Many ocular morbidities have their origin in childhood and if go unnoticed, these may cause severe ocular disabilities, apart from affecting children’s performance in the school. The study estimated the prevalence of ocular morbidity amongst primary school children in four schools of Delhi, two from urban slum and two from a village. All the children studying in these schools were interviewed and clinically examined. Socio-demographic information was collected from their parents. Of the 775 subjects, 22.7 per cent had ocular morbidity. The ocular morbidities observed were refractive errors (5.4%), conjunctivitis (4.6%), trachoma (4.3%), xerophthalmia (4.1%), stye (1.3%) and others. Ocular morbidity was found to be significantly associated with age, religion and birth order of the subjects. Majority of these morbidities were preventable and deserve early attention.

This paper attempts to study the differentials of contraceptive use by women’s background characteristics and determinants by using data from National Family Health Survey III, conducted during 2005-06 for Orissa. Also, data have been drawn from Family Welfare Year Book 2001. Both bi-variate and multivariate analysis have been used in the present study. The various predictor variables used in the analysis were caste, religion, women’s educational level, place of residence, wealth index of the household, work status of women, number of living sons, age at marriage, marital duration, whether experienced infant death and exposure to mass media. The findings revealed that, only one-third of the women with one child use contraception in Orissa. Such proportion goes to 60 per cent, 73 per cent and 60 per cent for women with two, three and more than three living children respectively. The analysis indicate that spacing is not very common but most of the contraceptive’s use are for limiting family size. Educational levels of women, sex preference, marital duration, infant death and exposure to mass media have a significant effect on the use of contraception. Therefore, these aspects may be given due attention while framing family planning programme and efforts should be made to make people aware of the benefit of small family norm.

A country-wide survey was carried out on a sample of 7500 nirodh (condom) users in 25 States of India, to ascertain the use and wastages of condom. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule, consisting of major variables like, socio-demographic profile, family background, preference for sons and daughters, frequency of sexual intercourse with or without condoms, its quality, users perception about the wastage, collecting packets from PHC and sub-centre, sharing with others, demand and supply, etc. Damage of condom during use has emerged as relatively more prominent sources of wastage. The findings also reveal that a considerable percentage of unmarried persons collect the condoms from PHC and sub-centre, which at present does not figure in the existing system of recording. Enrolled condom users also collect pieces for their friends and neighbours too. Its utilization seems to be closely linked with the desire for a number of children, non-availability of other suitable methods and concern for the health of the women. It appears that men having sincere concern about the health of their wives and finding non-suitability of any other contraceptive to their women opt for using the condom. The consent among spouse for using the condoms was found to be more than 60 per cent. The study also reveals no gender discrimination in case of one child option. In case of two sons and two daughters, gender discrimination becomes prominent. This finding indicates towards perceived economic burden associated with more than one daughter. This issue requires further research.

To find out the awareness of health insurance in an urban population in south India, a community-based cross-sectional study was carried out. A total number of 242 respondents from 242 households (male 38.4%; female 61.6%) were interviewed by using a pretested proforma after obtaining informed consent from the participants. The awareness of health insurance was found to be 64.0 per cent. Around 45.0 per cent of the respondents came to know about health insurance from the media which played an important role in the dissemination of information. The mean premium amount agreeable to be paid by the respondents for health insurance was found to be Rs 1804.00, even the low socio-economic group of people were also willing to part with a reasonable amount of Rs. 697.00 annually for health insurance. The middle and low socio-economic groups favoured government health insurance compared to private health insurance. The findings indicate that government should come out with a policy, where the public can be made to contribute to a health insurance scheme to ensure unnecessary out-of-pocket expenditures and also better utilization of health care facilities.

This comprehensive presentation is divided into two parts – Part I and Part II. The Part I was published in Vol.30, No.2, 2007 of this Journal. In Part I, the efforts made for health development and health maintenance in India since Independence to recent years have been systematically reviewed. Achievements made so far as well as shortfalls in achieving Health For All (HFA) and Reproductive Health For All (RHFA) goals through general health care and RCH-I and II, and NRHM programmes are discussed. The gaps and deficiencies, and future challenges are also indicated. In Part II, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been described and current situation in India has been reviewed. Various barriers to progress towards achieving HFA, RHFA and MDGs have been identified, and appropriate remedial measures suggested. Steps to be undertaken for strengthening effective implementation of various action programmes have also been described. Overall concluding remarks and relevant references are also added.