Use of antenatal and delivery care services and their association with maternal and infant mortality in rural India.

Optimum use of antenatal care (ANC) and delivery care services could reduce morbidity and mortality among prospective mothers and their children. However, the role of ANC and delivery services in prevention of both maternal and child mortality is poorly understood, primarily because of dearth of prospective cohort data. Using a ten-years population-based prospective cohort data, this study examined the use of ANC and delivery services and their association with maternal and infant mortality in rural India.

Shooting shadows: India's struggle to reduce the burden of anaemia.

Despite several efforts by the Government of India, the national burden of anaemia remains high and its growing prevalence (between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021) is concerning to India's public health system. This article reviews existing food-based and clinical strategies to mitigate the anaemia burden and why they are premature and insufficient. In a context where multiple anaemia control programmes are in play, this article proposes a threefold strategy for consideration.

Health care seeking behaviour and financial protection of patients with hypertension: A cross-sectional study in rural West Bengal, India.

Background: Elevated blood pressure or hypertension is responsible for around 10 million annual deaths globally, and people residing in low and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by it. India is no exception, where low rate of treatment seeking for hypertension coupled with widespread out-of-pocket payments (OOPs) have been a challenge. This study assessed the pattern of health care seeking behaviour and financial protection along with the associated factors among hypertensive individuals in rural West Bengal, India.

Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of mortality in rural Birbhum, West Bengal, India: a sex-stratified analysis of verbal autopsies from a prospective cohort, 2012-2017.

Objectives: There is a dearth of data on causes of death in rural India, which impedes identification of public health priorities to guide health interventions. This study aims to offer insights from verbal autopsies, to understand the pattern and distribution of causes of death in a rural area of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.

Design: Causes of death data were retrieved from a prospective vital event surveillance system.

Double burden of malnutrition among adolescents in rural West Bengal, India.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and overweight among adolescents in rural West Bengal, India, and identify factors contributing to these forms of malnutrition.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted within the Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System in West Bengal, India. Participants were male and female adolescents 10 to 19 y of age (N = 5521).

Population-level effective coverage of adolescent weekly iron and folic acid supplementation is low in rural West Bengal, India.

Objective: To assess the coverage of the adolescent weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) programme in rural West Bengal, India.

Design: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey of intended WIFS programme beneficiaries (in-school adolescent girls and boys and out-of-school adolescent girls).

Setting: Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

Incidence of Prehypertension and Hypertension in Rural India, 2012-2018: A Sex-Stratified Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: India is home to the largest number of hypertensive individuals, and factors responsible for the incidence of hypertension are poorly understood. This study examines predictors of transition to different stages of hypertension-incidence of hypertension, incidence of prehypertension, and incidence of prehypertension to hypertension.

Methods: Population-based survey data from the Birbhum Population Project, located in West Bengal, India were used.

Sociodemographic Determinants of Preterm Birth and Small for Gestational Age in Rural West Bengal, India.

Preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) are major contributors to neonatal mortality in India. However, social determinates of preterm births and SGA are poorly characterized. We use population-based data from a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in rural West Bengal, India, to examine risk factors for preterm birth and SGA.

Prospective cohort study of overweight and obesity among rural Indian adults: sociodemographic predictors of prevalence, incidence and remission.

Objectives: To assess sociodemographic predictors of prevalence, incidence and remission of overweight including obesity among adults (aged ≥18 years) in rural Eastern India.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System, West Bengal, India.

The burden of iron-deficiency anaemia among women in India: how have iron and folic acid interventions fared?

Iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) among women in India is a problem of major public health significance. Using data from three waves of the National Family Health Survey, this article discusses the burden of and trend in IDA among women in India, and discusses the level of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and its potential role in reducing the burden of IDA. Between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016, IDA in India decreased by only 3.

Metabolic syndrome among rural Indian adults.

Background & Aims: To prevent an increasing level of mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease among the rural Indian population, a management strategy of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) should be devised. This study aims to estimate the burden of MetS and its associated risk factors.

Methods: Data from the Birbhum Population Project covering 9886 individuals (4810 male and 5076 female population) aged ≥18 years were used.

Preference in place of delivery among rural Indian women.

India accounts for the highest number of maternal and child deaths globally. A large body of empirical research suggests that improvement in the coverage of institutional delivery is essential to reduce the burden of maternal and child death. However the dynamics of choice of place of delivery is poorly understood.

