Conducting tobacco control surveys among schoolchildren in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: A feasibility study.

Most of the world's 300 million smokeless tobacco (ST) users live in South Asia but ST policies for that region are poorly researched, developed and implemented. Longitudinal studies to understand the uptake and use of ST and smoking, and influences on these, such as health promotion strategies, are lacking. We planned to conduct longitudinal surveys among secondary school students in three countries with the highest ST burden: Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to explore ST and smoking uptake, use and health promoting strategies.

Prevalence and patterns of post-COVID-19 symptoms in recovered patients of Delhi, India: a population-based study.

Background: Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms were widely reported. However, data on post-COVID-19 conditions following infection with the Omicron variant remained scarce. This prospective study was conducted to understand the prevalence, patterns, and duration of symptoms in patients who had recovered from COVID-19.

Burden of Long COVID-19 in a Cohort of Recovered COVID-19 Patients in Delhi, India.

Background: The long COVID phase is characterized by signs and symptoms persisting for at least three months after recovery from acute COVID-19 illness. There is limited data on comprehensive long-term clinical follow-up of COVID-19 patients.

Aims: This study aims to explore the burden and symptomatology of long COVID syndrome and its association with various health parameters.

Metabolic syndrome burden, determinants and treatment status in an urban slum resettlement colony in Delhi, India.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in low-resource settings contributes to accentuated risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke. The study objective was to estimate the prevalence, determinants and treatment status of MetS in an urban slum resettlement population in Delhi, India.

Methods: This study was conducted from February to May 2023.

Compliance Assessment of Tobacco Products to Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act in India with Reference to Third Amendment Rules, 2020.

Objective: Tobacco use is associated with mortality in low- and middle-income countries including India with dual burden of smoking and smokeless tobacco (SLT). Aligning with the FCTC, India has made substantial amendments in strengthening graphic warning under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for sections 7,8 9 and "Specified warning". Compliance assessment studies are necessary to understand current status of implementation for packaging laws.

Lifestyle practices predisposing adolescents to non communicable diseases in Delhi.

Background: Globally the prevalence of non- communicable diseases is on a rise. Adolescents are vulnerable to such diseases later on in life because of the susceptibility to behavioural risk factors like insufficient physical activity, unhealthy dietary practices and tobacco and alcohol consumption during this transition stage of their life. Adolescents who are from low-income families are also at increased risk of dual states of malnutrition such as underweight and obesity.

Non-compliant packaging and illicit smokeless tobacco in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: findings of a pack analysis.

Introduction: Illicit smokeless tobacco (ST) trade has seldom been documented despite ST use in at least 127 countries across the world. Based on non-compliance with packaging regulations, we report the proportion of illicit ST products from samples on sale in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan where 85% of global ST users reside.

Methods: We purchased unique ST products from tobacco sellers in two purposively selected administrative areas (division/district) in each of the three countries.

Menstrual hygiene management and its determinants among adolescent girls in low-income urban areas of Delhi, India: a community-based study.

Objectives: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in developing countries is linked to human rights, social justice, and the education and empowerment of young girls. The objective of this study was to assess menstrual hygiene practices and their determinants among adolescent girls, including school dropouts, and the effects of pad distribution programs in urban resettlement areas of Delhi, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to February 2020 in urban resettlement colonies and 2 villages of Delhi among 1,130 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years, who were interviewed face to face.

Mobile Phone Addiction as an Emerging Behavioral Form of Addiction Among Adolescents in India.

Introduction: The advancements in mobile phones from simple basic phones to featured phones and smartphones resulted in the penetration of technology to different groups of people irrespective of age, gender, or region. Thus, mobile phone addiction has evolved as a form of behavioral addiction found to be increasingly prevalent among adolescents too. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mobile phone addiction among adolescents and its associated risk factors among adolescents.

Vaccination With Routine Childhood Vaccines and Severity of COVID-19 Among Children in Delhi.

Objective: To study the association between routine childhood vaccination and the severity of COVID-19 among children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 141 children (aged ≤15 years), tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: COVID-19 severity (combined moderate and severe) was significantly more in males (14.

Prevalence and Social Contextual Factors of Smokeless Tobacco Use: Insights from Schools of Delhi, India.

