Economics of COVID-19: challenges and the way forward for health policy and the pandemic.

The emergence of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provides unique challenges for health system. While on the one hand, the government has to struggle with the strategies for control of COVID-19, on the other hand, other routine health services also need to be managed. Second, the infrastructure needs to be augmented to meet the potential epidemic surge of cases.

Prevalence of anemia among elderly persons residing in old age homes in national capital territory, Delhi, India.

Background: Anemia is a common morbidity in elderly persons (aged 60 years or above). In India, in recent years, the number of old age homes (OAHs) and the residents living in them has increased significantly.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anemia among elderly persons living in OAHs.

Prevalence of fall, and determinants of repeat incidents of fall in older persons living in old age homes in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India.

Background: Fall is a common morbidity in older persons. In India, the number of old age homes and persons living in them are increasing. We studied the prevalence of fall among older persons living in old age homes.

Effect of iron and folic acid tablet versus capsule formulation on treatment compliance and iron status among pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Iron supplementation during pregnancy in programmatic settings has failed to produce desired results. Formulation of iron supplementation may have a role in compliance and hematological parameters.

Objective: We did this study to compare the compliance to iron supplementation, change in mean hemoglobin and serum ferritin level after iron supplementation in capsule form and tablet form during pregnancy.

Meta-analysis of efficacy of iron and iodine fortified salt in improving iron nutrition status.

Background: Salt fortification with iron is a potential strategy to increase population-level iron intake. The current evidence regarding double-fortified salt (DFS) in improving iron nutrition status is equivocal.

Objective: To study the efficacy of DFS as compared to iodine fortified salt (IS) in improving iron nutrition status.

Acute morbidity profile and treatment seeking behaviour among people residing in an urban resettlement colony in Delhi, India.

Background: Rapid urbanization has resulted in increased burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially among urban poor population. In the absence of a well-functioning three tier health care system in urban India, health needs of urban poor are rarely fulfilled. The objective of this study was to assess primary health care services utilization pattern and its associated selected socio-demographic determinants in an urban population of Dakshinpuri Extension, South-east district of Delhi.

National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme: Current status & future strategy.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) constitute a significant public health problem globally. In India, the entire population is prone to IDDs due to deficiency of iodine in the soil of the sub-continent and thus both animal and plant source food grown on the iodine-deficient soil. IDDs encompass the spectrum of disability and disease and include goitre, cretinism, hypothyroidism, abortion, stillbirth, brain damage, learning disabilities, mental retardation, psychomotor defects, hearing and speech impairment.

Effect of directly observed oral iron supplementation during pregnancy on iron status in a rural population in Haryana: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: In India, more than half of the pregnant women suffer from anemia. Low compliance to iron supplementation is one of the important reasons.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to estimate the reduction in the prevalence of anemia, improvement in iron status, and to compare the compliance to oral iron supplementation during pregnancy between directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation group and control group.

High national and sub-national coverage of iodised salt in India: evidence from the first National Iodine and Salt Intake Survey (NISI) 2014-2015.

Objective: The National Iodine and Salt Intake Survey (NISI) 2014-2015 was undertaken to estimate household iodised salt coverage at national and sub-national levels in India.

Design: Cross-sectional survey with multistage stratified random sampling.

Setting: India was divided into six geographic zones (South, West, Central, North, East and North-East) and each zone was further stratified into rural and urban areas to yield twelve distinct survey strata.

Relationship between height and arm span of elderly persons in an urban colony of New Delhi.

Anthropometric changes take place with increasing age. Progressive loss of height makes it difficult to use height for calculation of body mass index in nutritional screening of elderly persons. There is a need to find other alternative methods which could be used as proxy measurements of height in them.

Regression Analysis to Identify Factors Associated with Urinary Iodine Concentration at the Sub-National Level in India, Ghana, and Senegal.

Single and multiple variable regression analyses were conducted using data from stratified, cluster sample design, iodine surveys in India, Ghana, and Senegal to identify factors associated with urinary iodine concentration (UIC) among women of reproductive age (WRA) at the national and sub-national level. Subjects were survey household respondents, typically WRA. For all three countries, UIC was significantly different ( < 0.

Regression Analysis to Identify Factors Associated with Household Salt Iodine Content at the Sub-National Level in Bangladesh, India, Ghana and Senegal.