Underweight among rural Indian adults: burden, and predictors of incidence and recovery.

Objective: To study the magnitude and predictors of underweight, incident underweight and recovery from underweight among rural Indian adults.

Design: Prospective cohort study. Each participant's BMI was measured in 2008 and 2012 and categorized as underweight (BMI<18·5 kg/m2), normal (BMI=18·5-22·9 kg/m2) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥23·0 kg/m2).

Probable psychiatric disorder in a rural community of West Bengal, India.

Purpose: India faces multiple challenges to mitigate a high burden of psychiatric disorders. The risk of developing psychiatric disorder among the rural Indian population is poorly investigated. This study aims to understand the factors associated with probable psychiatric disorder (PPD) among a select rural Indian population.

Hepatic steatosis is associated with cardiometabolic risk in a rural Indian population: A prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: While adiposity and hepatic steatosis are linked to cardiovascular risk in developed countries, their prevalence and impact in low-income countries are poorly understood. We investigated the association of anthropomorphic variables and hepatic steatosis with cardiometabolic risk profiles and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large rural Indian cohort.

Methods: In 4691 individuals in the Birbhum Population Project in West Bengal, India, we performed liver ultrasonography, carotid ultrasound and biochemical and clinical profiling.

Physiological and behavioral risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural India.

Background: The dynamics of physiological and behavioral risk factors of diabetes in rural India is poorly understood. Using data from a health and demographic surveillance site of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India, this study aims to assess the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 7674 individuals aged ≥18 years participated in a cross-sectional study.

Sex differences in the risk profile of hypertension: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the socioeconomic and behavioural risk factors associated with hypertension among a sample male and female population in India.

Setting: Cross-sectional survey data from a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) of rural West Bengal, India was used.

Participants: 27 589 adult individuals (13 994 males and 13 595 females), aged ≥18 years, were included in the study.

Tobacco use and self-reported morbidity among rural Indian adults.

Unlabelled: Aim To measure the prevalence of self-reported morbidity and its associated factors among adults (aged ⩾15 years) in a select rural Indian population.

Background: Self-reporting of smoking has been validated as population-based surveys using self-reported data provide reasonably consistent estimates of smoking prevalence, and are generally considered to be sufficiently accurate for tracking the general pattern of morbidity associated with tobacco use in populations. However, to gauge the true disease burden using self-reported morbidity data requires cautious interpretation.

Socio-economic disparities in tobacco consumption in rural India: evidence from a health and demographic surveillance system.

Aims: India houses over 275 million tobacco users, with 164 million users of only smokeless tobacco, 69 million exclusive smokers, and 42 million users of both smoking and smokeless tobacco. This study aims to examine the socio-economic factors associated with types of tobacco use in a selected rural Indian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with surveillance data from the Birbhum Population Project (BIRPOP).

Alcohol Use-Related Problems Among a Rural Indian Population of West Bengal: An Application of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

Aims: To examine alcohol use and related problems among a rural subset of the Indian population.

Methods: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used as part of Health and Demographic Surveillance of 36,611 individuals aged ≥18 years. From this survey data on 3671 current alcohol users were analysed using bivariate and multivariate ordered logit regression.

Determinants of Skilled Delivery Assistance in a Rural Population: Findings from an HDSS Site of Rural West Bengal, India.

Objective: This study examines the determinants of utilisation of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) amongst 2886 rural women in the state of West Bengal, India, using data from a survey of 2012-2013 conducted by the Birbhum Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

Method: Multilevel logit regression models were estimated and qualitative investigations conducted to understand the determinants of utilisation of SBAs in rural West Bengal.

Results: Among women who delivered their last child during the 3 years preceding the survey, 69.

Health & Demographic Surveillance System Profile: The Birbhum population project (Birbhum HDSS).

The Birbhum HDSS was established in 2008 and covers 351 villages in four administrative blocks in rural areas of Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. The project currently follows 54 585 individuals living in 12557 households. The population being followed up is economically underprivileged and socially marginalized.

Gut microbiomes of Indian children of varying nutritional status.

Background: Malnutrition is a global health problem affecting more than 300 million pre-school children worldwide. It is one of the major health concerns in India since around 50% of children below the age of two suffer from various forms of malnutrition. The gut microbiome plays an important role in nutrient pre-processing, assimilation and energy harvest from food.