Tropical and geographical medicine
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Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in developing countries. In recent years, a (cost-)effective intervention has been developed in the national programmes of Tanzania and other developing countries. HIV transmission in populations with a high background prevalence of tuberculosis infection will increase the incidence of tuberculosis disease substantially. World Health Organization and World Bank are currently formulating new strategies to revitalise the global efforts against tuberculosis.
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Given severe winters at high altitudes, prevention of environmental neonatal hypothermia is of particular importance in Himalayan villages. This is a retrospective study of traditional concepts and practices for the prevention of neonatal hypothermia. 202 babies were studied from a population of 16,425 in three districts of a Himalayan state of North India. ⋯ The ritual practice of bathing immediately after birth and then upto three times each day even in winter is not perceived by them to provoke hypothermia. For upto one month postpartum mothers are believed to be at risk for cold induced disease.