Public health information systems for primary health care in India: A situational analysis study.

Introduction: Information communication technology (ICT) based health information systems (HISs) are expected to transform health system functionality. The present study was aimed to evaluate HISs in India with a focus on primary health care (PHC).

Methodology: The study used a qualitative method to evaluate and understand various ICT-based HIS implemented at the state/union territory (UT) level in India.

Vaccination in HIV positive adults: need to address.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health program. Without treatment, average survival time without treatment after infection with HIV is estimated to be 9 to 11 years, depending on the HIV subtype. Vaccination recommendations are determined by weighing the benefits of vaccination against the risks.

Vaccination for pregnant women: need to address.

Pregnancy is a critically important state for any women in her life time. Administration of a vaccine to a pregnant woman is not a routine event and it is generally preferred to administer vaccines either prior to conception or in the postpartum period. Currently vaccination with inactivated vaccines are recommended due to potential risk to mother and fetus with live vaccines.

Alzheimer disease immunotherapeutics: then and now.

Dementia is a public health priority and one of the major contributors to morbidity and global non-communicable disease burden, thus necessitating the need for significant health-care interventions. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and may contribute to 60-70% of cases. The cause and progression of AD are not well understood but have been thought to be due at least in part to protein misfolding (proteopathy) manifest as plaque accumulation of abnormally folded β-amyloid and tau proteins in brain.

Dengue vaccine: a valuable asset for the future.

Dengue has emerged as one of the major global public health problems. The disease has broken out of its shell and has spread due to increased international travel and climatic changes. Globally, over 2.

Malaria vaccine: a step toward elimination.

Malaria has long been recognized as a public health problem. At the community level, vector control, and antimalarial medicines are the main means for reducing incidence, morbidity, and mortality of malaria. A vaccine not only would bring streamlining in the prevention of morbidity and mortality from malaria but also would be more accessible if integrated with Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI).

Vaccination for safe travel to India.

Worldwide more than 900 million international journeys are undertaken every year. India is one of the favorite tourist destinations around the world. International travel exposes travelers to a range of health risks.

Hepatitis C: is a vaccine the solution?

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Following acute infection, 20% of people eliminate the virus over weeks or months and are often asymptomatic. The remaining 80% of people will develop chronic disease, of which approximately 20% will eventually develop liver cirrhosis and 1-5% will develop liver cancer.

Adult immunization: the need to address.

Vaccination is recommended throughout life to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases and their sequel. The primary focus of vaccination programs has historically been directed to childhood immunizations. For adults, chronic diseases have been the primary focus of preventive and medical health care, though there has been increased emphasis on preventing infectious diseases.