Background: It was observed that adult users start tobacco use in childhood or adolescence. The influence of digital and print media, social acceptance among peers, and in order to mimic role models from films attracts youth towards tobacco. Hence this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among school-going adolescents with the assessment of the influencing factors such as exposure at school, home, and public places along with the role of various media in SLT use by adolescents.

Perceptions of Frontline Workers, Female Health Workers, and School Teachers in Menstrual Hygiene Promotion among Adolescent Girls of Delhi, India: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Government schemes for the promotion of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) among adolescent girls in India are underpinned by crucial implementation efforts from the frontline health workers, community health workers, and school teachers.

Aim: The aim of the study is to identify the perspectives on menstrual health and hygiene management with regard to government schemes for sanitary pad distribution to adolescent girls among the frontline workers and the government school teachers located in urban resettlement colonies in Delhi.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 accredited social health activisits, 30 Anganwadi Workers (AWW), and 30 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and five focus group discussions among 28 government school teachers from the middle, high, and secondary standard.

Critical interpretative synthesis of herd immunity for COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Countries globally are evaluating the concept of herd immunity and its critical role in the control of pandemic. The current paper attempts to conduct a critical interpretative synthesis (CIS) on the role of herd immunity in current COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: CIS is tool for developing theoretical framework using interpretation drawn from relevant empirical and non-empirical sources.

Development and Validation of a Menstruation-Related Activity Restriction Questionnaire among Adolescent Girls in Urban Resettlement Colonies of Delhi.

Introduction: Menstruation, a physiological phenomenon, till date is associated with myths, taboos, and malpractices. These interfere with the emotional, physical, and mental health of adolescent girls. This study attempts to draft a validated questionnaire to measure menstruation-related activity restriction.

Challenges of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the Masked World of COVID-19.

Difficulties of the hearing impaired have increased due to COVID-19, leading to lack of inclusiveness along with the breakdown of their mental, physical, and social health. The study objective was to assess the challenges faced by the deaf and hearing-impaired people during COVID-19 by a literature review. Literature search was done using keywords such as "challenges" OR "barriers" and "COVID-19" OR "Deaf" OR "Hearing Impaired" OR "Communication" on PubMed and Google Scholar from November 2019 to June 2020.

Outcomes among 10,314 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care government hospital in Delhi, India.

A significant proportion of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require timely hospitalization to reduce the risk of complications and mortality. We describe the trends of the age and gender stratified outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe illness at the largest dedicated tertiary care COVID-19 government hospital in New Delhi, India. A retrospective cohort study through secondary data analysis from in-patient hospital data of patients admitted from April 1 to November 15, 2020 was conducted.

Strengthening public healthcare systems in India; Learning lessons in COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic has involved nations and incapacitated the health systems globally. The pandemic preparedness has been tested with immense losses. Universal health coverage is needed more than ever to recuperate from the effects of the current pandemic.

Protocol for a feasibility study of longitudinal surveys to assess the impact of policies on tobacco use among school-going adolescents in South Asia.

Smokeless tobacco (ST) use is common among youth in South Asia where 85% of the world's 300 million ST users live and use the most lethal ST forms. Little is known about the impact of tobacco control policies on the youth ST uptake in those countries. We planned to conduct longitudinal surveys among school going adolescents to evaluate existing tobacco control policies on tobacco uptake and use, and a feasibility study for that prospective, observational cohort study.

Primary Health Care Facility Preparedness for Outpatient Service Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Primary health centers (PHCs) represent the first tier of the Indian health care system, providing a range of essential outpatient services to people living in the rural, suburban, and hard-to-reach areas. Diversion of health care resources for containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly undermined the accessibility and availability of essential health services. Under these circumstances, the preparedness of PHCs in providing safe patient-centered care and meeting the current health needs of the population while preventing further transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is crucial.

A Study to Assess Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Hand Hygiene amongst Residents and Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Health Care Setting of Bhopal City.

Background: Infection due to hospital-acquired microbes is an evolving problem worldwide, and horizontal transmission of bacterial organism continues to cause a high nosocomial infection rate in health care settings. Most nosocomial infections are thought to be transmitted by the hands of health care workers.The application of hand hygiene is effective in reducing infection rates.