sheeloopoonam@yahoo.com's blog

Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) – Measuring the burden of disease in a population
Why measure the burden of disease?
1. To aid in setting health service priorities
2. To aid in identifying disadvantaged groups and targeting of health interventions;
3. To provide a comparable measure of output for planning and evaluation.
DALYs as a measurement tool
1. Burden of disease is measured in terms of TIME
• i.e., The TIME of healthy living lost due to disease or premature death

Eligible Couples
• Definition: a currently married couple wherein the wife is in the reproductive age (i.e. 15 -49 yr. of age)
• Appx. 150 – 180 eligible couples per 1000 population in India
• These couples are in need of family planning services
• The “eligible couple register” is maintained and updated by the ANM/ MPHW/ ASHA

1) Crude birth rate

2) General fertility Rate

3) General marital fertility rate (GMFR): It is the number of live births per 1000 married women in the reproductive age-group (15 – 49 yr.) in a given year

This blog explains which newborns require special care and must be referred to a First Referral Unit (FRU). It covers three major categories: (1) birth asphyxia and its complications including convulsions, shock, hypoxia, hypoglycaemia, and renal failure; (2) key neonatal danger signs such as fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, temperature abnormalities, feeding difficulty, lethargy, unconsciousness, jaundice, and bleeding; and (3) major congenital malformations like meningomyelocoele, hydrocephalus, large omphalocoele, diaphragmatic hernia, and esophageal atresia. The blog is aligned with Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine and Government of India maternal-newborn care guidelines, helping MBBS students and practitioners identify high-risk newborns early and ensure timely referral.

This blog explains Essential Newborn Care (ENC) in a simple and structured way for MBBS students. It covers the objectives of ENC, immediate care at birth, airway clearance, APGAR assessment, cord and skin care, prevention of hypothermia, and early initiation of breastfeeding. It also details first and second neonatal examinations, measurements, congenital anomalies, danger signs, and criteria for identifying high-risk infants. The content is aligned with Government of India guidelines and Park’s textbook, providing an accurate, exam-friendly, and clinically relevant guide to newborn care.

This blog provides a comprehensive explanation of Antenatal Care (ANC), including pregnancy confirmation with urine tests, early registration importance, objectives of ANC, recommended visit schedule, first-visit procedures, physical and abdominal examination, fundal height interpretation, routine lab tests, IFA and TT recommendations, dietary guidance, personal hygiene, drug and radiation precautions, identification of danger signs, and national guidelines applicable at subcenter, PHC and FRU levels.

This blog explains the key components of specific health protection during ANC visits—screening and prevention of anemia, nutritional deficiencies, toxemias of pregnancy, tetanus, syphilis, rubella, Rh incompatibility, HIV, hepatitis B, and prenatal genetic disorders—based on Indian public health and maternal care guidelines.

The ANM should calculate the estimated number of pregnancies in one year in her area
She can match the estimated number with the actual number of the registered pregnancies
In any month, the no. of registered AN women should be HALF of the estimated annual number
Calculation of the estimated number of pregnancies in the YEAR:
Obtain information regarding:
The Population size and
The birth rate of the area under her jurisdiction
Calculate the number of live births in her jurisdiction using the following formula:

This blog explains the Risk Approach in Antenatal Care, highlighting how early identification of high-risk pregnancies helps prioritize women who need skilled monitoring. It lists key high-risk categories such as elderly or short-statured primi, malpresentations, antepartum hemorrhage, anemia, pre-eclampsia, twins, hydramnios, bad obstetric history, prolonged pregnancy, infertility treatment, and medical disorders like cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, TB, malaria, asthma, HIV, RTI and STI. The blog also clarifies how the risk approach improves MCH coverage, optimizes resource use, and enables community-level workers to participate effectively in antenatal care.

This blog provides comprehensive ANC counselling guidance for MBBS students and healthcare workers. It explains prophylactic and therapeutic iron–folic acid (IFA) supplementation, tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization schedules, identification of high-risk pregnancies, and key counselling elements such as birth preparedness, danger signs, skilled birth attendance, transport and blood-donor readiness. The article also covers essential aspects of diet, rest, personal hygiene, drug safety during pregnancy, harmful effects of smoking, alcohol and radiation exposure, along with detailed advice on childcare, family planning, and postpartum considerations.