Components of small area variation in fertility rates among married women in south India.

Objective: To adapt and develop a method for finding out what proportion of the variation among small areas in the number of births to married women is excess (systematic) variation over and above the chance (random) variation.

Methods: We adopted a two-stage sampling procedure to select 20 sub-centres in south India. We contacted all households and collected information on recent births and socioeconomic variables from all ever married women aged 15-49 years.

Influence of recall period on estimates of diarrhoea morbidity in infants in rural Tamilnadu.

Data collected on 689 infants, in a study to assess the incidence of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections during infancy, is used here to quantify the extent of under-reporting in diarrhoea morbidity surveys. The study area consisted of two contiguous primary health centres in Villupuram health unit district in Tamil Nadu, South India. Each day of infancy was assigned a recal period and proportion of diarrhoeal days for various recall period computed.

Influence of recall period on estimates of diarrhoea morbidity in infants in rural Tamil Nadu.

Data collected on 689 infants, in a study to assess the incidence of diarrhoea during infancy, is used here to quantify the extent of under-reporting in diarrhoea morbidity surveys. The study area consisted of two contiguous primary health centres in Villupuram health unit district in Tamil Nadu, south India. Each day of infancy was assigned a recall period and proportion of diarrhoeal days for various recall period computed.

Effect of vitamin A supplementation to mother and infant on morbidity in infancy.

Objectives: To assess the impact of Vitamin A supplementation to the mother soon after delivery and to the infant at six months on morbidity in infancy.

Design: Randomized double blind placebo controlled field trial.

Setting: 51 villages in two contiguous Primary Health Centers in Villupuram Health Unit District of Tamil Nadu, South India.