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Background: Women in India are restricted in their daily activities and mobility due to taboos, cultural barriers associated with menstruation and menstrual practices. Poor menstrual hygiene can make them susceptible to various reproductive tract infections. In this study we assessed the awareness, knowledge of menstruation and practice of menstrual hygiene among adolescents.Methods: A college based cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of an urban health training centre (UHTC) of a tertiary care hospital in the district of Coimbatore. Universal sampling method was used for selection of participants. A structured proforma was used for data collection. Microsoft excel 2007 was used for data entry and data analysis was done using SPSS version 27.Results: It was found that 80.4% had formal education on menstrual hygiene. 94.5% of them had the habit of changing pads/cloths before they go to bed. 94.1% had the habit of washing with water every time and 76.49% of those who had the habit of washing used soap/antiseptic while washing.Conclusions: Knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene should be provided in schools and colleges. Ensuring availability of sanitary products, water, privacy and appropriate waste disposal in all public services and institutions can address the challenges.

Background: Effective communication plays a crucial role in establishing strong Doctor patient relationship which plays a dominant role in the treatment. Since Attitude forms the basis for the behaviour, the attitude of the students towards learning communication skills have major impact on developing effective communication skills. The objective of this study is to assess the level of attitude of medical students towards learning communication skills.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over 2 months among first to 4th year medical students in Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical College and Research Centre, Kancheepuram using communication skills attitude scale. Data regarding the attitude and various socio demographic profile were collected through self-administered questionnaire. Hierarchical cluster analysis and K mean cluster analysis was done and Chi square test applied to find out association between the attitude and demographic variables.Results: With K mean cluster analysis, 183 students (47.9%) had high and 52.1% had moderate attitude towards learning communication skills. There is no significant association between socio demographic profiles and attitude towards learning communication skills except for the year of study and the gender.Conclusions: Overall all the students showed positive attitude towards learning communication skills, however there was decrease in level of attitude with higher the year of study.

Background: Alcohol use is associated with serious public health problems thereby raising the global morbidity and mortality. The main aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of alcoholism and its co morbidity pattern among urban adult population in Salem district, Tamil Nadu.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out among urban adult population in Salem district involving 493 participants. Convenient sampling method was used. Informed consent was obtained from each participant and information was collected by using a predesigned structured questionnaire. Microsoft Excel 2007 was used for data entry and SPSS version 24 was used for data analysis.Results: It was found from the study that the prevalence of alcoholism was high. Alcohol use in any form was found in 38% of the study participants. 8% of the participants confessed that alcohol is an eye opener to them. 6% of the participants lost their job and 15% of the participants were hospitalised due to alcohol.Conclusions: The study showed higher prevalence of alcohol use among urban adult population in Salem district. Awareness about the ill effects of alcoholism among the population and necessary rehabilitation will help to reduce alcoholism consumption and its related disorders.

Background: Developing countries like India are experiencing increased burden of non-communicable diseases causing significant morbidity and mortality, both in urban and rural population. In this study we assessed the Risk factors of NCDs and its burden.Methods: There are four slums in the field practice area of UHTC, Annapoorana Medical College, Salem. Out of which one slum was selected by lot sampling and the participants by simple random sampling method. This survey included a total of 512 participants (272 males, 240 females) of age >20 years. The participants were interviewed with a pre-tested questionnaire. The study instrument was based on WHO STEP wise approach for surveillance of NCDs. STEP 1 and STEP 2 were used in our study. The performa included anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and questions related to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, dietary pattern, physical exercise. Microsoft Excel 2007 was used for data entry, SPSS version 24 for data analysis.Results: It was found that the prevalence of risk factors for NCDs was high. Tobacco use in any form was seen in 21.3% of the study population, alcohol consumption in 28.1%, overweight and obesity in 20.7%, sedentary habits in 84.6%, irregular intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits in 85% and high salt intake in 38.5% was observed.Conclusions: The study showed higher prevalence of risk factors for NCDs. This alarms the heavy future burden of NCDs in the urban slum that requires appropriate early actions to prevent risk factors, reducing the disease burden.