Regression analyses of data from stratified, cluster sample, household iodine surveys in Bangladesh, India, Ghana and Senegal were conducted to identify factors associated with household access to adequately iodised salt. For all countries, in single variable analyses, household salt iodine was significantly different ( < 0.05) between strata (geographic areas with representative data, defined by survey design), and significantly higher ( < 0.

New Statistical Approach to Apportion Dietary Sources of Iodine Intake: Findings from Kenya, Senegal and India.

Progress of national Universal Salt Iodization (USI) strategies is typically assessed by household coverage of adequately iodized salt and median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in spot urine collections. However, household coverage does not inform on the iodized salt used in preparation of processed foods outside homes, nor does the total UIC reflect the portion of population iodine intake attributable to the USI strategy. This study used data from three population-representative surveys of women of reproductive age (WRA) in Kenya, Senegal and India to develop and illustrate a new approach to apportion the population UIC levels by the principal dietary sources of iodine intake, namely native iodine, iodine in processed food salt and iodine in household salt.

Evaluation of data sources and approaches for estimation of influenza-associated mortality in India.

Background: No estimates of influenza-associated mortality exist for India.

Objective: To evaluate national mortality and viral surveillance data from India for assessing their appropriateness in estimating influenza-associated mortality using varied analytic approaches.

Methods: We reviewed influenza virus surveillance data from a national influenza surveillance network.

Status of Iodine Nutrition among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic of a Secondary Care Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study from Northern India.

Background: Daily requirement of iodine increases during pregnancy making pregnant women a high-risk group for iodine deficiency disorders. The limited available literature shows that even in iodine sufficient population, pregnant women are iodine deficient.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the current iodine nutrition status among pregnant women in Ballabgarh, district Faridabad, Haryana.

Causes of and contributors to infant mortality in a rural community of North India: evidence from verbal and social autopsy.

Objective: To identify the medical causes of death and contribution of non-biological factors towards infant mortality by a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data using verbal and social autopsy tools.

Setting: The study site was Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Ballabgarh, North India PARTICIPANTS: All infant deaths during the years 2008-2012 were included for verbal autopsy and infant deaths from July 2012 to December 2012 were included for social autopsy.

Outcome Measures: Cause of death ascertained by a validated verbal autopsy tool and level of delay based on a three-delay model using the INDEPTH social autopsy tool were the main outcome measures.

Water and Sanitation Hygiene Practices for Under-Five Children among Households of Sugali Tribe of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Background: Increased mortality is associated with poor household water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) practices. The objective was to study the WaSH practices for under-five children among households of Sugali Tribe, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four mandals in 2012.

Directly observed iron supplementation for control of iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia is major public health problem affecting 1.6 billion people worldwide. The poor compliance of iron supplementation remains main contributor for high prevalence of anemia.

Partnerships for organizing blood donation camp: An experience from rural North India.

Background: Rural areas pose challenges for motivating villagers to donate blood. We organized a blood donation camp in a rural setting by engaging multiple stakeholders. We examined the factors that influenced blood donation.

Serum FRAP Levels and Pre-eclampsia among Pregnant Women in a Rural Community of Northern India.

Introduction: There is a balance between the oxidative and the anti-oxidative forces in human body. Some studies document decreased level of anti-oxidant in pre-eclampsia while other studies showed normal level of anti-oxidant in pre-eclampsia and the evidence is equivocal.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess enzymatic anti-oxidant activities in pre-eclamptic women and compare it with normotensive pregnant women with period of gestation between 28 to 36 weeks.

Prevalence of malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infections among under-five children of Sugali tribe of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Introduction: Over a period, tribal population has migrated to cities in search of livelihood. Data on various health problems of the tribes are sparse. Sugalis constitute the third largest tribe in Andhra Pradesh and have settlements in urban areas.

Dietary Calcium Intake, Serum Calcium Level, and their Association with Preeclampsia in Rural North India.

Background: Preeclampsia in pregnancy has been shown to be associated with low serum calcium level. Though the evidence is abundant, it is equivocal.

Objectives: The study aimed to estimate the dietary calcium intake and serum calcium status among pregnant women, and to document the association of the dietary calcium intake and serum calcium status with incidence of preeclampsia in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.