 42.6% amongst the homemakers. Main reasons for vaccine hesitancy include lack of knowledge about efficacy,fear of side effects, and testing positive despite taking the vaccine., Conclusions: The near tripling of the hesitancy rates indicates a probable hindrance in stopping the spread of the infection. Family physicians have a significant role in alleviating the myths, counseling people, and managing adverse events., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Objective: To assess the correlates of sociodemographic profile with abnormal blood profile in tribal districts of Odisha., Design: This was a cross-sectional study. The abnormal blood profile cut-offs were: Random blood sugar >200 mg/dl, Triglycerides >150 mg/dl, and Cholesterol >200 mg/dl., Setting: The study was carried out in Daringbadi and Tangi (Choudwar) blocks from Kandhamal and Cuttack district, respectively, in the eastern state of Odisha in India., Participants: Data of 2,000 households selected consecutively from 30 villages was collected for persons aged more than 6 years from either block on sociodemographic aspects and food consumption by households. Anthropometric measurements were taken for persons aged 11 years and above. Approximately 10%, that is, 400 households were chosen for blood sample collection for estimation of random blood sugar (RBS) and lipid profile [Serum Triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol] in persons aged 11 years and above., Results: The blood reports revealed that out of the total samples collected, 9.2% had elevated RBS, 20.8% had elevated TG, and 8.8% had elevated cholesterol levels overall. The prevalence of elevated RBS, TG, and Cholesterol was 2.3%, 15%, and 5.3%, respectively, in Daringbadi, while in Tangi-Choudwar the elevated markers were 17%, 27.2%, and 12.8% for RBS, TG, and Cholesterol, respectively. Our study found that compared to the Daringbadi block, a significantly higher ( P < 0.05) proportion of people from the Tangi-Choudwar block suffered from hyperglycemia (OR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.20), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.64), and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.59). Hence, it was observed that the population of Daringbadi was 89%, 53%, and 62% less likely to have elevated random blood sugar level, serum triglycerides, and serum cholesterol, respectively, than the population of Tangi-Choudwar block. Overall, the population of Tangi-Choudwar was found to be more predisposed to an abnormal blood profile which might be indicate a less healthy lifestyle and diet in this block as compared to Daringbadi block., Conclusions: This study found that the sociodemographic factors influencing lifestyle and diet patterns of a population have an impact on the health of a population. We found that the tribal block which was more developed and had more intake of junk food and sedentary lifestyle similar to urban areas also had a greater proportion of population with an abnormal blood profile as compared to the less-developed tribal block. Hence, health promotion for a healthy lifestyle and diet is needed as a part of national health policy to implement primordial prevention and to prevent the emergence of risk factors from an early age. The frontline health workers and family physicians can play an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Adolescence is a period that is characterized by growth and development rapidly. They have only limited knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Adolescents girls are more marginalized and face many problems in society. Owing to a lack of knowledge on SRH, they succumb to various situations such as unhealthy menstrual hygiene practices, unwanted sex, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, reproductive tract infections (RTIs), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS. These have adverse effects on their mental health. This article reviews the literature to explore the knowledge, attitude, practices, and life skills regarding SRH among adolescent girls. Need for the inclusion of SRH and life skill education for adolescents in schools, strengthening health care programs, and involvement of various Non-Governmental organizations (NGO for adolescent wellbeing. A Search of relevant publications between 2011 and 2020 was done through multiple electronic databases such as MEDLINE, PUBMED, and Google scholar. A manual search on world health statistics, national programs regarding SRH was done., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the world to undergo an unprecedented change in a short period. Personal protective equipment such as the face mask or face cover has become a daily necessity. Moreover, since some states and countries have made the use of face covers or face masks compulsory, one cannot ignore or afford to have a wrong or incomplete awareness about face masks. Current information suggests that the two main routes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus are respiratory droplets and contact. This article aims to review the existing information and highlight the need for the use of face masks or face covers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and promote and provide necessary recommendations. Many countries have implemented or recommended mask wearing in the community, but recommendation for rational use of masks is being issued, as the crisis and shortage for masks are universally existing. The use of different types of masks has been assigned according to the risk of exposure and should be therefore judiciously used. As this is a novel disease, the guidelines are changing every day and one needs to be updated with correct information so that one can protect themselves and their families from this extreme level of the crisis faced by the world now. The use of face covers or masks should not be discouraged as there has been substantial evidence that its use can help reduce the spread of infection. "Mass masking" along with hand hygiene and social distancing are the only effective recommended measures to prevent the spread of the disease., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Introduction: Anemia is a major public health challenge in India. Despite national programmes and targeted interventions over the years, the decline has been unsatisfactory. National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) was launched by the Government of India with a vision to combat anemia. In this context, we discuss the programmatic facilitators and issues in the monitoring, supervision, and reporting aspects of NIPI implementation., Materials and Methods: A process documentation study was undertaken in four districts of Odisha to assess the NIPI implementation. A total of 170 interviews were conducted during March-May 2016 among officials and frontline workers through qualitative techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and process observation. Data analysis was thematic using NVivo software., Results: Monitoring and supervision consisted primarily of visiting field sites by supervisors and review of the progress in meetings with inadequate documentation. Lack of coordination and ownership among the various departments involved were observed as revealed in the interviews. Some of the reporting formats were outdated and missed section for IFA syrup. Focus had been on the collection of data, but its utilization for informed decision-making and policy decisions was lacking., Conclusion: Better interdepartmental coordination and ownership, streamlining the reporting system and web-based monitoring system need to be prioritized to improve the effectiveness of the programme. The three key departments involved must strengthen the evaluation process for sustained outcomes to reduce anemia burden., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.